The Banks

Construction is expected to begin next spring or summer on a 17-story office tower at The Banks. 

Cincinnati and Hamilton County reached an agreement Thursday that will allow work to resume on a park at The Banks to support the new music venue currently under construction.

Hamilton County Commission President Denise Driehaus is referring to the most recent setback with development of a music venue at The Banks as the "newest wrinkle." At issue is whether the county or Cincinnati should develop the park space on lot 23 next to the music venue site.

A disagreement between Cincinnati and Hamilton County on a revised cooperation agreement for The Banks development threatens to delay a park project next to the new music venue now under construction.

Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and Hamilton County Commissioner Victoria Parks are scheduled to meet Thursday concerning the latest city/county snag on building a music venue and park addition at The Banks.

The Cincinnati Park Board has approved a $6.9 million contract to expand Smale Riverfront Park. It will also serve as the outdoor concert area for the new music venue being built at The Banks. 

An Academy Award winner is bringing real snow to The Banks in Cincinnati.

The music venue to be built at The Banks will be named for a local musician and music teacher. The Andrew J. Brady ICON Music Center will have stages both indoors and outdoors and is scheduled to open in fall 2020.

Updated: Wednesday, 3:40 p.m.

A prickly back-and-forth between the city of Cincinnati and Hamilton County over the construction of a music venue at The Banks seems to have softened. Tuesday night Mayor John Cranley and Commissioner Todd Portune released a joint statement saying they "have worked together to come to an understanding that will advance future development at the The Banks." 

Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune announced Thursday he'll be leaving the board by the end of the year.

The Hamilton County Commissioners are pledging to move forward with a project to build a music venue at The Banks despite action at Cincinnati City Hall Wednesday that threatens the plan.  

Cincinnati Council members have approved a motion that will ask the Bengals to approve the construction of a music venue at The Banks without asking for new parking. Such a move would mean the relocation of a concrete plant wouldn't be necessary.

After weeks of contentious negotiations and heated public hearings, Cincinnati council could make a decision Wednesday on moving a concrete plant to Queensgate to allow a music venue at The Banks.  

The Bengals are urging Cincinnati and Hamilton County leaders to settle their differences and work together on developing a music venue at The Banks. The team released a letter this afternoon after a Joint Banks Steering Committee meeting ended with arguments over the proposed facility.

Disagreements continue between Cincinnati and Hamilton County officials about proposals to relocate a concrete plant on the riverfront to make space for a music venue at The Banks.

The debate over a music venue at The Banks has led to questions about how Cincinnati's charter is interpreted and the power of the mayor. Mayor John Cranley said earlier in the week he wouldn't refer legislation about a land swap meant to clear the way for construction until he had questions answered. Councilman David Mann wondered whether that was a form of pocket veto.

John Cranley won't bring any legislation about The Banks music venue deal to a vote unless the full Cincinnati council tells him to. Mayor Cranley promised that at the end of a nearly three-hour long economic growth and zoning committee meeting Tuesday night in Price Hill. It's the latest twist in a long, complicated effort that involves The Banks, the Bengals, a Lower Price Hill park project, a building materials company, a barge terminal and Downtown parking.

Updated: Friday, 2:04 p.m.

Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley has waded into the fray over the relocation of Hilltop Basic Resources so the county can construct a new music venue at The Banks. 

Negotiations to move a concrete manufacturing plant west of Paul Brown Stadium to make way for a music venue at The Banks are not going well based on letters traded between the parties earlier this week.

The SkyStar wheel at The Banks might not be around for much longer. The owners are in talks with Hamilton County to replace it with a larger wheel.

Construction on the parking garages to support what could be a music venue at The Banks begins in August. But the future of the actual venue east of Paul Brown Stadium depends on relocating Hilltop Basic Resources, west of the stadium.