USquare at the Loop

Developers doing work in Cincinnati will have to pay prevailing wage on the entire construction project if the city is investing money in it.  

State law requires that rate for publicly funded portions of a project like parking garages and street improvements.  But the city's policy would go further.

Projects with less than 30 percent city investment will be exempted.  

Work continues on the USquare Development near the University of Cincinnati.  

The project includes a public plaza, and some council members and nearby residents aren’t impressed with its design.

During a meeting Tuesday, Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls said she was choosing her words carefully.

Three Cincinnati Council Members are asking city administrators to investigate pay issues involving some workers at the USquare Development near the University of Cincinnati. 

They allege some sub-contractors aren't paying their employees the correct hourly wages.

Some Cincinnati Council Members have serious problems with the subcontractors working on a major economic development project near the University of Cincinnati campus.

Cecil Thomas and Wendell Young visited the USquare at the Loop construction site last week and talked to some of the workers. 

The council members alleged some of the subcontractors are not paying workers the state mandated prevailing wage and the employees are not paying city income taxes. 

They said that's cost the city about $500,000 so far.