Public Square project development

A recent rendering shows the current plan for the Public Square renovation, scheduled for completion in June, 2016. Language inserted into a recently passed bill would allow the Downtown Cleveland Alliance to seek a 9-month liquor license for events on the square starting in July 2016, when the city hosts the 2016 Republican National Convention.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A liquor-license reform included in newly passed legislation will make it easier to stage events at Public Square starting next summer, according to the head of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.

The change, in a bill signed Thursday by Gov. John Kasich, would allow the DCA and other Cuyahoga County non-profits to apply for a nine-month liquor license for events on public property. Right now, such groups can only receive a liquor permit for a few days, making it more difficult to schedule events paid for with alcohol revenues, said DCA President and CEO Joe Marinucci.

A nine-month license, Marinucci said, would give his organization the flexibility needed "to have a more robust portfolio of events on Public Square," such as concerts and farmers' markets.

Public Square is currently undergoing a $32 million renovation; Marinucci said DCA is planning events there starting July 2016, when Cleveland hosts the Republican National Convention.

Marinucci noted that the DCA will still need to get approval from city officials for a nine-month liquor license, known as an F-8 permit. House Bill 47 would allow F-8 permits to be granted for other areas in Cuyahoga County besides Public Square, though Marinucci said he wasn't aware of any such plans.

Right now, Ohio only allows F-8 permits to be issued in Hamilton County for events at Cincinnati's Fountain Square. But the Senate added an amendment to HB 47 that would allow Cuyahoga and Franklin counties to issue such licenses as well.

The legislation, which also authorizes cities to set up outdoor drinking areas exempt from open-container laws, cleared a final Ohio House vote on Wednesday.