The Booksellers on Fountain Square owner Neil Van Uum is demanding answers from the City of Cincinnati as his shop languishes amid efforts to redevelop the former Macy's building Downtown.

Van Uum says his sales have plummeted 25% after the department store closed in spring 2018 and retail neighbors Palomino restaurant and Tiffany & Co. either closed or moved away. He says the building's new owner, nonprofit Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC), is threatening to evict him amid a dispute over access and operations near his store.

"The city has worked to encourage retailers to open stores downtown," Van Uum wrote to Mayor John Cranley and other city officials in an April 22 letter. "I did that based on a shopping center lease I signed, backed by an agreement with the city, that Fountain Place was and would remain a shopping center."

3CDC said it has only owned the building for a few months and has been trying to work things out with Van Uum as it develops its plans for the site. In an April 26 email with the city, the group indicates Van Uum has withheld rent payments.

"3CDC has made no material changes to the building’s operations since purchasing the structure, and is currently working on a plan to market the available retail space at this key location in Downtown Cincinnati," said 3CDC spokesman Joe Rudemiller.

But Van Uum said he's concerned retail will be a smaller part of 3CDC's plans: he's heard Kroger will take over the building, moving office workers from Blue Ash. He also said 3CDC has not engaged with him in meaningful discussions.

3CDC officials did not address Van Uum's Kroger comments. The group has indicated it envisions converting the building into a mixed-use development with offices and street-level commercial space.

City officials did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Van Uum said the city has made no efforts to place new retailers in the building and accused the city of "shunning" other potential buyers of the plaza in favor or 3CDC, which acquired the property for $7.5 million in January.

3CDC says that's not true. Since taking control of the property, it has met with potential "major" tenants; consulted with architects over potential renovations and redevelopment; and begun talks with a broker about seeking future retail and restaurant tenants.

3CDC notes Van Uum signed a written agreement in December saying his there were no problems with his lease. Customers still have Vine Street access to the bookstore, which has a streetside entrance.

3CDC acknowledges the Vine Street escalator to the second floor broke down early this year and that it locked the Race Street doors to the common area for safety purposes. But the group said it has made no major changes at the property.

The flap emerges more than two months after Mayor John Cranley said a "major announcement" regarding the plaza's future was "coming soon."

Today, the 210,000-square-foot building across from Fountain Square is mostly vacant.

While 3CDC purchased the building from a group of investors, the land it sits on is still owned by the city.

Fifth Third Bank, furthermore, controls the air rights above the three-story structure.

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