opinion

Editorial: Stadium deal not perfect, but still good for West End

The West End community can experience generational transformation if FC Cincinnati's plan to build a new soccer stadium on the site of Stargel Stadium comes to pass.

Yet based on history, it's understandable that many neighborhood residents are resistant. To the average citizen, urban renewal translates into "gentrification," which has become an ugly word. But if done right, revitalization in one of Cincinnati’s most historic (and formerly prized neighborhoods) can be a boon for the city and the residents of the West End. If done right, the soccer stadium project could usher in multi-income housing, safer streets and greater economic opportunities in a long-neglected area.

To be clear, the neighborhood will change in ways that can be predicted and in some that cannot. Some renters might, indeed, be displaced as the economic market in the neighborhood grows and landlords increase rent or sell their properties. While West End homeowners could see their home values increase, some might not be able to afford the higher property taxes that go along with it. These are real-life factors and legitimate concerns of residents that cannot be overlooked or easily dismissed.

Long-term, West End residents stand to benefit more from this project than be hurt by it. Development will come to the neighborhood eventually, and it could come from developers without the same willingness to work with the community that FC Cincinnati has shown. Many feel the soccer club could and should do more financially. And community leaders are right to push for the best deal possible for neighborhood residents and businesses. But it's unfair to suggest what FC Cincinnati is offering are crumbs.

The club has agreed to pay $25 million in taxes to Cincinnati Public Schools, $10 million of which will be paid upfront for the first 10 years. Those dollars will benefit the district's 36,000 students, including those in the West End. In addition, the team will spend $10 million to build a new Stargel Stadium for CPS. The school board deserves credit for the way it has handled an otherwise messy, on-again-off-again negotiation with FC Cincinnati. Board members refused to be rushed into a decision or bend to artificial deadlines imposed by FC Cincinnati designed to pressure them into making a quick call. The school board operated with full transparency, holding out for the best deal for district taxpayers and students, the constituents they were elected to represent. As a result, the district, which voted 6-0 to approve the land swap Tuesday, came out a big winner.

FC Cincinnati has also agreed to pay $3 million to the West End, which will be paid at a rate of $100,000 a year for 30 years. The money will support community arts, sports and business creation efforts. The soccer club has also promised minority involvement in the construction of its $200 million, 21,000-seat stadium, including $54.4 million for inclusion and $16 million for construction jobs that will pay prevailing wage. The city has also pledged to use FC Cincinnati's 66 parcels in the West End to build $15 million of new, affordable housing. These are significant gains for the West End.

Some residents have lived through broken promises, including the Hope VI program, a federal initiative meant to revitalize some of the worst public housing projects in the U.S. into mixed-income developments. And this stadium endeavor has exposed some of the deficiencies with community councils and not having some form of ward or district representation on Cincinnati City Council. It is troubling that the voices of certain neighborhood councils are heard more loudly and clearly by council members than others.

City Council and City Hall must assure West End residents are protected, that the neighborhood's community council is supported and that FC Cincinnati is held accountable for living up to its bargain. Council should be exploring options to aid residents to ensure they won't be priced out of their homes and working with organizations such as the African-American Chamber of Commerce, the Urban League, NAACP and others so West End residents and businesses have the training, credentials and skills to take full advantage of the economic opportunities this project will present. West End residents and businesses must be allowed to share in the wealth not become collateral damage.

FC Cincinnati has fumbled this stadium site selection process from the start. President and General Manager Jeff Berding has spent a lot of political capital and lost some credibility with stunts like the bogus March 31 deadline with the school board, leveraging sites against each other and statements such as "If you don't want us, we won't build here." But the soccer club still has a tremendous opportunity to set a new paradigm, not just in the West End, but for all of Cincinnati. Not only can the Lindners and their franchise expose soccer to a new demographic, but they can begin to heal decades of mistrust between developers and African-Americans. Or, they can just be the latest in a long line of dishonest salesmen out to fleece the community.

There is no such thing as the perfect deal. This is a good one.

Opinion Editor Kevin S. Aldridge writes this on behalf of the editorial board which includes, President Eddie Tyner, Executive Editor Beryl Love, Senior News Director Michael McCarter, Audience Engagement Editor Katie Vogel and Columnist Byron McCauley. He can be reached at kaldridge@enquirer.com. Twitter: @kevaldrid.