Plan to boost Downtown: more bars

Downtown developer Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation is pitching a plan to bring more bar and entertainment venues Downtown, despite state laws that cap the number of liquor licenses allowed within city limits.

The developer has requested the city add two community entertainment districts to Downtown, which would allow for up to 21 new liquor licenses.

• The Downtown West Entertainment District would help attract tenants along the Race Street Corridor that connects the convention center to Fountain Square, which is anchored by the dunnhumbyUSA building. The designation would allow the Ohio Department of Liquor Control to issue up to six new liquor licenses. 3CDC, which developed the dunnhumbyUSA project, would control all six licenses.

• The Downtown East Entertainment District would help attract tenants to the rest of Downtown with boundaries as far south as Third Street and as far north as Ninth Street. It is designed to help attract and retain new businesses to Downtown and to help small businesses and "lunch-only" businesses expand their hours. The designation would allow the Ohio Department of Liquor Control to issue up to 15 new liquor licenses, the maximum allowed.

"(These) CED designation(s) will assist in our mission to attract and retain new businesses, residents and restaurants in our urban core and increase the vitality of our city as a whole," 3CDC officials wrote in the application.

Next: Council must approve the applications. Then it would go to the state for approval.

The idea was vetted Monday by Cincinnati City Council's Neighborhoods Committee, where the idea garnered two votes, sending the idea to full council.

Vice Mayor David Mann and Councilman Wendell Young voted yes. Council members Yvette Simpson and Kevin Flynn abstained. Simpson was concerned a developer would have so much control over the West district.

"More restaurants and more entertainment venues, including bars, are good for Downtown – they attract visitors, create jobs, and it's part of the urban scene we are in the midst of developing," Mann said.

Mayor John Cranley supports the plan, which has support from the majority of council.

The Ohio Division of Liquor Control allows the city 149 liquor permits for nightclubs and restaurants. The city has 161 permits – 12 over the limit, according to the state. There are 24 businesses on the waiting list.

The number of permits is based on population; the city's population drop in the 2010 census put it over its liquor permit limit. The state does not take them away, but it will not issue new ones either.

The wait time to get an existing license is believed to be four years. The only other alternative is for a business owner to buy one from another business, which can cost as much as $30,000.

In 2005, the state created Community Entertainment Districts to encourage growth of restaurants and entertainment businesses.

In 2008, City Council approved the city's first two Community Entertainment Districts at the The Banks. Since then, City Council has approved eight other Community Entertainment Districts, including one in Over-the-Rhine. The OTR district allows for 15 permits; 11 are in use.

Other Community Entertainment Districts in Cincinnati

The Banks

Pleasant Ridge

Northside

Price Hill

Over-the-Rhine

Madisonville

Short Vine

Clifton Heights-University Heights-Fairview

College Hill

3 East: East End, ColumbiaTusculum, and Linwood

Who wins

Cincinnati sees increased earnings tax from new bars and restaurants

Hamilton County sees increased sales tax

Ohio see increased liquor license revenue

Concerns:

Who should control the liquor licenses