Bourbon Street is coming: Open-container bill signed

Want to enjoy adult beverages in public? Scroll to the bottom of this story and rank the Cincinnati neighborhoods in which you'd like to see open-container zones.

COLUMBUS -- Gov. John Kasich signed a bill Thursday allowing cities to create open-container districts, but a possible drinking zone in The Banks won't be ready in time for the All-Star Game after all.

Under the new law, cities or townships of more than 35,000 people are allowed to establish one or two outdoor-drinking zones. Revelers will be able to buy alcohol from bars in the district and stroll around outside. The vision: create a Bourbon Street or Beale Street in cities such as Cincinnati.

Officials from The Banks, the Cincinnati Reds and the City of Cincinnati had lobbied for the legislation's speedy passage, apparently to create an outdoor-drinking zone at the riverfront ahead of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in July. Lawmakers voted to allow the law to take effect immediately, citing All-Star Game planning as a reason to waive the typical 90-day wait period.

But city officials said Thursday they won't rush to create an open-container zone in The Banks before the big game. Instead, the city said in a statement, outdoor drinking that week will take place via special-event permits like the one in use on Opening Day. The permits allow alcohol purchases from special nonprofit street vendors, but fans can't grab a beer from a local bar and take it into the street.

That's fine with Jim Moehring, owner of the Holy Grail bar on Joe Nuxhall Way.

"Anytime there's a street event down there, we have increased traffic. It's going to work out great," Moehring said.

Meanwhile, The Banks is considering options for establishing an open-container district, spokeswoman Libby Korosec said. The riverfront businesses and developer, along with the Reds and the Bengals, must first decide how they'd want the district to operate, Moehring said.

"Are we going to program the streets every Friday and Saturday? Are we going to put bands out there? Who's paying for the bands and the (police) protection? Are we going to cordon it off?" Moehring said. And, he said, how would the drinking zone operate during The Banks' typical block-party functions, with their nonprofit street vendors?

Kasich's signature Thursday kicked the process to the City of Cincinnati. The next step, pending approval from the Cincinnati Council, will include a period in which neighborhoods and residents can give input on where Cincinnati should put its one or two open-container zones. Drinking zones can be no more than a half-mile square and must include at least four alcohol-permit holders.

Some have suggested Over-the-Rhine's brewery district would serve as an ideal open-container zone. But the OTR Community Council voted last year against seeking such a district in the neighborhood, council President Ryan Messer said. He said he'd support putting an outdoor-drinking zone in The Banks instead.

"While Over-the-Rhine has seen a number of restaurants and bars locate in our neighborhood, it's still the home of thousands of residents," Messer said. "People don't want to see Vine Street turning into Bourbon Street, and I don't think we want to see 14th Street turning into Bourbon Street."

Nonprofit OTR developer 3CDC already has an alcohol permit in Washington Park, which allows it to sell local beers such as Taft's Ale House and MadTree. 3CDC doesn't plan to apply for an additional open-containers district, Anastasia Mileham said.

City officials will vet the proposals they do receive, and City Manager Harry Black will then recommend one or two locations to City Council. Under the law, the council must then wait another 30 days for public input before creating the open-container districts.

"We want to get as many people involved in the process as possible," Black said in a statement. "We don't want to be in a situation where these are occurring in places where people don't want them."

Cincinnati may not be the only city in Southwest Ohio that will create an open-container district.

The law allows cities or townships with more than 50,000 people to create two zones and those with more than 35,000 people to create one. Outdoor drinking zones must include at least four alcohol permit holders. Cities and townships of any size have the option of creating their own, smaller districts after two years.

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