From the editor: Brent Spence Bridge isn't the only project we need to get right

Beryl Love, Cincinnati Enquirer
Updated ·4 min read
A tied arch design is one option for the companion bridge that will be built next to the existing Brent Spence Bridge. Ohio and Kentucky officials used this rendering when they applied for federal funding, calling it a "preliminary concept."
A tied arch design is one option for the companion bridge that will be built next to the existing Brent Spence Bridge. Ohio and Kentucky officials used this rendering when they applied for federal funding, calling it a "preliminary concept."

In the past, John Cranley and I have had our share of spirited debates.

The former Cincinnati mayor wasn’t shy about calling me if he didn’t like The Enquirer’s coverage of issues he was involved in, ranging from bike lane funding to the influence developers have over city officials.

So we shared a laugh during a recent Enquirer editorial board meeting when we found a point we agreed on, namely, that a group he lobbies for, Bridge Forward, won’t derail the long-awaited Brent Spence Bridge project by asking for design changes that would restore 30 acres of developable land and better connect downtown to neighborhoods west of Interstate 75.

Former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, left, joins Brian Boland of Bridge Forward and Greg Fischer of Fischer Homes to obtain City Council's support for design changes to the Brent Spence corridor project.
Former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, left, joins Brian Boland of Bridge Forward and Greg Fischer of Fischer Homes to obtain City Council's support for design changes to the Brent Spence corridor project.

Bridge Forward, a grassroots group that has support from Cincinnati City Council, calls its effort a “once in a century opportunity to get it right.” So where’s the pushback?

Some, including the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, say redesigning the access roads on the Ohio side of the bridge might delay or even jeopardize the project.

Q&A: What the new Ohio River bridge may look like, and why its price is rising

The decision ultimately rests with the Ohio Department of Transportation, which already has engaged Bridge Forward and local government officials as plans take shape. Groundbreaking on what is anticipated to be a seven-year construction project is scheduled for November, and I don’t see Bridge Forward, or anyone else for that matter, slowing down the momentum sparked by $1.6 billion in federal funding secured from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bridge Investment Program.

Beyond the bridge

There’s a lot of buzz lately around what the future holds for downtown Cincinnati. While the Brent Spence corridor project and plans to build a new hotel as part of an expanded convention center dominate the headlines, the truth is more than a dozen projects that will transform our city are in the works.

This month, The Enquirer launched a major project of its own – The Future of Downtown. The series of special reports started with Randy Tucker’s look at how Downtown is shifting from the region’s workplace to a residential and entertainment hub. No less than seven structures – including the iconic Carew Tower and PNC Bank buildings – are on their way to becoming apartments and condos as demand increases for downtown housing.

Sydney Franklin, who joined The Enquirer last year to expand our coverage of real estate and development, details these projects and more in an interactive report that lists 16 developments to watch.

More to come

In the weeks ahead, our Future of Downtown project will not only inform but also serve as a platform for you to weigh in. Our first live event will take place 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at The Hearth Room in Downtown Cincinnati. It's your opportunity to meet our reporting team in a casual setting, ask questions and offer your thoughts on stories we should pursue. If the past is any indication – remember the debates over where to build what is now Great American Ball Park, and more recently, the controversy over parking lot space for Bengals tailgating at The Banks? – there will be no shortage of opinions on the best path forward.

But here’s one thing I hope we can all agree on: We do need to get it right. We need to ensure future generations benefit from the decisions made today. In that spirit, I hope the growing support around Bridge Forward's vision for the bridge project influences the planners at ODOT. What's on the line if we miss the opportunity?

Sometimes, it takes the eyes of a newcomer to remind us how special Cincinnati is. Justin Wyborn, who earlier this year took over as president of Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, shared his perspective on a recent episode of The Enquirer’s That’s So Cincinnati podcast:

“This really is like a little hidden gem of a city,” Wyborn said. “It's one of those things that you don't really hear that much about, Cincinnati. But when you come up here, it has so much to offer.

“It is mind-blowing what it has to offer.”

Enquirer Executive Editor Beryl Love writes a biweekly column that takes you behind the scenes at The Enquirer. Occasionally, he shares his thoughts on local issues, particularly as they pertain to a free press and open government. Email him at blove@enquirer.com. He can’t respond personally to every email, but he reads them all.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Editor Beryl Love Brent Spence and future of downtown Cincinnati