Entertainment district: Demolition deal OK’d for riverfront land in West Carrollton

The city of West Carrollton plans to demolish properties it owns on Marina Drive. NICK BLIZZARD/STAFF

The city of West Carrollton plans to demolish properties it owns on Marina Drive. NICK BLIZZARD/STAFF

UPDATE: Feb. 13 8:50 a.m.: A measure to award a contract with Green City Demolition to tear down three buildings on Marina Drive was approved by West Carrollton City Council Tuesday night.

The Cincinnati-based company now under contract with the city to demolish Carrollton Plaza is prepared to begin work on Marina Drive as soon as the new contract is signed and complete the project within 60 days, city records show.

EARLIER REPORT

Buildings owned by the city on the riverfront near Interstate 75 may be torn down by May if West Carrollton hires the firm clearing nearby land seen as the anchor site for a future entertainment district.

The city tonight is proposing to hire Green City Demolition to level buildings at 5449, 5641 and 5649 Marina Drive for work to be completed within 60 days of a signed contract, West Carrollton records show.

“Green City is prepared to quickly begin demolition work on the Marina Drive properties upon contract award,” according to city records.

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The Cincinnati company is demolishing the 13.75-acre former Carrollton Plaza across the street, a factor in its ability to submit the lowest of three bids on the Marina Drive project, said Mike Lucking, the city’s economic development director.

“It certainly reflects in the bid that they provided,” Lucking said. “They’re already mobilized at the site. So, their equipment is in place.

“So, they are simply able to take the stuff across the street, crush it and put it back on the site,” he added. “I think it’s just common sense efficient. There’s efficiency built in for them since they’re already there.”

Green City bid $99,648 for the Marina Drive demolition, which – with other city lots - would give West Carrollton nearly 5 contiguous acres of vacant land along the riverfront.

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O’Rourke Wrecking submitted a proposal for $145,600, and Charles Jurgens bid $150,971, city records show.

Legislation to allow the second West Carrollton contract with Green City since last fall is set to be voted on by city council when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Montgomery County is prepared to assist the project by providing $31,000 in funding, according to the city.

City officials hope the Marina Drive and Carrollton Plaza land play key roles developing an entertainment district, a concept years in the making.

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In 2012, a 600-acre, $110 million entertainment district was proposed in West Carrollton. In 2014, the city received state approval for a community entertainment district in the area of Dixie Drive and Central Avenue.

With the former Carrollton Plaza and the Marina Drive sites, the city is direct control of about 19 acres immediately off Exit 47 of I-75, which officials view as the city’s gateway.

The city bought the vacant properties at 5449 and 5649 Marina late last year in a deal City Manager Brad Townsend would cost West Carrollton about $482,000.

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