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Photo By Jymi Bolden
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Over-the-Rhine business owners are glad the city is
paying attention, but have mixed feelings about a
consultant John Elkington.
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Uberdeveloper John Elkington says Chinese businessmen "use different math," but some things about the man himself aren't adding up.
The man singing the praises of diversity won't rent to Chinese restaurants.
The man who says he's concerned about all the residents of Main Street wants the Mary Magdalen House moved away from his proposed entertainment district.
The man Cincinnati City Councilman John Cranley says has Over-the-Rhine business owners clamoring seems to have them thrilled more by city attention than the developer himself -- and has some so alarmed they've considered hiring a lobbyist to keep him away.
The man flaunting the success of Memphis' Beale Street has bowed out of developments in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Knoxville, Tenn., and has the mayor of Shreveport, La., fuming about overdue payments on a $5 million loan, according to The Shreveport Times.
Move the charities
Cranley and Mayor Charlie Luken have proposed paying Elkington $100,000 for consulting services in Cincinnati.
Elkington and his boosters make much of his commitment to diversity -- African Americans own 35 percent of Beale Street businesses, according to Cranley. But at a recent Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Elkington told the crowd that years in development have taught him to never rent to a Chinese restaurant.
"If it's an inside joke to developers, we didn't get it," Charter Committee city council candidate John Schlagetter says.
Elkington says the comment was meant as a joke, but it's true that he doesn't rent to Chinese restaurants.
"I just made that a policy," he says. "Chinese businessmen are hagglers. They use different math."
He questions the Main Street location of Mary Magdalen House, which provides showers for Over-the-Rhine homeless.
"We all believe strongly in trying to help people, but there are certain places you should have things," Elkington says. "There ought to be other places you can have that."
The concentration of 38 social service agencies in Over-the-Rhine brings in a lot of people who are poor and have problems, he says. He thinks other areas of Cincinnati should help "bear that burden."
James Wills, a Main Street resident for three years, worries that development alone will drive out many of his fellow African Americans by driving up rent.
"Lower income couldn't afford it, to live on Main Street," he says.
Two previous studies of Over-the-Rhine, one by the Urban Land Institute in 1996 and the Over-the-Rhine Comprehensive Plan of 2002, have already dealt with issues such as growth and the possible displacement of residents.
Years later, however, few of those studies' recommendations have been implemented. Maybe that's where Elkington comes in.
"Sometimes it takes people to focus in on what are the problems and how do you move them forward," he says.
"Sometimes it might take somebody from outside to get a few things done," says Mike Uhlenhake.
An architect and urban planner, Uhlenhake speaks for fellow residents on the OTR Economic Group, formerly known as Merchants on Main. He's unsure what Elkington could do about crime and cleanliness.
"But if the city is paying him money, maybe they'd give him a lot more room to get something done about it," he says.
Perhaps Elkington's value lies in his development and planning background coupled with an outsider's take on Cincinnati, says Leah Fieler, who opened Cafecito and Studio Metropolitan with her mother three months ago on Main Street.
"I can see the point of view where we need a fresh perspective on things," she says.
That sentiment disturbs Dawn Schwartzman, co-owner of ISI, which designs corporate spaces and has an office on 14th Street. She wonders why Cranley and Luken would spend $100,000 on the Memphis-based developer when firms in Cincinnati might offer free consultation.
"You're considered more of an expert if you're from out of town," Schwartzman says. "Why are we going outside when we've got the talent right here?"
Businesses in Over-the-Rhine are asking for help, Cranley says. In fact, local support was the only reason he brought Elkington back for a second visit, he says.
"They want us to bring in John," Cranley says.
A statement released by the OTR Economic Group's 11 board members says, "Though we met the original 'Beale Street' development buzz with some serious trepidation, we have come to a place of openness, with regards to outside influences over the focused development in OTR. John Cranley's office has assured us a voice and formal representation."
Talking with a number of Over-the-Rhine business owners reveals similar enthusiasm and gratitude for the city's attention -- but wariness toward Elkington himself and confusion about his potential role in the neighborhood they've worked hard to rebuild.
Uhlenhake says initially "everybody here was extremely concerned" that Elkington's ideas would take the district in a direction that wasn't sustainable by bringing in artificially placed outside businesses.
"There are great things happening right now," such as increased home ownership and renovation, Uhlenhake says. "We don't want that to get screwed up."
Jim Moll, of Jim Moll's Leasing, which handles properties in Over-the-Rhine, thinks too much has been made of Elkington's reported ties to chains such as Hard Rock Café and ESPN Zone.
"When you meet with him, that's not what he's pushing at all," he says.
Cranley says a Hard Rock Café has been ruled out in response to overwhelming opposition and an ESPN Zone remains a possibility "if and only if" existing Main Street tenants and residents approve.
Moll agrees with Elkington that Main Street has "painted itself into a corner" by catering to a particular age group, the 18- to 25-year-old crowd that Elkington calls fickle.
"It's our understanding at this point that (Elkington's) role is to attract business to the neighborhood," he says.
He hopes Elkington will convince Graeter's and a chili parlor -- reluctant local chains "that really should be stepping up to bat" -- to open stores in Over-the-Rhine.
One or two theme-oriented restaurants where people take their children might benefit Main Street, Moll says.
However, he thinks what Main Street really lacks are businesses that cater to the urban core, such as a video store, a bookstore offering periodicals, copy and shipping companies, a post office and a shoe repair store.
'Controlled meetings'
Nick Spencer, a Charter Committee candidate for city council and Over-the-Rhine resident, has provided the most vocal opposition to hiring Elkington.
"New urban residents are looking for authentic, upscale entertainment and culture with an edge," Spencer says. "They shun areas built on novelty bars and theme restaurants. If Cincinnati wants to become an attractive place for young people and the creative class ... we must continue to support organic, market-driven growth."
Cranley says detractors such as Spencer are wedded to the status quo. Spencer accuses him of the same. The Main Street debate reflects "our city's unwillingness to let go of an old, outdated model for growth," Spencer says.
The "incredible passion and energy" evolving from an organic boom in new businesses and condo owners in Over-the-Rhine could manifest into the natural branding of the area, Schwartzman says.
Spencer and Schwartzman were the only two allowed to question Elkington at the chamber luncheon, according to Schwartzman. She says Luken made it clear the issue is closed to questions and discussions.
Elkington and his supporters held "these little controlled meetings at Kaldi's and Mr. Pitifuls" which she says offered "rehearsed communication which was purposely vague."
Some Over-the-Rhine businesses have considered hiring a lobbyist to keep Elkington at bay, according to Schwartzman, but then maybe Elkington's involvement could be a good thing.
"We're kind of just trying to figure out, if this goes, how do we get a voice in it," she says.
Besides, Schwartzman thinks it's a done deal.
"We don't want to shoot ourselves in the foot," she says. "If he is on board, I want to be friends with him."
Elkington says his development company will come to Cincinnati only if its studies find enough property to develop and economic opportunity to mine.
"If we come, we'll be developers," he says. "We're not just interested in doing a plan."
Past mistakes have made him cautious.
"My mother didn't raise a kamikaze pilot," he says.
Elkington will continue building relationships and put together a list of potential tenants, Cranley says.
Schlagetter suggests that if the city wants to pay Elkington for his contacts, he should be paid on commission like other real estate brokers rather than giving him $100,000 and telling him to "go out and try real hard."
"If what they're retaining his services for is to negotiate leasing deals, I don't think it's unreasonable that he be paid for performance," Schlagetter says. ©
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