Two proposed entertainment districts could bring more bars and restaurants to parts of Cincinnati that are already seeing big changes.
The Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) is applying for one of the districts along Court Street downtown, and Camp Washington's community development corporation wants to establish a similar district in a large swath of that neighborhood.
State law allows for the creation of the Community Entertainment Districts, which in turn enable the issuance of one D5-J liquor license per five acres included in the districts. Those licenses are full liquor licenses, but cannot be transferred outside the district. Nonprofit entities like 3CDC and Camp Washington's CDC must pay $1,500 to apply for the districts.
Camp Washington, a growing hub for artists, has seen a number of recent efforts to stimulate its business district, including the acquisition by the neighborhood CDC of the historic U.S. Chili Building in the heart of the district and recent rezoning aimed at boosting walkable development.
The boundaries of the proposed community entertainment district in Camp Washington are complex, but encompass much of the neighborhood and generally stretch along Colerain Avenue through Camp Washington's center. The district's 132 acres mean Camp Washington could receive up to the maximum of 15 new liquor licenses.
Court Street, meanwhile, has seen a huge burst of development — most notably the opening last month of downtown's first Kroger location in 50 years. 3CDC and other developers are also working on residential and commercial projects nearby. The proposed entertainment district would stretch between Central Parkway and Ninth Street from Central Avenue to Sycamore Street and sit between two existing entertainment districts just north in Over-the-Rhine and just south in the rest of downtown. Its 51 acres could mean as many as 10 more liquor licenses.
In both cases, the aim is to enable the addition of more restaurants and bars in the proposed districts, according to memos from city administration.
Cincinnati City Council's Economic Growth and Zoning Committee approved both districts unanimously today, clearing the way for the full council to consider them.
