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Hamilton County continues development work: headquarter hotel, Lot 24 RFP, stadium assessments and parking-contract review
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Summary
Commissioners and administration discussed progress on the convention headquarter hotel (design development), reissuing a Lot 24 RFP, a county facility assessment at Great American Ballpark and raised questions about parking contracts and leveraging projects.
During the Jan. 14 staff meeting commissioners pressed administration for updated information about several development and revenue-related items after the 2025 work plan overview.
County administrator Jeff Alito said the convention headquarter hotel is in design development and that environmental work will begin soon; financing gaps remain under negotiation. He also said the county will reissue an RFP for Lot 24 to solicit development proposals for the parcel that has existing parking infrastructure. "We actually did... put out an RFP, and we received bids on that to develop that site... so this would just be a reissuing of that RFP to get development proposals on the site," Alito said.
Alito said the county will conduct a facility-condition assessment for Great American Ballpark while the Cincinnati Reds invest in separate studies focused on revenue opportunities. Commissioners asked whether the county’s assessments should consider nearby arena proposals and how projects could be leveraged together rather than handled as isolated "one-offs."
Commissioner Alicia Reese asked administration to provide the RFP language, to explain joint city–county coordination on Lot 24 and to supply parking-contract details. Reese questioned long-term parking concessions that allocate percentages of parking revenue on event days and noted some contracts lack end dates.
Administration committed to produce a board summary and additional information on the hotel, Lot 24 RFP and parking contracts so commissioners can evaluate leverage strategies and revenue implications.
Next steps: administration will deliver RFP materials, a board summary on Lot 24 and details on parking contracts and timelines; commissioners requested a fuller report on how large projects could be coordinated to maximize public benefit.
