Fountain Square work rounds third, heads for Opening Day

LUCY MAY / CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

February 16, 2007

 

CINCINNATI - Much of the remaining renovation on Fountain Square should be completed by April 1, in time for baseball's Opening Day.

 

Over the next few weeks, the square's new water feature will be installed, and planters will be set up around the fountain's perimeter, said Steve Leeper, president and CEO of the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp., the economic development agency in charge of the overhaul.

 

The renovation plan calls for another grove of trees to be planted, and 3CDC would like to see that done before April 1, too, he said.

 

David Ginsburg, president of the booster group Downtown Cincinnati Inc., said the renovated square will be a stark contrast to the region's gloomy February slush.

 

"By April, it's just going to look like a transformed center city, and the weather is going to be nice," Ginsburg said.

 

Leeper said the biggest remaining challenge will be the timely completion of the building for the new Vita Vite Italian bistro on the square's plaza. A separate building that will house public restrooms will be tied in structurally to the restaurant building, making construction more complicated.

 

Steel work was scheduled to begin Feb. 15, with crews working a second shift. That work might be delayed a day or so because of the weather and will require closing the main Vine Street entrance to the newly renovated Fountain Square Garage. The Walnut Street entrance and exit will remain open.

 

The goal is to finish the work on the restrooms by April 1, Leeper said. And by that time, levels of steel for the restaurant will be erected, too, added Chad Munitz, 3CDC's executive vice president for development.

 

During the first week of March, 3CDC plans to take down the new Fountain Square ice rink. It will get the fountain flowing during the third week of March.

 

While officials hoped to have the fountain flowing all winter, Leeper said that would not have been good for the statue. The agency plans to have its new water wall running all year once it is installed, he said.

 

New granite on the sidewalk area in front of the Westin Hotel and McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant along Fifth Street will be well under way but won't be finished by April 1, Leeper said.

 

He added that 3CDC also is working to fix some operational issues with the renovated Fountain Square Garage. When the garage reopened as an automated-pay facility, the only place people could pay was near the main entrance along Vine Street, he said. Leeper said 3CDC will install another automated station at the south end.

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/02/19/story10.html

Grand opening number 2, 3?

I think the term is "rolling opening"

 

Has anyone noticed that the restaurant steel is well underway? The foundations are complete and they actually have alot of steel in place, plus much of the elevator shaft for the restaurant. The "waterwall" granite is also completed.

 

The bright white steel on 5/3rd's new building sure makes their tower look even dirtier than it did before.

I don't like it.  Seems cheesy to me.  If anything, it looks a poor attempt at modern branding.  Perhaps we should be using iFountain?

Dude that's genius. They could put a billboard up off of i75 that looks like this:

 

 

What the ?! Why is my design on coffee mugs and teddy bears? I don't recall getting any royalty checks.

http://www.cafepress.com/buy/cincinnati/-/pv_design_details/pg_1/id_7638044/opt_/fpt_/c_360/

I actually like your design better....the similarities are striking though! :laugh:

 

I do think that some people with power lurk around on this forum from time to time (other than the normal forumers that is).

^The Dean?

maybe they do

^The Dean?

 

huh?!?!  :wtf:

maybe people with power do hang out here...

Martin is there something we should know about you?

nope

Martin:  nope...nothing to see here, move along people! (as he signals for the limo to come and pick him up)

What the ?! Why is my design on coffee mugs and teddy bears? I don't recall getting any royalty checks.

http://www.cafepress.com/buy/cincinnati/-/pv_design_details/pg_1/id_7638044/opt_/fpt_/c_360/

 

Dude someone stole your design.  That looks too similar.

Broomball championship set for Fountain Square

CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

February 22, 2007

 

CINCINNATI - The first "Contusion Bowl" broomball championship in Cincinnati will take place Friday on the Fountain Square ice rink.

 

Two undefeated teams, Champion Grille and the Malibu Staceys, will face off at 6:15 p.m., according to a news release.

 

A broomball league was introduced this year to help draw people to the newly renovated downtown square, which is focusing on events programming. Broomball, which combines elements of hockey and soccer, is played using sticks with small, broom-like heads, and players wear sneakers rather than ice skates.

 

The game will be shown on the square's video screen atop Macy's on Vine Street and a video will appear on YouTube at Contusion Bowl Video.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/02/19/daily44.html?f=et57&hbx=e_du

I actually like your design better....the similarities are striking though! :laugh:

...and the consumers will have no idea that they bought a product originally designed in MS Paint. Hehe.

Bock and Brats: The First Annual Cincinnati Beer Toast

 

Thursday, March 1st, the Brewery District Community Urban Redevelopment Corp. will sponsor the first-annual "Bock and Brats Cincinnati Beer Toast." The Brewery District will begin selling beer on Fountain Square at 4 p.m. Food will be provided by Kaldi's..

 

Toasts will begin at 5 p.m. Anyone and everyone is invited to take the stage and give a toast, provided that spots last. Toasts will be telecast on the Square's new jumbo screen. At 7:30 p.m., judges will declare a "Bockfest Master Toaster." The winner will receive an award plaque with their name engraved. Judges give the following guidelines for what makes a good toast:

 

1) Deliver a toast appropriate for the occasion being witty, whimsical and eloquent. Subject of the toast is loosely defined as: Bockfest, bock beer, Bockwurst, or the importance of beer to Cincinnati.

 

2) Give it from the heart, be sincere and be yourself.

 

3) Keep it simple, keep it clean, and keep it short. It's not a soapbox, it's a toast.

 

4) Speak clearly and practice, practice, practice to sound spontaneous.

 

5) End your toast clearly by announcing "Prosit!," "Cheers!," or some other word or phrase that causes the crowd to raise their glass.

 

 

 

Fountain Square garage to close Vine Street ramps in March

March 2, 2007 | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

 

CINCINNATI - The construction of a restaurant on Fountain Square will necessitate the closing of its garage's Vine Street ramps for several weeks, Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) said Friday.

 

The Vine Street entrance and exit ramps will be closed from March 5 to March 26, 3CDC said in a news release. The ramps to and from Walnut Street will remain open.

 

The ramps are being closed so workers can erect steel supports for Via Vite, the Italian restaurant slated to open in late summer on the renovated square, 3CDC said.

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/02/26/daily58.html?surround=lfn

Fountain Square's rulebook protested

JOE WESSELS | CINCINNATI POST

March 3, 2007

 

CINCINNATI - A requirement that groups using Fountain Square must have liability insurance is under review after some organizations complained the policy would shut them out of downtown's traditional gathering place.

 

The Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center learned about the policy after applying to the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp., which manages the square, for a permit for a March 19 rally against the war in Iraq.

 

The group was told it needed $1 million in special event liability insurance, said Kristen Barker, rally organizer.

 

Barker said the cost of the insurance would have been prohibitive for her group, and she feared the policy would keep other groups out of the square.

 

Another Cincinnati-based nonprofit, whose director asked not to be identified, questioned whether the square would be just for those groups that 3CDC deemed appropriate. The new policy would up the cost of using the square to about $800, the director said, about eight times what the group paid the last time.

 

Bill Donabedian, managing director of the square, doubted that cost estimate and said groups may be misreading the application for using the square. "Usually if they call and we explain it, they are copacetic, they understand."

 

Special event liability insurance typically costs $350 to $2,000, depending on various factors.

 

Events with several thousand people can cost considerably more to insure, said Marc Tessel, an agent with CAI Insurance Agency in Clifton.

 

Barker said 3CDC officials initially were unresponsive about her concerns, so she called City Council Member David Crowley.

 

He contacted Steve Leeper, 3CDC's president, saying he felt the policy would create a hardship on all small groups wanting to use the square.

 

"I am concerned that as a result of (the new policy) small groups ... will no longer be able to take advantage of Fountain Square, which, after all, belongs to all of us," Crowley wrote.

 

Robert Newman, a downtown attorney, said charging fees for a public gathering on public property might violate the rights of citizens to assemble.

 

"If they insist on this, there's going to be a line of lawyers to represent this group and I want to be at the front of the line," he said.

 

Leeper said the whole situation is a big misunderstanding that will be resolved soon. When the city, which is self-insured, rescinded its liability coverage on the square, he said, events there now place "considerable financial risk" on 3CDC. To protect itself, 3CDC mandated groups have insurance.

 

"I can assure you that we can work this out," he wrote Crowley

 

Leeper has given the peace and justice group a pass on the insurance for its March 19 event. Barker said she has been assured other small events also will get a waiver from the insurance.

 

Leeper is meeting with city leaders now to review the policy. "Our goal is not to keep anybody out."

 

Crowley said he believes a solution is near. "If they can give us a policy that no one will be excluded because of their inability to pay, then we have solved the problem."

 

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070303/NEWS02/703030344

Square to get floral blanket

Flower show to replace ice

BY JON NEWBERRY | [email protected]

 

 

Normally, April showers bring May flowers, but this year the folks in charge of Fountain Square must be taking their cue from daylight-saving time. They're a month ahead of schedule.

 

As soon as the ice skating rink is removed and the Opening Day hoopla begins to subside, downtown Cincinnati's central plaza is going to be covered with a 7,000-square-foot tapestry (roughly the same size and location as the rink) of flowers.

 

It will contain some 10,000 pansies, along with some green mulch, all courtesy of Procter & Gamble Co.

 

Cincinnati Parks will install the flowers beginning April 9, and it's expected to take four days to complete. It will remain on the plaza until April 29.

 

The pansies will be arranged to replicate "Juin," an 1930 Art Moderne tapestry by Paul Poiret that's part of the Cincinnati Art Museum's collection, although it's currently in storage.

 

The floral carpet will take up virtually the entire area in front of the Tyler Davidson Fountain and at the top of the steps along Fifth Street, save for a border or walkway of about 10 feet around the perimeter.

 

"It'll be smack dab in the middle of the plaza," said Bill Donabedian, managing director of Fountain Square.

 

The inspiration for the giant carpet of flowers downtown came from a couple of sources, including a flower exhibit Donabedian saw in Portland, Ore., and similar flower displays in Brussels, Belgium.

 

The project neatly coincides with the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden's Zoo Blooms exhibit - 80,000 tulips and more, sponsored not-so-coincidentally by P&G's Olay - that runs from April 6 to 29, and with the Cincinnati Horticultural Society's 18th anniversary Flower Show along the banks of Coney Island's Lake Como from April 21 to 29.

 

"The events that we're going to do all year long (on Fountain Square) are not paid with tax dollars. I have to go out and raise the money," Donabedian said. "This is a big event, and the first big event. P&G really wanted it to succeed ... so they decided to make it happen."

 

Downtown Cincinnati Inc. is working to get downtown retailers and restaurants to join in with flower-themed promotions. They're also working with Carew Tower, Macy's and other spots with good views of the square to open up those vantage points to the public. Fountain Square's giant video screen also will get in on the action.

 

"There's a lot going on behind the scenes," Donabedian said.

 

To come up with the flower design, Donabedian initially thought they might have a public contest, but, this being the first time around for this and other new Fountain Square events, they realized too late they would need more time. Ten-thousand pansies aren't something Cincinnati Parks can come up with on short notice, he said.

 

So the Art Museum submitted a few of its favorites, and "the one that we picked was the most dynamic," he said. P&G liked it immediately, he said.

 

To dismantle the exhibit, people will be invited to come and take some flowers home, and the rest will be planted at city parks.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070311/BIZ01/703110355/1076/BIZ

^The Dean?

 

huh?!?!  :wtf:

 

 

Huh.  Missed this the first time.  Presumably jmeck was talking about The Dean of Cincinnati?  Does he post here?

 

 

 

Having looked through the last couple pages, I'm a little confused.  Is the retail discussed on the last page that's already signed/sealed/delivered supposed to open in April? 

 

And it seems to be a long time for the announcements that were coming "shortly"...forumers want to know. 

>Presumably jmeck was talking about The Dean of Cincinnati?  Does he post here?

 

 

I made the mistake of thinking The Dean had reached the ranks of local fame shared by Marge, Pete, Karl, etc. 

Heard a rumor of two eating establishments in the old Walgreens space in Mercantile arcade thing - McDonalds & IHOP

Heard a rumor of two eating establishments in the old Walgreens space in Mercantile arcade thing - McDonalds & IHOP

 

I heard a rumor about McDonald's going there last week.

Heard a rumor of two eating establishments in the old Walgreens space in Mercantile arcade thing - McDonalds & IHOP

 

DID YOU SAY IHOP!?!?!?!?  :-P

 

 

Aside from the fact that their food is amazing, a 24 hour restaurants would obviously do downtown a lot of good. I don't like that Walgreens.

thats interesting...mcdonalds is a place i dont often remember as being absent from downtown.  anybody know when the last one was there?  even without these two as possible additions...there certainly seems to be a momentum building.  good things!

Heard a rumor of two eating establishments in the old Walgreens space in Mercantile arcade thing - McDonalds & IHOP

 

As lame as this sounds...McDonalds would be a fantastic addition downtown!  From time to time you just can't beat an unhealthy fast food meal.  Wendy's just doesn't cut it for me (even though its from Ohio).  The IHOP is more of a surprise...you see McDonalds all over in downtowns...but you don't (at least I don't) see IHOP's...pretty cool.

thats interesting...mcdonalds is a place i dont often remember as being absent from downtown.  anybody know when the last one was there?  even without these two as possible additions...there certainly seems to be a momentum building.  good things!

 

The McDonalds was in the building adjacent to where the CAC is now that contains the Indian restaurant, or possibly in a building right next to it that was torn down for the CAC.  I love McDonalds, but the place was a dump, although I can't believe they did not open somewhere else.  I believe they closed shop a year or two before the construction of the CAC, so about 7 or 8 years ago was when it closed.

"From time to time you just can't beat an unhealthy fast food meal. "

 

Exactly why Im mad that the Taco Bell on Calhoun is gone.

 

"The IHOP is more of a surprise...you see McDonalds all over in downtowns...but you don't (at least I don't) see IHOP's...pretty cool."

 

Hey if it works for downtown Detroit it could probably work in beirut, so downtown Cincinnati probably isn't a problem.

^

^

^

^

^

^

^

I meant Carl.  I have a brother named Karl.

 

The McDonald's was in a building that was demolished to build the CAC.  The restaurant had two floors, I think one in the basement.  The outside had one of those metal grate things they "remodeled" row buildings with in the 1950's and 60's.  I think there are still a few around in small cities like Hamilton and Wheeling. 

 

Does anyone remember a store in the Mercantile Arcade named "Exactitude"?  It was sort of like the Sharper Image with a lot of bizarre items.  I think they moved out around 1988.   

 

IHOP was interested, but it fell through. I think one side of the old Walgreen's could be a small food market. Can't imagine a more convenient location for office workers and for central CBD residents.

Heard a rumor of two eating establishments in the old Walgreens space in Mercantile arcade thing - McDonalds & IHOP

 

As lame as this sounds...McDonalds would be a fantastic addition downtown!  From time to time you just can't beat an unhealthy fast food meal.  Wendy's just doesn't cut it for me (even though its from Ohio).  The IHOP is more of a surprise...you see McDonalds all over in downtowns...but you don't (at least I don't) see IHOP's...pretty cool.

 

I really don't care about mcdonalds or ihop, but this means that cincinnati satisfies whatever formula these corporations use to place stores.

The old downtown Mc D's  had a huge teen loitering, homeless, truancy crowd.  The new location AND being close to govt square is a bad mix. They had better crank up the opera/classical music!

The old downtown Mc D's  had a huge teen loitering, homeless, truancy crowd.  The new location AND being close to govt square is a bad mix. They had better crank up the opera/classical music!

It's hilarious how effective that really is. When you hear Frank Sinatra being blasted right outside the Larosas in College Hill, you know whats up.

I remember going to the old Mc Donalds.  It was ghetto nasty.

The old downtown Mc D's  had a huge teen loitering, homeless, truancy crowd.  The new location AND being close to govt square is a bad mix. They had better crank up the opera/classical music!

 

Is it weird that I like that kind of music....especially Sinatra!  :laugh:  I guess that I'm not the type of person they are trying to keep away though.

The old downtown Mc D's  had a huge teen loitering, homeless, truancy crowd.  The new location AND being close to govt square is a bad mix. They had better crank up the opera/classical music!

 

Is it weird that I like that kind of music....especially Sinatra!   :laugh:  I guess that I'm not the type of person they are trying to keep away though.

 

Uh-hmm ... racial profiling I see.

Who said anything about race??  I am simply claiming that I am a nerd...nerds often times are not perceived as being very threatening...

Got a story? Tell it on the Square

March 13, 2007 | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

 

CINCINNATI - The LED video screen atop Macy's at Fountain Square could feature you this spring -- provided you have a story about the Tri-State to tell.

 

Media Bridges, Leadership Cincinnati, InkTank and Fountain Square Management Group LLC have formed a partnership to launch a communitywide video project called "Cincinnati Stories," according to a news release. The project is being supported with a grant from the Fine Arts Fund.

 

The partnership will produce videos of local citizens sharing their stories about why they love the city and region. The videos will be featured on the Fountain Square LED board, as well as online and on other public broadcasting outlets.

 

"We are creating a communitywide video scrapbook of Cincinnati's favorite places, people and experiences that are uniquely authentic to our city and region," said Tom Bishop, executive director of Media Bridges, in the release.

 

Citizens can get involved by:

 

    * Submitting a home video. Suggestions include tours of neighborhoods or other local attractions; events or festivals; or local traditions/family celebrations.

    * Visit the Cincinnati Stories video booth, which will make stops at local schools, events and public venues. The video booth will first be available this Saturday, on Fountain Square, during the St. Patrick's Day parade downtown.

 

For instructions and a submission application for a home video, or a schedule of video booth dates and places, visit CincinnatiStories.org.

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/03/12/daily14.html?surround=lfn

Who said anything about race??  I am simply claiming that I am a nerd...nerds often times are not perceived as being very threatening...

 

Nothing wrong with liking Sinatra music!  I like some of it myself.  However, I see nothing wrong with being a nerd, either......   8-)

anybody visit the square today at lunch?  there was hardly room to breathe!  amazing how seemingly "nothing" has transformed the space.  i can wait for everything to get wrapped up and for each of those restaurants to start kicking.  i never would have thought it would have such a quick impact.

Count me in as someone that isn't too enthusiastic about the Ihop.  Mcdonalds is finer (I think it is a must for every downtown) but an Ihop isn't exactly the kind of place I had in mind even for a 24 hour place. Attracts a lot of riff raff.

"From time to time you just can't beat an unhealthy fast food meal. "

 

Exactly why Im mad that the Taco Bell on Calhoun is gone.

 

"The IHOP is more of a surprise...you see McDonalds all over in downtowns...but you don't (at least I don't) see IHOP's...pretty cool."

 

Hey if it works for downtown Detroit it could probably work in beirut, so downtown Cincinnati probably isn't a problem.

 

There isn't an IHOP in downtown Detroit.  The closest one is on Jefferson Avenue (owned by Ohio's own Anita Baker).

anybody visit the square today at lunch?  there was hardly room to breathe!  amazing how seemingly "nothing" has transformed the space.  i can wait for everything to get wrapped up and for each of those restaurants to start kicking.  i never would have thought it would have such a quick impact.

 

i was down there at about 11:45. . .i have been very impressed with how many people the square draws at lunch.. ...too bad this friday is my last dayworking downtown... i will not be able to see the constant progress anymore. :( 

anybody visit the square today at lunch?  there was hardly room to breathe!  amazing how seemingly "nothing" has transformed the space.  i can wait for everything to get wrapped up and for each of those restaurants to start kicking.  i never would have thought it would have such a quick impact.

 

i was down there at about 11:45. . .i have been very impressed with how many people the square draws at lunch.. ...too bad this friday is my last dayworking downtown... i will not be able to see the constant progress anymore. :( 

 

Uhh...your last day should be the 23rd.  I believe that is when the official end date is for the co-op quarter...NO SPRING BREAK FOR YOU!

Who said anything about race??  I am simply claiming that I am a nerd...nerds often times are not perceived as being very threatening...

 

Sarcasm, Rando ... you should know by now. ;) ... Plus, I try to use the phrase "racial profiling" whenever I see an opportunity.

>Presumably jmeck was talking about The Dean of Cincinnati?  Does he post here?

 

 

I made the mistake of thinking The Dean had reached the ranks of local fame shared by Marge, Pete, Karl, etc. 

 

 

Some might say infamy! ;)

Who said anything about race??  I am simply claiming that I am a nerd...nerds often times are not perceived as being very threatening...

 

Sarcasm, Rando ... you should know by now. ;) ... Plus, I try to use the phrase "racial profiling" whenever I see an opportunity.

 

I should have known...my bad.  But the nerd status still stands...really anyone active on here is granted nerd status by the nerd gods.  Its just a fact that when you take more pictures of buildings than people = NERD...when you spend you free time discussing the merits and details of demographics and what not = NERD.  Everyone has their thing though.

At least the rink will be gone by Friday so the whole thing will be opened up. Hopefully they'll put the furniture out at that time. I think they should. The waterwall over by 5/3rd looks great by the way: cool Longfellow peom about Cincinnati on there. I also see they're filling up the planters with dirt.

From the Enquirer . . and I 'm not happy!

 

Fountain Day event cancelled

BY JON NEWBERRY | [email protected]

 

DOWNTOWN - Much of the construction work still cluttering Fountain Square – five months after its official reopening, which itself was delayed five weeks – is now expected to wrap up by Opening Day. But Fountain Square Management has cancelled an earlier event that was intended to be a new annual rite of spring.

 

Fountain Day was to have celebrated the Tyler Davidson Fountain’s historic role as a symbol of Cincinnati, showcasing the return of flowing waters to the iconic Genius of Water’s outstretched arms after the long winter drought.

 

It had been scheduled for March 19, according to the square’s online calendar, and then was moved to March 30.

 

 

Now it looks as if the water will simply be turned on again as it has been in the past, on Opening Day (April 2) prior to the Findlay Market Parade, Bill Donabedian, managing director of Fountain Square for Cincinnati Center City Development Corp., said this week.

 

The cancellation of Fountain Day was due to a lack of time and a lack of interest, he said.

 

“I had a concept, but it’s just not getting – people just don’t get it,” he said.

 

The idea was to recreate some of the history behind the Bavarian-made bronze fountain that was commissioned by Cincinnati industrialist Henry Probasco in honor of his deceased brother-in-law and business partner Tyler Davidson.

 

It was initially installed on a Fifth Street esplanade in 1871 after a public market was torn down to make room for it -- with the provision that the site be operated as a market at least once a year.

 

In earlier times, that requirement was satisfied by having the mayor buy a flower from a ceremonial flower girl each spring, a custom Donabedian hoped to revive as part of Fountain Day.

 

Also, upon installation of the fountain in 1871, it was discovered that water pressure downtown was too meager for the water to reach the Genius of Water’s outstretched hands, so volunteers worked overnight to dig a ditch down the middle of Vine Street to extend a pipeline from a Mount Auburn reservoir.

 

That undertaking provided an historical basis for other proposed elements of Fountain Day, but they have all now been dropped.

 

With so many other events to plan and co-ordinate – see the full calendar at MyFountainSquare.com – Donabedian said he didn’t have time for a hard sell.

 

Meanwhile, the bulk of the construction – and deconstruction, in the case of the ice skating rink – on the plaza at Fifth and Vine streets is almost done, according to Chad Munitz, executive vice president of 3CDC.

 

Work nearing completion includes a 20-foot-long “water wall” east of the fountain; cordoned-off sections of the plaza north and northeast of the fountain, and the public restrooms.

 

The mostly barren planters around the square are being filled with flowers and more trees, said Munitz, who’s overseeing construction activities. Tables and chairs also should be placed around the plaza as soon as the last remnants of the ice rink are removed this week.

 

The water wall is meant to be an interactive feature, particularly for kids, who can walk right up to the 6-foot-high wall and stick their hands into the flowing water.

 

The space next to the wall has been inscribed with the words of the 18th century American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, whose poem Catawba Wine caused Cincinnati to become known as the Queen City of the West.

 

Some things still won’t be done until later: the Fifth Third building’s façade and the north end of the plaza that’s serving as a staging area for that work, scheduled to be completed in June or July; the two-story Italian bistro Via Vite, late July or early August; and the new sidewalk along Fifth Street in front of the U.S. Bank building, late April or early May.

 

And as yet there is no word from Fifth Third Bancorp about any tenants for the 14,500 square feet of available space it owns that abuts the square on the north and east, including the former Visitors Center at the base of the Fifth Third Tower at Fifth and Walnut streets.

 

The bank’s leasing agent announced in January that tenants had signed leases for half of the space, but bank spokeswoman Stephanie Honan said that’s not the case.

 

The bank has letters of intent and is working on final lease language with five prospective tenants, she said. None have been identified publicly.

 

Soaking up some early afternoon sun this week amid the clatter of jackhammers and generators, Hosea Smith Jr., a front desk coordinator for Ipsos who works nearby in the Chiquita Center and lives in Mount Auburn, said August still sounded like a pretty ambitious timetable for completing the work.

 

“September, but I’m not holding my breath,” said Smith, 33, who visits the square several times a week.

 

Another of the many people who were enjoying this week’s spring-like weather on Fountain Square, Laura Huss, a software developer for Kroger Co., said it was her first visit since the plaza was shut down for reconstruction.

 

Her reaction?

 

“It’s a work in progress. We’ll see,” said the 36-year-old Fort Thomas resident, gazing out at workers who were trying to figure out how to get rid of the remaining ice on the rink’s now-exposed coolant coils.

 

Donabedian said fixing leaks and waterproofing the plaza, work that was often interrupted by rain, had led to numerous construction delays.

 

“This project has had a lot of those,” Donabedian said.

 

But he expressed confidence that the project was nearing completion: “By Oktoberfest (Sept. 22-23), you shouldn’t see another crane or hear another jackhammer.”