HOLLYWOOD DEVELOPMENT PLANS
■ A destination Marriott hotel and attached, publicly owned convention center with roof-top bar, themed restaurant and assorted amenities.
■ A second, familyoriented hotel and water park.
■ A third, historic, boutique hotel located within the adaptively redeveloped First National Bank building.
■ A major, indoor entertainment and concert venue for large, nationally and internationally acclaimed artists and touring Broadway productions.
■ An indoor amusement park containing multiple, themed entertainmentbased rides, virtual reality experiences, immersive entertainment opportunities and integrated retail, food and beverage.
■ Structured and integrated underground deck-based publiclyowned parking with more than 3,000 spaces.
■ On-site, mid-rise, luxury, market-rate apartment units and/or condominiums.
■ Permanent, pre- and post-production motion picture studio sound stages and support offices and infrastructure.
■ Multiple restaurants, bars, brewpubs, and cafes, and a likely comedy club.
■ Integrated fashion, electronic, lifestyle, convenience, and recreational retail.
MIDDLETOWN
WHAT RESIDENTS ARE SAYING
Twenty-two Middletown residents spoke during Thursday night’s special City Council meeting, and a large majority said they’re against the proposed $1.3 billion Hollywoodland, an entertainment and destination project planned near the Great Miami River and historic downtown.
Here are some of their comments:
Steve Hightower, president of Hightower Petroleum:
He called Hollywoodland “an opportunity to do something great” and the city “cannot be afraid of progress.” Then he added: “A city without vision will perish. We have been dying for a long time in this city.”
Pastor Lamar Ferrell, Berachah Church:
He told council members they have “a very difficult job” and asked them to “pause” and make a decision they “can live with.”
Marty Kohler, former city planner:
He wanted to know why a project of this magnitude appears to be rushed and that causes citizens to “lose faith and trust in local government.”
Josh Laubach, owner of Rolling Mill Brewing Co. near where Hollywoodland is planned:
He questioned why the developers from Main Street Community
Capital LLC, weren’t investing in the city. He said that shows they“care very little about this town.”
He told the five council members their vote will “control the city’s destiny” and residents are “clamoring against this.”
She encouraged council to reject the proposal. “It’s just plain wrong.”
The longtime attorney said he has read the “massive contract” and some of the language doesn’t make sense. “It doesn’t pass the smell test,”he said. He said the city could spend $7.5 million in ARPA funds and get nothing in return.
He said growing up in Middletown as a young boy he dreamed of becoming a teacher and joining the circus. He taught in the Middletown district for 35 years, he said.“Right now as I speak, I have accomplished both.”
Joseph Cox: Renae Fossum: Brian Duba: James Stiver: