Demolition deal would clear land on riverfront by May

West Carrollton would be step closer to a new entertainment district.

Buildings WEST CARROLLTON — owned by the city on the riverfront near Interstate 75 may be torn down by May if West Carrollton hires the firm clearing nearby land seen as the anchor site for a future entertainment district.

The city tonight is proposing to hire Green City Demolition to level buildings at 5449, 5641 and 5649 Marina Drive for work to be completed within 60 days of a signed contract, West Carrollton records show.

“Green City is prepared to quickly begin demolition work on the Marina Drive properties upon contract award,” according to city records.

The Cincinnati company is demolishing the 13.75-acre former Carrollton Plaza across the street, a factor in its ability to submit the lowest of three bids on the Marina Drive project, said Mike Lucking, the city’s economic development director.

“It certainly reflects in the bid that they provided,” Lucking said. “They’re already mobilized at the site. So, their equipment is in place.

“They are simply able to take the stuff across the street, crush it and put it back on the site,” he added. “I think it’s just common sense efficient. There’s efficiency built in for them since they’re already there.”

Green City bid $99,648 for the Marina Drive demolition, which — with other city lots — would give West Carrollton nearly 5 contiguous acres of vacant land along the riverfront.

O’Rourke Wrecking submitted a proposal for $145,600, and Charles Jurgens bid $150,971, city records show.

Legislation to allow the second West Carrollton contract with Green City since last fall is set to be voted on by city council when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Montgomery County is prepared to assist the project by providing $31,000 in funding, according to the city.

City officials hope the Marina Drive and Carrollton Plaza land play key roles developing an enter-

continued from B1 tainment district, a concept years in the making.

In 2012, a 600-acre, $110 million entertainment district was proposed in West Carrollton.

In 2014, the city received state approval for a community entertainment district in the area of Dixie Drive and Central Avenue.

With the former Carrollton Plaza and the Marina Drive sites, the city is in direct control of about 19 acres immediately off Exit 47 of I-75, which officials view as the city’s gateway.

The city bought the vacant properties at 5449 and 5649 Marina late last year in a deal City Manager Brad Townsend said would cost West Carrollton about $482,000.