RiverPlace: What happened to it? (appointed, sale, hotel)

[PynballWyzyrd]

I remember back in 2010 hearing a proposal for a really interesting development called RiverPlace. It was suppose to have a hotel, restaurant, and baseball stadium in the ACF parking lot. I've read some references to it on these forums as well.

Is it still in development? Did they lose funding? I hope they still want to (or are able to) do it.

[tbailey1138]

Per what I was told, that developer had a history of announcing projects without proper funding and backing. Marshall was to be a big part of this but they were never really involved in the planning or on board. They also could not sale the bonds needed for financing.

I also heard a local business owner stepped in to block some of the development, not to mention that Carl Ichan expects whoever purchases the ACF property to pay full price and pay for all of the environmental remediation.

Marshall wants the ACF lot for a baseball field but that developer still has the option on that land. Mayor Williams has made redevelopment of that area a priority and has mentioned establishing a TIF district. We will see what happens.

[PynballWyzyrd]

Well that is a bummer. I saw some pictures of the proposal and it looked really cool. I hope the developer comes through because that would GREAT for the community.

On the same note, is there really enough room for a baseball stadium, hotel, and restaurant there? That seems like a tight fit. Or was it to include more than just the parking lot?

[tbailey1138]

It was also to include the land there that borders 5th Ave (between 3rd and 5th) owned by Flint Pigment. The hotel was to border 5th Ave and the ball field 3rd Ave with the restaurant attached to the hotel in the area just beyond the outfield.

[PynballWyzyrd]

Originally Posted by tbailey1138

It was also to include the land there that borders 5th Ave (between 3rd and 5th) owned by Flint Pigment. The hotel was to border 5th Ave and the ball field 3rd Ave with the restaurant attached to the hotel in the area just beyond the outfield.

Ah ok i got it. I would think that they might do something with 24th street. I can imagine that it might need to be widened to support the extra traffic that would come along.

Just out of curiosity, do you know who the developer was, or is that a hush hush kind of thing?

[tbailey1138]

Brad Burgess out of Lexington, KY

RiverPlace financing changing - The Herald Dispatch

[PynballWyzyrd]

Thanks. That cleared up my questions. I'm really disappointed that this didn't happen and honestly I don't want the area to become a TIF district due to simply knowing what it could have been.