Vienna Council discusses riverfront development plan
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VIENNA -- Vienna City Council heard a presentation about a financial impact study performed in Ravenswood relating to their riverfront development plan at Thursday's meeting.
Prior to the council meeting, the Vienna Building Commission held a public hearing regarding the bonds for the Jackson Park pool project. No one signed up to speak.
The first item on the council agenda was a second reading of an ordinance transferring the design, acquisition, construction, renovation and equipping of the Jackson Park pool to the Vienna Building Commission. The ordinance passed unanimously.
To introduce the guest presenters, Jack Mathers, president of Friends of Vienna, said he had looked at the city's master development plan and saw an amphitheater was one of the proposed structures for Spencer's Landing. He visited Riverscape Park in Dayton, Ohio, and thought a similar structure might be a good idea. He spoke to council member Chris Mancuso about the idea.
"Time went by and I thought, 'how do you move something off of paper and actually start getting it to move?' I went to a foundation and started talking to them about the idea. The first thing they said is you get a hold of Bob Newell. He's been doing some work in Jackson County and has been pretty successful and you need to do an economic impact study," Mathers said.
Newell, a business consultant, was working with Senta Gouty, Dean, Civic Engagement and Innovation at West Virginia University at Parkersburg, for the city of Ravenswood to estimate the economic impact of their development plan of their riverfront: which included an amphitheater, marina, and pedestrian bridge.
"What I found out is there's a lot of skepticism about these projects. Everybody knows that when there's government, there's skepticism about 'Why are we doing this? What good is it going to do?' That's where the economic impact study comes in," he said. "It shows why it's a good thing to have these amenities."
In 2021, Newell and Goudy started the study. Goudy said the study identified five different areas where Ravenswood could potentially see financial gain: causal and private party use, fishing tournaments, additional riverfront events, expanding their Power Boat Races and Festival, and Ohio River Cruise Boats docking at Ravenswood. The study estimated the city's revenue could potentially increase by $1.4 million.
Mancuso asked the presenters how long it would take to do a similar study for Spencer's Landing. Goudy said their timeline was three months but it took a little longer because of the project's scope. She also said the study cost would be between $15,000 and $20,000.
Mayor Randy Rapp asked Goudy to send paperwork to the city to initiate the starting steps of working together. He said the study will be voted on at the first city council meeting in November.