Vienna discusses options for Spencer’s Landing development
Vienna resident Steve Santer, left, speaks at the River Life meeting while Carl Tanner listens. Santer said he had heard a lot of talk about Spencer’s Landing development and wanted to see Vienna City Council make a move. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Vienna City Council member Chris Mancuso describes his vision for Spencer’s Landing at Friday’s meeting. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Vienna City Council member Jim Leach addresses attendees at the River Life community meeting. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Vienna resident Steve Santer, left, speaks at the River Life meeting while Carl Tanner listens. Santer said he had heard a lot of talk about Spencer’s Landing development and wanted to see Vienna City Council make a move. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Vienna City Council member Chris Mancuso describes his vision for Spencer’s Landing at Friday’s meeting. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Vienna City Council member Jim Leach addresses attendees at the River Life community meeting. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
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VIENNA -- The City of Vienna held its first River Life community meeting on Leach Beach Friday evening, with approximately 20-30 people attending.
Vienna City Council member Jim Leach said he invited the public to his property to show the possibilities of developing both 12th Street and Spencer's Landing.
"We are the only community in this realm that doesn't have a riverfront. Williamstown does. Belpre does. Parkersburg does," he said. "Now we have opportunities."
He added, "I wanted to open this up to anybody's input. There is momentum being built for these projects. It's going to happen. The first piece being the amphitheater in Spencer's Landing."
"The biggest question I get is asking why Vienna doesn't have a riverfront?" Mayor Randy Rapp said. "The river crosses all of our borders."
Council member Chris Mancuso brought the concept drawings for Spencer's Landing he had presented to council in July 2022. One of the items on the drawing was an amphitheater.
"It's a unique riverfront property that the city has access to, and I think we do need to move forward. I presented plans last July and they were adopted and accepted as concept plans," he said.
Mancuso said he thought developments on Spencer's Landing were moving forward, but the Jackson Park pool took precedence.
"Now that ball is rolling and it's under construction, I think council needs to really look at these properties and try to develop them in the next year," he said. "I'm absolutely happy to take that on and do that as much as I can."
Maucuso said he has worked with Friends of Vienna president Jack Mathers and they envision the amphitheater as "an art and culture center" for the Mid Ohio Valley.