Council debates stage size, cost and location for Vienna’s Spencer’s Landing project
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VIENNA -- Vienna City Council voted Thursday to advance plans for a permanent performance stage, public restrooms and related improvements at Spencer's Landing following a lengthy discussion about the project's design, size and preliminary cost of more than $3.1 million.
The resolution approves the general design direction and allows The Thrasher Group to continue developing the plans. It does not authorize construction, solicit bids or commit the city to spending the estimated amount.
The current concept includes a roughly 30-by-40-foot stage facing the Ohio River, along with a loading dock, storage space, an Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible ramp and an operations room. The stage would sit about 4 feet above the surrounding lawn.
A separate restroom building would include men's and women's facilities, two family restrooms, drinking fountains or water bottle filling stations and changing tables. Plans also include sidewalks, parking, food truck spaces and utility connections.
Sam Rich, land development division lead for The Thrasher Group, estimated the stage would cost approximately $870,000, while the restroom building would cost about $605,000. Site development, including paving, sidewalks, utilities and parking, was estimated at $1.3 million.
With a $280,000 contingency and an estimated $75,000 for bidding and construction administration, the total preliminary cost was placed at approximately $3.15 million. Rich emphasized that the figures were estimates rather than contractor bids.
The estimate does not include a possible additional building near the stage containing restrooms and concession or merchandise space. Council's resolution authorizes Thrasher to prepare a preliminary design for that option, which council could later approve or reject separately.
Council members spent much of the meeting discussing ways to widen the stage, improve sightlines, protect performers and electronic equipment from rain and accommodate the needs of larger touring acts.
"We also only get one opportunity to do this," Councilman Jim Leach said. "These tweaks are all we're talking about, and they're just considerations."
Leach questioned whether the stage's current orientation and side rooms would limit the audience's view. He also said the stage appeared too close to the railroad tracks and a neighboring industrial building and suggested considering a slight angle toward the park's more open space.
Councilman Tony Morrison disagreed with substantially changing the orientation.
"I actually like the way it's facing out, kind of directly toward the river," he said. "I think once we kind of open up those wings a little bit, that actually serves the area better."
Rich said the stage had already been moved about 40 feet closer to the railroad compared with its location in the original master plan. The change was intended to provide more green space between the stage and the river based on the crowd and temporary stage arrangement used during the recent Freedom Festival.
Rich said widening the stage's side wings could provide more room for equipment while improving audience sightlines. The design team could also make a slight adjustment to its angle, but he cautioned against directing crowds toward the Gold Star Families Memorial.
Council also discussed preventing birds from nesting in the structure, providing space and electrical connections for temporary video screens and determining whether a backstage room should be added for performers.
The room, labeled as a "green room" in the existing plans, would primarily serve as an operations center for sound, video and event staff rather than a dressing or break room for performers, Rich said. Touring performers would generally remain in buses or trailers before taking the stage.
Councilwoman Tami Rhodes, who participated remotely, questioned whether the proposed stage would be large enough for bands with multiple musicians and larger equipment. She also suggested holding another focus group or programming session before completing the design.
"Even though we agreed on the master plan and supported that back in 2025, every time Thrasher came to us, they would say that it's just a conceptual plan and changes could be made in time," Rhodes said. "I'd just like to see us make sure that everything that we want and that everything everyone said is taken into consideration."
Mayor Chad Emrick said the city had already held extensive planning sessions and needed to begin making decisions rather than repeatedly returning to earlier discussions.
"We can meeting-and-committee this process to death, and we can be two years from now and no closer," he said.
Emrick said the city could continue adding features until the project became unaffordable.
"We have to stay focused on what the intent is, what the purpose is and what the main use of this is going to be," he said. "We can chase a thousand options all day long, but at some point, my friends, we have to make a decision on what we're doing."
Council approved moving forward with the schematic design, including preparation of plans for the optional restroom and concession concept. Final construction and spending decisions will return to council at a later date.
In other business, council unanimously approved the second reading of changes to the city's mandatory curbside recycling ordinance. Residents may continue using their existing green recycling containers, purchase their own containers or buy a 45-gallon blue container with a lid and wheels from the city for a one-time $20 fee.
Council accepted Jimmie Harper Construction's bid for annual concrete and subgrade replacement work. The rates include $30 per square foot for concrete replacement, $20 per square foot for subgrade replacement and $30 per square foot for sidewalk replacement.
Council also selected Brown Asphalt as the city's contractor for asphalt paving work as needed.
During the public forum, residents raised concerns about stormwater drainage, flooding, trash being carried through neighborhoods by high water and unlicensed vehicles parked along side streets.
Melvin Turner said trash left in the street had been spread throughout the 21st Street area during recent flooding.
"If you drive up 21st Street right now, it smells like a landfill," Turner said. "The high water comes up and distributes it up and down the street."
Council was also reminded of a collection for communities affected by flooding. Donations were to be accepted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the 30th Street police garage.
The city announced that the inaugural Vienna Mayor's Invitational Cup, featuring mixed-doubles pickleball followed by a poolside reception and barbecue, will be held Aug. 29 at Jackson Park and Pool.
A free nature scavenger hunt for school-age children will also be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 7 at the McDonough Wildlife Refuge.
Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com.