LONG READ: Friends, we have reached a critical moment for the future of Music Hall and Union Terminal. As you may have seen reported from media outlets, Hamilton County Commissioner Chris Monzel has proposed excluding Music Hall from the proposed quarter-cent sales tax levy on the ballot. The Commissioners meet tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11 a.m. to decide whether or not the levy to repair, restore and renovate both facilities will go on the November ballot. Please come and show your support at the Hamilton County Administration Building, 138 E. Court Street, 6th Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45202 and communicate your support to the Commissioners in advance of tomorrow’s all-important vote. (Contact information for all three County Commissioners is provided below.) The issues associated with both of these facilities are not new, and our community has long been searching for a comprehensive solution to preserve these icons for future generations. The recommendation coming from the Cultural Facilities Task Force, a group of 22 independent community leaders, was not only based on nine months of careful study and over 5,000 professional hours, but also decades of previous study. The Tax Levy Review Committee on behalf of the County Commissioners required the Task Force be formed to find this comprehensive solution, which is a balanced, regional private-public funding solution that includes a combination of private support, local and State funding, tax credits and the proposed quarter-cent sales tax levy for the Hamilton County voters to decide. This comprehensive solution ensures that these facilities and their resident assets continue to inspire and engage well into the future. Also at the request of the County Commissioners, the volunteer Tax Levy Review Committee analyzed the Task Force solution carefully and another County-contracted, independent report from Hines validated the Task Force’s findings. The Tax Levy Review Committee stated on July 22, “With construction costs and interest rates predicted to rise in 2015 while the buildings continue to deteriorate, we agree that now is a good time to proceed with these projects if the voters decide to support them.” The Task Force’s recommendation was discussed at two public hearings, two Tax Levy Review Committee meetings and two County Commission meetings. The public hearings demonstrated overwhelming public support for the Task Force recommendation. Opponents have tried to paint Music Hall as a building simply in need of remodeling that caters exclusively to rich people. This misleading attempt to divide and confuse our community ignores the facts. The truth is that people from all walks of life attend performances at Music Hall, and it is a vibrant community gathering space. The facility and resident companies serve the entire community. Furthermore, the overwhelming majority of the project costs will be dedicated to repairs to keep the building usable for the needs of the resident companies and other individuals and organizations that take advantage of this treasured icon. This information about Music Hall is not new and has been shared widely for years. Problems with failing mechanical systems, accessibility and structural issues will eventually make Music Hall unusable. Like Union Terminal, Music Hall is in dire need of attention, and this is why the Cultural Facilities Task Force recommended repair, restoration and renovation for both facilities. These are regional treasures and the matter before us is a regional issue. The Task Force recommendation is a regional solution. Any proposal removing Music Hall from the project cuts against thousands of hours invested in this work and puts both icons at serious risk. Please contact the Hamilton County Commissioners with this simple message: Voice your support for the Task Force recommendation. Ask the Commissioners to allow the citizens of Hamilton County the opportunity to vote on this proposed plan in November. • Commissioner Greg Hartmann: 513-946-4406, [email protected] • Commissioner Todd Portune: 513-946-4401, [email protected] • Commissioner Chris Monzel: 513-946-4409, [email protected] Again, the meeting is tomorrow (Wednesday), August 6, and starts at 11 a.m. The location is the Hamilton County Administration Building, 138 E. Court Street, 6th Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45202. We will continue to give updates, and youre encouraged to visit the Save Our Icons website, saveouricons.org. You can also text Icons to Cincy (24629) to get involved and get urgent updates and alerts via text. If you have questions about the process or the Music Hall project, please dont hesitate to ask us at [email protected]. Please contact the Commissioners today, and thank you for your continued support! #speakforus Save Our Icons
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 20:03:55 +0000
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