Wedge site' gets boost from county 

                     Bedinghaus proposes earlier timetable 

                  BY GEOFF HOBSON
                  and HOWARD WILKINSON 
                  The Cincinnati Enquirer 

                  A new Reds baseball stadium could be built in
                  the space between Cinergy Field and The
                  Crown before a lengthy reconstruction of Fort
                  Washington Way, Hamilton County
                  Commission President Bob Bedinghaus said
                  Friday.

                  Mr. Bedinghaus' disclosure gives momentum to
                  the location, which has been called the ''wedge
                  site'' because of its placement northeast of
                  Cinergy Field and northwest of The Crown, the
                  future name of Riverfront Coliseum.

                  The area is generally one block north of Cinergy Field at Main Street and Pete
                  Rose Way. It was first suggested for study by the executive committee of
                  Downtown Cincinnati Inc. (DCI). 

                  The DCI proposal would knock out the northeast corner of Cinergy Field's
                  parking plaza to accommodate a new stadium. It would leave the bowl of the
                  stadium intact for the Reds to play in during construction. 

                  The major obstacle to the plan had been concern that Fort Washington Way
                  had to be realigned before stadium construction could begin. Such a
                  realignment is being proposed as key to riverfront development and future
                  transportation needs. 

                  ''From what I understand, (the wedge site) can be done without Fort
                  Washington Way being finished because (the stadium) does not impinge on
                  its right of way,'' Mr. Bedinghaus said. 

                  ''It's doable. It represents some construction challenges, but there are
                  challenges at every option we have. It reminds me of Jacobs Field and Gund
                  Arena in Cleveland.''

                  Mr. Bedinghaus stressed there are still three options on the table: The wedge
                  site, a refurbished Cinergy Field and Broadway Commons.

                  One other problem with the wedge site is that the city would have to give
                  permission for Pete Rose Way to be closed.

                  On Friday, City Councilman Todd Portune, a member of a city-county
                  riverfront development steering committee, voiced concern. Closing Pete Rose
                  Way ''has always been a problem with our traffic engineers,'' he said.

                  He said the matter should be referred to Urban Design Associates (UDA) of
                  Pittsburgh, which has examined stadium sites. UDA considered a site between
                  Cinergy and The Crown but not shifted to the north, as DCI has suggested. 

                  The wedge site could be the middle ground on which the county forges a
                  stadium deal with Reds' principal owner Marge Schott and her demand the
                  ballpark be on the river.

                  Mrs. Schott was a surprise participant at Thursday's summit with HOK Inc.
                  architects and Hamilton County officials in Kansas City, Mo., to study stadium
                  sites. HOK works for the county as a consultant in lease negotiations with the
                  Reds. 

                  Hamilton County Administrator David Krings met with HOK architect Mike
                  Hand and the Reds' negotiating team of Mrs. Schott, managing executive John
                  Allen, and Major League Baseball stadium consultant Bob Starkey.

                  Messrs. Allen, Starkey and Hand could not be reached for comment Friday.
                  Mr. Krings characterized the meeting as ''informational.''

                  ''It was good just to get the Reds up to speed on where things stand,'' Mr.
                  Krings said. ''Were the sides swayed to any site? I think when you hear new
                  things about something, both sides look at some things differently, but clearly
                  there was no decision on a site.''

                  HOK also has proposed a plan, one that would push the stadium farther south
                  than the DCI site. One problem with HOK's plan could be that the bowl of the
                  original baseball field would be invaded during construction.

                  A riverfront site got a boost Friday from Ohio Senate President Richard Finan,
                  R-Evendale, who said he doesn't want to see the Reds at Broadway Commons.

                  ''You're talking about a lot of money in terms of infrastructure, improving
                  access from the highways and that sort of thing,'' Mr. Finan said in a meeting
                  with The Enquirer's editorial board. ''You're going to have to do that already
                  with the Bengals stadium on the riverfront. Why do it twice, at twice the
                  expense?'' 

                  As Senate president, Mr. Finan has a major say in the state budget process.
                  The state legislature will be asked to commit money for construction related to
                  stadium development. 

                  Mr. Finan said Friday he would like to see both stadiums on the riverfront ''to
                  be the centerpiece of downtown.''

                  Jim Tarbell, who is spearheading the Broadway Commons drive, said Mr. Finan
                  should not be concerned about the roadwork surrounding the site, about 12
                  blocks north of the river.

                  ''My impression from what the professional engineers have been saying is that
                  there are six ways in and six ways out, and if you count the expressway, it's
                  seven,'' Mr. Tarbell said. ''You couldn't draw it up any better anywhere in the
                  country.''