A contractor has been selected to build a new plaza at in Clifton, and work is expected to begin soon.

"We anticipate a start any day now and a completion by 12/31/09," said Dick Druffel, member of the Clifton Town Meeting Plaza Committee.

John P. Tumlin and Sons will build KZF Design's vision for a community gathering space that will feature fixed seating, granite benches, a performance stage, trees, lighting, and assorted street furniture.

The plaza is fully funded.

Cincinnati City Council currently is considering an ordinance that would authorize the transfer of three land-locked City-owned parcels that make up the adjacent merchant's lot to the Clifton Business and Professional Association (CBPA), which will allow CBPA to repair the parking lot and to construct a pedestrian connection to the new plaza.

The fair market value of the one-quarter-acre property has been assessed at $80,000, but will be sold to the CBPA for $1 in exchange for a promise to maintain public parking on the site for at least 20 years.

Previous reading on BC:
Clifton Plaza in final design phase (6/15/09)
Meeting seeks input on Clifton Plaza design (2/23/09)
Funds in place for Clifton plaza (12/18/08)
Cincinnati votes to fund Clifton plaza (8/8/08)
Clifton fighting for promised plaza (7/28/08)