Attracting more restaurants and entertainment amenities have been among the plans for the growing area that is already home to Cincinnati Premium Outlet Mall and Miami Valley Gaming. Once the CED is established and new places are developed, it will allow Monroe to cash in on the taxes generated by such businesses and the issuance of additional liquor permits allowing alcohol to be consumed on premises or sold for carry out in sealed containers. It will also help address something residents have been asking for, more sit-down restaurants in the city.
Previously, Brock said, “the intent of the CED is to generate interest in the area specifically to support restaurant and entertainment uses.” He also said, “the impact will be positive but is not quantifiable at this time.”
Monroe’s CED may result in attracting more restaurants and other businesses that want to obtain a state liquor permit. The size of the area being proposed has more than 75 acres that would allow as many as 15 new permits for sales of beer, wine and spirituous liquor until 2:30 a.m. State law allows one liquor permit for every five acres in a CED.
In addition, state law requires a minimum amount — $70 million — that needs to have been invested inside the CED’s proposed boundaries. Monroe officials estimate the outlet mall and other infrastructure improvements already at $100 million.
The CED will allow the city to proceed with a ballot issue to clarify if Sunday sales are permitted within the district. Both increasing the number of available licenses and clarifying the issue of Sunday sales will be extremely beneficial when marketing the available land within the district, city officials have said.
There are four CEDs already located in Butler County around Jungle Jim’s in Fairfield, Voice of America and Union Centre in West Chester Twp., and in downtown Middletown, where the city has an ongoing revitalization effort in the creation of an arts, culture and education district.
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