FC Cincinnati made progress late last week in the development of its new West End Stadium, as the city’s planning commission signed off on a key approval.
Construction is underway on the new FC Cincinnati stadium, which the club has targeted for a 2021 opening. As part of the ongoing development process, FC Cincinnati will have to present some aspects of the facility’s plans to the Cincinnati Planning Commission for final approval. One of those approvals fell into place early on Friday, when the commission unanimously signed off on the development plan for stadium and parking garage superstructure.
Overall, this marks just one aspect of the planning commission’s approval process, as the project will have to go back before the commission a few more times—including for the development plan on the final stadium design, and any other future on-site development. Still, Friday’s approval allows the club to maintain the project’s current construction schedule. More from the Cincinnati Business Courier:
Cincinnati Planning Commission voted to approve the final development plan for the stadium and parking garage superstructure for FC Cincinnati’s soccer-specific stadium. The project is expected to come back to the commission two more times.
The final development plan for the final stadium design, which includes the signage, lighting, sound design, landscape, parking, circulation, materials and finishes, number of events, event management and engineering, is expected to go before the commission in August. There also will be a final development plan for the on-site future development.
James Weaver, senior city planner with the city of Cincinnati, said the approval will allow the team to maintain its construction schedule while final stadium plans are being completed.
Populous is leading the design work on FC Cincinnati’s stadium project, an appointment that was announced earlier this year, with the firm Elevar in place for local support. FC Cincinnati began competing in MLS this season as an expansion squad and is slated to play at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium until the new West End Stadium is completed.
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