Downtown's Filson restaurant now has a $3 lease to open an upscale mini golf course, fast-tracking the Banks' project for a Nov. 1 opening.
The Cincinnati Park boardapproved the lease with Filson owner Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate
on July 29. Anderson plans to install an 18-hole facility it will call Cincinnati Legends Putt House at Freedom Park on about three-quarters of an acre on the Filson's eastside.As Anderson now moves toward construction of what it earlier said will be a $1 million-plus Banks attraction, here are four things to know.
Lease is $1 a year for three years
The city of Cincinnati put the market value of the site at $145,200, according to Anderson's lease.
But the real estate firm will pay just a $1 a year for each of the three years of its lease "because the city
desires to bring more entertainment attractions to The Banks," the lease said.
Anderson can also seek to extend the agreement, year by year, "so long as the city doesn't need the leased premises for a municipal purpose," the lease said.
Mini golf turf will not include forever chemicals
Putt House's artificial turf will not include "forever chemicals," an issue earlier raised by Park Board President Molly North.
Anderson cannot install any feature that might release, leach, deposit or otherwise introduce" such chemicals to the site, the lease said.
Cameras will be installed
The Putt House will be surrounded with fencing, with golfers entering and exiting only through the Filson.
Anderson must keep the facility safe, orderly and free of "nuisance or unlawful activity," according to the lease.
Park Board member Susan Castellini asked about possible gate crashers.
"So when a group of teenagers scale the wall after hours, what's the plan?" she asked.
Anderson Vice President J.R. Anderson said cameras would capture such activity and police would be alerted.
Lone rendering shows site dimensions
Anderson will submit full plans and seek building permits as early as next week, Anderson told the Park Board.
Its lone rendering showed the course, at its largest end, will measure 170-by-218 feet.
The company did not include images that it earlier presented to the Park Board. Some included the logo of PopStroke, a Florida mini golf chain that Anderson said inspired its design.
The Enquirer published the images in mid-July, then removed them at PopStroke's request.
Anderson officials did not respond to a request for new images or an explanation of why they earlier ones included the PopStroke branding.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Banks mini golf site will pay city $1 year to lease land
