Banks czar named

The Enquirer is pursuing the full story, but here's a fairly comprehensive release from Cincinnati and Hamilton County. He'll make $175,000.

Banks Project Executive Named

Deatrick Brings Large-Scale Project Expertise to the Banks Project

Cincinnati, OH (April 21, 2008) - The City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County today have jointly appointed John F. Deatrick as the public parties’ project executive for the Banks, Cincinnati’s new premiere riverfront development.

“John has the solid experience in large-scale public project management and effective team building to successfully bring the Banks development to reality,” said City of Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. “There are only a handful of professionals in the country who can navigate the complex arenas of a project like this. John can do it and keep his eye on the finish line. We’re excited to have him on board.”

“John Deatrick is a talented public servant who brings a wealth of experience to the Banks project,” said County Administrator Patrick Thompson. “John will be an excellent addition to our Banks Project team. We welcome his leadership and experience.”

Deatrick will provide the City and County with professional oversight administration regarding:

· public funding and financing;
· public infrastructure development;
· mixed-use development; and
· the Joint City-County Small Business and Economic Inclusion Policy.

As the Banks project executive, Deatrick will provide oversight and direction to the Carter/Dawson team, which is serving as the master development team and for the Banks Project as well as the City and County’s Development Manager for the public infrastructure development. Such public infrastructure includes the design and construction of the garage facilities, street grid and utilities in the central riverfront.

“I look forward to joining the City, County and Carter/Dawson team to deliver the Banks development on the Central Riverfront. Together, we have the plan, the will and the ability to succeed,” said Deatrick.

Deatrick is expected to assume his duties on June 2, 2008. Deatrick will be technically employed by the County, but his salary of $175,000 will be shared jointly by the City and County. He will report to the City Manager and County Administrator regularly as well as the Joint City-County Banks Steering Committee, charged with implementing policies relating to the Banks project.

Deatrick’s duties include:

· Monitoring the public infrastructure project budget and schedule;
· Assisting in the development and awarding of construction trade bid packages;
· Coordinating inter-governmental and intra-governmental communications and resources at the federal, state, county and city levels; and
· Proving administrative oversight regarding implementation of the City-County Small Business, Economic Inclusion, Workforce Development, and Responsible Bidder policies, procedures and programs.

After conducting an extensive search for the position, Dohoney and Thompson agreed that Deatrick, who is formerly the City of Cincinnati’s Director of Transportation and Engineering, would be the best candidate for the position, in part, because of his familiarity with large-scale city-county projects.

He served as project manager for the Fort Washington Way Realignment and Reconstruction project, an award-winning, $330 million transportation cornerstone of the Cincinnati central riverfront. The project reconnected the central business district with the central riverfront, completely replacing the expressway system linking I-71, I-75, I- 471, and US 50 and opening up 18 acres of riverfront land to now facilitate the Banks project and the Central Riverfront Park.

Deatrick most recently served as the chief engineer/deputy director of the District Department of Transportation for the District of Columbia. While in D.C., he established and managed the team working with developers and local and federal agencies on the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative. This multi-agency effort is rebuilding the southeast and southwest areas of the city to accommodate a new home for the Washington Nationals, and the redevelopment of vacant industrial land and abandoned public housing into a mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhood.
He has more than 35 years in public service and is a licensed professional engineer in Ohio and the District of Columbia; a chartered engineer in the United Kingdom; and a certified planner by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

On April 2, the groundbreaking was held for the Phase 1A of the development, which includes about 300 apartments and 80,000 square feet of retail, the construction of which is targeted to be completed in 2010.

At full build-out, the total Banks project will be a 2.8 million square foot development on 18 acres along Cincinnati’s downtown riverfront. Once completed, the Banks will be Cincinnati’s largest single, mixed-use development and be comprised of a dynamic blend of residential, office and retail components.

The Banks development will drive approximately $600 million in private investments; bringing more than 3,000 residents to the area while creating a new office, retail and entertainment center.