The city of Huber Heights is moving forward on a proposed $18 million outdoor music center that would anchor the $220 million Heights commercial development near the Interstate 70 and Ohio 201 interchange.

City Council unanimously passed legislation Monday night authorizing staff to spend $100,000 to perform due diligence on the proposal.

The city said it hopes to start construction in early 2013 on the semi-enclosed venue, which would seat about 4,500 people, according to Brian Kinzelman, senior principal with the architectural firm MKSK out of Columbus.

Kinzelman compared the proposed venue to the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati.

“This can become a regional draw and a wonderful attribute for the citizens of Huber Heights,” Kinzelman said.

The music center would be located off Executive Boulevard. The city projects to open the venue in the spring of 2014.

“Nobody is going to suffer from this,” Mayor Ron Fisher said. “We’re not competing with anybody. This council is trying to represent the citizens of Huber Heights and the investors of Huber Heights. We want to get something north and get this city moving. We’re going to move forward.”

City Manager Jim Borland said he hopes to complete the due diligence “as soon as possible, but it’s not something we want to rush through.”

No new tax dollars will be used to pay for the study. The money will come out of a TIF fund that was set up in April 2003. Money to fund the music center itself has not yet been identified, Councilman Mark Campbell has said.

The music center would host concerts, graduation ceremonies, festivals and other regional events. The city hopes it would then attract restaurants, hotels and other amenities to the 140-acre retail and entertainment component of The Heights.