20 Greater Cincinnati Projects to Watch

20 Projects to Watch bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/12/30/projects-to-watch.html

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By Tom Demeropolis – Senior staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier Dec 30, 2021, 12:26pm EST As supply chain issues, a historic labor crunch and the pandemic throw up roadblocks in the face of progress, developers and businesses remain committed to investing in Greater Cincinnati.

Buoyed by that spirit of determination, the Business Courier identified dozens of projects that will reshape our region over time. For our annual Projects to Watch, we selected sites based not by size or dollar amount, but by the level of change they will bring to the Tri-State.

Of those, we highlighted five that could yield the greatest impact in 2022 and beyond. We believe these five keynote projects, spread out on both sides of the Ohio River, are indicative of the level of development taking place in all corners of Greater Cincinnati.

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(1) The Textile Building

Textile Building Corrie Schaffeld | CBC The western end of Fourth Street in downtown Cincinnati can expect another shot in the arm once the Textile Building is redeveloped. The project is set to include 282 market-rate class A apartments as well as first-floor commercial space.

The $69 million development by Washington, D.C.-based Bernstein Cos. is currently under construction and will eventually add more residents to Fourth Street, traditionally a business and retail corridor. The conversion project is expected to be another key component of downtown’s evolution into a community where people live, as opposed to just working, shopping and going to events.

The Textile Building will include rooftop amenities, a gym and a co-working space. The apartment sizes will range from studios to three bedrooms, with mostly one- and twobedroom units.

“This building is kind of a strike zone for Bernstein. We look at these historic conversion opportunities, former offices, and we have the know-how and expertise to convert them to class A family assets,” said Phil Aftuck, Bernstein’s director for real estate investments.

HGC Construction is the general contractor, with Strada serving as the architect. The project could be complete by the first quarter of 2023. In addition, Bernstein plans to expand and pursue other opportunities in the region.

- Chris Wetterich 2/7

(2) Union Promenade

One of the gateways into Union Promenade.

FK Architecture When it comes to Union Promenade, Larry Solomon, Union’s mayor said it best: “We’ve been hearing forever that if you want anything, you’ll have to go to Florence to get it.” Well, not anymore.

The city teamed up with developers T.J. Ackermann and Ralph Meierjohan on plans for the $150 million project. It will serve as a community hub thanks to 70,000 square feet for restaurant, retail and entertainment space, alongside 60,000 square feet of office or medical space.

Union Promenade will benefit not only existing Union residents, but will add to the community’s urban density, with 300 high-end apartments and 50 for-sale patio homes.

Union and the Boone County Planning Commission approved a zoning map amendment in November 2021. Developers have closed on two of three parcels and expect to purchase the final one in the first quarter 2022, with work commencing by the end of the first quarter.

Most of the commercial lots are expected to be open by 2023.

National architect Bob Koch with Fugleberg Koch Architects was brought on to create the plan, with Viox and Viox as civil engineer and landscape architect. Gregel Group is coordinating and providing equity financing.

- Andy Brownfield 3/7

(3) Mercy Health-Kings Mills Hospital

A birdeye view of the proposed new Mercy Health hospital in Mason. The facility will initially employ 175-200 full-time staff, before growing to more than 275 in total.

GBBN Mercy Health-Kings Mills Hospital, a name unveiled at the groundbreaking in October, is considered a lynchpin development for both the ministry and community. City and county leaders said it will bookend Mason’s Innovation Corridor and further its mission to lead in health and wellness. Mercy believes it also fills a void geographically. Its employee and patient base has significantly grown in the area.

It’s also the first new hospital construction project in Cincinnati since 2014 when Mercy opened West Hospital in Green Township.

“Even though it’s a younger, more affluent population, there are still health needs,” Mercy Health-Cincinnati President Dave Fikse said.

The four-story, 60-bed facility will be anchored by a 15-bed emergency department. Mercy also will build a medical office building adjacent to the hospital and offer specialist care.

There is opportunity for future campus expansion, Fikse said.

Construction is expected to take two years to complete, with opening projected for late 2023.

GBBN is serving as the project architect, and Danis as the construction firm.

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The facility is slated to bring 200 full-time jobs to Mason by 2024, the health system said, a count that could eventually grow to 275 shortly thereafter.

- Liz Engel

(4) Dorothy Lane Market-anchored $150 million Mason development

A conceptual rendering of the $150 million mixed-use development planned at the corner of Mason Montgomery and Western Row roads.

Traditions Building & Development Group Dorothy Lane Market, a Dayton-based high-end grocer, has been the apple of just about every retail developer’s eye for years. Traditions Building & Development Group, along with its partner, Western Row Land Developers, is finally bringing DLM to the Greater Cincinnati market as the anchor in an as-yet unnamed project in Mason.

The 70-acre, $150 million development will include 80,000 square feet of specialty retail and restaurant space, a boutique hotel and about 120 residential units.

Tom Humes, president of Traditions Group, said the development centered around DLM “will create a unique and wonderful shopping experience for everybody in the Greater Cincinnati area, and particularly Mason.”

After the project was announced in October, real estate agents said interest in existing homes near the property at the corner of Mason-Montgomery and Western Row roads, land that was formerly the Western Row Golf Course, increased.

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The city of Mason is already thinking beyond the initial development. It purchased 27 acres of adjacent land with plans for a business park designed to attract companies in the tech and biohealth industries. This portion could generate about 800 jobs.

The project is expected to go before the city of Mason in January, with a goal of breaking ground on the grocery store and the first homes by 2022.

- Tom Demeropolis

(5) SugarCreek headquarters campus

Sugarcreek plans to create an entire campus in Blue Ash along Indeco Drive and Indeco Court. The new headquarters will include an event center to be used for company meetings and charity events.

ESM Architects Sugarcreek Packing is investing up to $12 million to build a corporate headquarters campus in Blue Ash. The project includes five buildings. Springdale-based Sugarcreek plans to add 76 jobs and $10 million in payroll to its existing 48 jobs and $4.7 million payroll at its small corporate presence in Blue Ash. “Our aggressive growth has pushed us over the $1 billion in (annual) sales milestone,” said Ron Holbrook, a member of Sugarcreek’s corporate affairs team. “That growth brings the need for a true corporate headquarters with plenty of shared spaces to meet with our 6/7

business partners and where our associates can collaborate.”

The campus will include an event center that will host philanthropic events and meetings.

Late 2022 is the current target for completion, although building material shortages and contractor availability could slow progress. The event center is expected to open by fall 2022.

“It will bring business visitors to the area daily, adding peripheral benefits to the local economy when they stay, dine and shop while in town,” Holbrook said.

HGC Construction of Cincinnati is general contractor. Civil Solutions Associates is doing the site preparation, and BSI Engineering and ESM Architects are handling architectural work.

- Steve Watkins

20 Greater Cincinnati projects that will reshape the region in 2022 - Cincinnati Business Courier

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20 Greater Cincinnati projects that will reshape the region in 2022 - Cincinnati Business Courier

20 Greater Cincinnati projects that will reshape the region in 2022 - Cincinnati Business Courier

urnals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/12/30/projects-to-watch.html 20 Greater Cincinnati projects that will reshape the region in 2022 - Cincinnati Business Courier

urnals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/12/30/projects-to-watch.html

urnals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/12/30/projects-to-watch.html

urnals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/12/30/projects-to-watch.html

urnals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/12/30/projects-to-watch.html