A Look Back at The Port’s Work in 2024
January
Lead-Safe Training
The Ohio Department of Health Lead Poisoning Prevention Program hosted sessions to train Port staff and local contractors on proper lead-safe renovation techniques, including a training session in Spanish. A second session was held in October to become EPA RRP (renovation, repair, and painting) Certified Lead Renovators. The training includes classroom instruction as well as hands-on demonstrations to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to safely work in homes with potential lead risks.
Price Hill Virtual Tour Launched
In January, we released our latest virtual tour of The Port’s work. Focused on the neighborhoods of Price Hill (East, West, and Lower), we invite you to craft your own tour through Port partnerships and projects.
February
Completion of New Construction Homes in Madisonville
In February, The Port sold the final two of nine new construction single-family homes in Madisonville. Built in partnership with the Madisonville Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (MCURC) with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), this project brought new homes to previously vacant lots.
Homebase Awards
In February, The Port’s team attended the HomeBase Cincinnati Annual Awards Celebration. Among the many impactful projects recognized, we were proud to be awarded the “Most Outstanding Collaborating Neighborhood CDC/CBO” award with our partners Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses (SHNH) and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati for the Baymiller Rowhomes project in the West End. From acquisition, stabilization, and through construction, this project exemplifies the importance of collaboration to begin reinvesting in our neighborhoods.
First West End Housing Project Units Completed
In February, the first two units of a planned $4 million project were completed. In September, the project gained an additional boost in the form of revenue bonds approved by The Port Board of Directors. Combined with City of Cincinnati Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and a loan from the Cincinnati Development Fund, this additional funding source will support the overall project, which will redevelop three existing West End buildings into more than a dozen new apartments.
March
Acquisition of Crosley Building
In March, The Port closed on the purchase of the iconic Crosley Building in Camp Washington. Built in 1929, the building was once home to the manufacturing operations of Powell Crosley radios which operated in the building until 1960. By 2009, the building was abandoned, and in 2012, condemned, having fallen into significant disrepair. With funding support from the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, The Port acquired the property, and utilizing funding from the Ohio Department of Development, is remediating the property. Reuse of the Crosley building is to be determined. Due to the iconic nature and history of the building, The Port will be engaging in a structural analysis and architectural review to ensure the building can support uses to be further determined by potential investment partnerships and community input.
April
Bill Fischer’s Retirement
After a decades-long career in economic development, The Port’s Vice President of Community Development, Bill Fischer, entered retirement with a bang. At the Invest in Neighborhoods “Neighborhood Summit” in late April 2024, Bill received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the organization. The award recognizes Bill’s long career dedicated to improving communities while at The Port, the City of Cincinnati, and the University of Cincinnati. Bill’s fingerprints can be found all around Hamilton County through his advocacy for neighborhoods, collaboration with communities, or on any one of the many impactful projects Bill led.
Green Bank Report
A consortium of leading Cincinnati organizations has partnered to create the region’s first Green Bank, whose mission is to address climate change by increasing and accelerating investment into Hamilton County’s green economy to build more resilient, healthier, and equitable communities. The Port, the Cincinnati Development Fund (CDF), Donovan Energy, Hamilton County, the City of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Business Committee and the Cincinnati Regional Business Committee are working to attract millions of dollars to the region to accelerate the transition to clean energy and fight climate change. As an initial output of this partnership, in April the organizations published a report demonstrating the time is right for this initiative.
May
In late May, the Hamilton County Landbank, a managed entity of The Port, learned it will receive, in partnership with Working in Neighborhoods (WIN), nearly $1.4 million in grants to purchase 16 blighted properties in disinvested communities, In partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati, the Hamilton County Landbank will also receive a total of $840,000 in Welcome Home Ohio grants toward the purchase of nine properties and, with four properties already owned by the county, the construction of 16 new residential properties.
Providing Public Financing to Support Projects Across the County
May was a busy month for The Port’s Public Finance team. The Port closed on capital leases for the MedPace Phase 3 development, which is expected to create 1,500 permanent jobs in Madisonville. We also closed on a capital lease for Factory 52 phase 1B which involves the construction of 128 new apartments in Norwood and closed on a capital lease with JTM Food Group for construction of a new 56,000 SF production line in Harrison. Finally, The Port issued $317.5 million in transient occupancy tax (TOT) bonds for the redevelopment of the Duke Energy Convention Center.
June
Kim Cargile-Watson’s Retirement
In June, we celebrated the retirement of Kim Cargile-Watson who served on The Port’s accounting team for more than 11 years. In that time, The Port grew from 12 employees to 40 and its operating revenue grew from $2MM to $12MM. Kim processed 275 bi-weekly payrolls, never missing a single pay date. Also during her tenure, The Port received multiple Auditor of State Awards for clean audits. After crunching all of the numbers, Kim’s accomplishments add up to one exceptional career. We thank Kim for her years of service and wish her a happy retirement.
July
Moerlein Mansion
In late July, we celebrated the finished redevelopment of one of Cincinnati’s most iconic properties, the Moerlein Mansion in Mt. Auburn. A Sunday afternoon open house thanked stakeholders for their contributions to the project and welcomed its new residents, who moved into their new apartments on August 1. Before redevelopment efforts began, The Port partnered with the Cincinnati Preservation Association to save this renowned property.
Convention Center Construction Kickoff
In mid-July, we were thrilled to attend the construction kickoff at the Duke Energy Convention Center. Project partners and elected officials from across the region and state, including the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio Department of Development, 3CDC, Visit Cincy, and more, celebrated the start of this transformational project which will modernize the center for increased flexibility and functionality and add new amenities designed to create truly unique and memorable experiences for convention visitors.
August
Peebles and Paramount
In early August, Model Group and the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation held a ribbon cutting for the Paramount Launch and Peebles Apartments. This development brings 98 new apartments to Walnut Hills, including income-restricted affordable units and new commercial space. The Port is proud to have supported this project though its Public Finance and Landbanking tools.
Union on Taft
Also in August, we joined Uptown Rental Properties, HGC Construction, and RDA Group Architects to celebrate the ribbon cutting for Union on Taft. This 103-unit redevelopment of a former office building will provide much needed student housing just blocks from the University of Cincinnati campus. The Port was proud to play a role supporting this development through our Public Finance practice.
September
Emerge Ribbon Cutting
In September, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to officially commemorate the completion of Emerge Manufacturing's 50,000 SF manufacturing facility at the former Cincinnati Gardens site. Founded by entrepreneur Cynthia Booth, Emerge will manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE), reducing reliance on offshore production for these critical items. With plans to grow to 100 employees, Emerge is an exact outcome intended by The Port's manufacturing jobs strategy and a great addition to the Bond Hill and Roselawn communities.
South Fairmount Property Cleanup
A barrel of laughs? A barrel of fun? Unfortunately, that’s not what was being stored in the barrels left behind at this property at 2452 Beekman. Instead, a previous occupant left behind drums of hazardous materials like acids, used oils, caustics, and detergents. Fortunately, with the support of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ohio EPA, our team quickly and safely removed these materials. Our September Port Short explored this project, which is a great example of The Port’s commitment to greener and cleaner communities. It also highlights the partnerships in securing, assessing, and eliminating potentially unsafe and hazardous conditions from former vacant industrial buildings in our community.
Funding New Homes in Lincoln Heights
The Homesteading and Urban Redevelopment Corporation (HURC), a managed entity of The Port, received CHDO/HOME funds from Hamilton County and a grant from First Financial to support the next phase of single-family home construction in Lincoln Heights. Construction is currently underway on multiple homes.
The Bridge Project in Evanston
In September, The Port closed with 8K Development on the Evanston Bridge project. Evanston first identified these buildings as a neighborhood development site in 2017. The Port previously stabilized multiple properties and issued an RFP for redevelopment.
October
Queen City Pitch
October saw the inaugural Queen City Pitch at the City of Cincinnati’s 3rd Annual Business Enterprise Expo. This platform is designed to empower emerging real estate developers and small business enterprises (SBEs), giving them a chance to present their projects and ideas to a panel of experienced coaches from the Cincinnati real estate and business community.
Cherry & Cooper Acquisition
Also in October, The Port, in partnership with Northsiders Engaged in Sustainable Transformation (NEST), acquired two large vacant properties in Northside for future development utilizing TIF funding from the City of Cincinnati. The former industrial sites are the largest developable lots remaining in the neighborhood and will require environmental remediation prior to any new development. NEST is already engaged in community engagement around what the Northside community would like to see developed moving forward.
Thatcher Flats Ribbon Cutting and Phase II Groundbreaking
In October, The Port joined Pennrose to celebrate the completion of the first phase of Thatcher Flats in Walnut Hills. Additionally, we also closed on a capital lease for the next phase of Thatcher Flats for the construction of 36 additional affordable apartments in Walnut Hills.
November
Auditor of State Award
In November, Auditor of State Keith Faber announced The Port received an Auditor of State Award for its clean audit report. “By keeping accurate financial records, governing bodies demonstrate their commitment to efficient, effective, and transparent service,” Auditor Faber said. “This award honors public entities that have put in the hard work to keep their finances in order.”
Prepare Affair
Several members of Port staff participated in Prepare Affair, hosted by People Working Cooperatively. Prepare Affair is a volunteer event that brings together more than 2,000 volunteers to help low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners prepare their homes for winter.
Gwynne Building Public Financing
In November, The Port’s public finance team closed on a capital lease on the Gwynne Building Redevelopment. The historic building at 6th and Main, once Procter & Gamble’s headquarters, will be redeveloped into a 165-key boutique hotel.
Ohio Department of Development Funding Award
Thank you to Governor Mike DeWine, the Ohio Department of Development, and the Ohio General Assembly for investing in Hamilton County and awarding the Hamilton County Landbank, a managed entity of The Port, more than $6 million for the cleanup of four properties in Hamilton County, helping us deliver on our promise to make neighborhoods cleaner, greener, and safer. To date, the Landbank has been awarded over $95 million from the state's Brownfield Remediation program and Demolition and Site Revitalization Program to benefit over 300 properties throughout the county.
December
Sale of Dow Site
In December, we closed on the sale of a 25-acre site in Reading to Givaudan Flavors Corp. which plans to build a 100,000 square foot facility on the site. The Port previously acquired and prepared the former chemical plant site for redevelopment, undertaking extensive demolition and environmental remediation. Givaudan's investment of $130 million will support a new line of business, which plans to create over 300 jobs at the Reading site within 15 years.
Uptown Consortium Management
Also in December, we entered into a partnership with Uptown Consortium, Inc. aimed at accelerating community and economic development in Uptown, the region’s second largest economic engine and the center of research and innovation. With Uptown Consortium becoming a managed entity of The Port, we are able to leverage the collective strengths and expertise of both organizations to catalyze transformative growth in one of the city's most dynamic and promising districts.