Bond Hill

The BH+R Plan, developed through engagement with the residents of Bond Hill and Roselawn by the Community Building Institute at Xavier University, was approved by the community councils of both neighborhoods and approved by Cincinnati City Council in 2016. The Plan has guided The Port’s commercial and industrial development initiatives in both communities.

The Bond Hill Business District (BHBD) was identified as a number one priority in the BH+R Plan, so The Port and its partners worked with the community to realize this goal of revitalizing the business district. In 2018, new engagement with Bond Hill residents was undertaken to update the BH+R plan and community’s priorities for revitalization. Redevelopment of 5,500 square feet of retail space, including facade improvements and whiteboxing of the commercial spaces, in the Bond Hill Business District began with a community celebration in July 2018. Funding for the construction came from the City of Cincinnati, Community Economic Advancement Initiatives (CEAI) and The Port. DREAM Loan Funds, provided by the Kresge Foundation, will be used to customize the spaces for small, neighborhood-serving businesses that will create new jobs in the community and retain an existing business which has been serving the community for over five years.

As a result of The Port’s investment and acquisition of properties, private sector individuals are investing and renovating properties along the Reading Road corridor.

A – Swift Park

Midpointe Crossing | Bond Hill

In 2014, The Port was awarded $500,000 from the State of Ohio to fund community green space on 1.4 acres of the MidPointe site resulting in the 1-mile Swift Park trail that encourages connection and community.

B – Midpointe Crossing

7030 Reading Road | Bond Hill

25-acre development ready site located at SE corner of Reading and Seymour at the site of the former Swifton Shopping Center, the first mall in Cincinnati
Acquired in 2013 by The Port for repositioning & sale to commercial user
$6,200,000 Capital Investment

C – 2081 Seymour Avenue

Commercial Development Site | Bond Hill

.797-acre development site zoned CG-A
Acquired in 2015 by The Port for repositioning and sale to commercial user

D – Corner development site

6900 Reading Road | Bond Hill

.054-Acre Development Site zoned CG-A
Acquired in 2013 by The Port for repositioning and sale to commercial user

E – Seymour Industrial Sites

Former Cincinnati Gardens Site | Bond Hill

In 2016, The Port made a significant purchase for its industrial development strategy – the Cincinnati Gardens site. This 19-acre property will be redeveloped to create good-paying industrial and manufacturing jobs. In early 2019, we announced the site’s first investor, Messer Construction, which plans a 73,000+ square foot manufacturing spec building on five acres.
$13,000,000 estimated potential capital Investment | 225 estimated job creation

F – HURC Projects

Residential Rehab and Sale | Bond Hill

1718 Bella Vista, 1600 Elizabeth, and 1227 Rossmore.

G – Woodward Building Technologies Academy

Ryland Avenue | Housing

Construction of two new homes by senior high school students in the Woodward Building Technologies Academy, under guidance from Woodward Career Technical High School faculty, Allied Construction Industries (ACI) and their members. The students hope to prepare the house for a veteran or senior member of the community and are working with Warsaw Federal Savings & Loan to receive applications from potential buyers.

H – Bond Hill Business District

Reading Road Development Site | Bond Hill

Since 2015, The Port has acquired 15 group parcels (21 unique parcels) totaling 3.018 acres in the Bond Hill Business District. Demolition of 34,493 SF of blighted structures has been completed to make way for new development with the goal of attracting microenterprise and neighborhood-serving businesses.
Redevelopment of 5,500 square feet of retail space, including facade improvements and whiteboxing of the commercial spaces, in the Bond Hill Business District began with a community celebration in July 2018. Funding for the construction came from the City of Cincinnati, Community Economic Advancement Initiatives (CEAI) and The Port. DREAM Loan Funds, provided by the Kresge Foundation, will be used to customize the spaces for small, neighborhood-serving businesses that will create new jobs in the community and retain an existing business which has been serving the community for over five years.

Bond Hill + Roselawn Plan (BH+R)

Initiative | Bond Hill and Roselawn

Collaboratively developed plan for Bond Hill and Roselawn establishes community-driven recommendations to improve the neighborhood and the health and well being of its residents.
Approved by Cincinnati City Council in 2016

Technical Assistance | Advocacy

The Port commissioned a market analysis of the Reading & Seymour corridor that provided data supporting the need for commercial and retail development. We attracted grant funding for neighborhood leadership capacity building, a new neighborhood plan, and a mile-long walking path. In a significant blight-removal effort, we have spent more than $4MM demolishing underutilized properties and repositioning the sites for future development.