NEWS FROM THE PORT

Edition No. 21 | October 2024

New manufacturing company opens at former Cincinnati Gardens site

In mid-September, a former Port-owned property officially opened its doors to our region’s newest manufacturing facility.

In late 2022, The Port announced it had sold the third and final piece of land where the former Cincinnati Gardens once stood for nearly seven decades, paving the way for the creation of approximately 100 advanced manufacturing jobs in the new 50,000-square foot facility bordering Bond Hill and Roselawn.

Emerge Manufacturing, founded by local entrepreneur and minority business leader Cynthia Booth, purchased the land from The Port and will manufacture Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the new plant, providing jobs and economic stimulus for Greater Cincinnati, while also minimizing our region’s reliance on offshore resources for life-saving supplies and equipment. The facility will produce gowns, shoe coverings, head coverings, multiple types of masks, and more.

The Port purchased the 19-acre historical Gardens site in 2016 as a central point of its industrial revitalization strategy to create pad-ready sites to attract high-paying, advanced manufacturing jobs to the region.

A closer look at office to residential conversions

Across the country, vacant downtown office spaces are being repurposed into housing, and Cincinnati ranks among the top cities for these conversions. These projects reduce excess office space, provide much-needed housing, and lower carbon emissions over new construction. We recently took a closer look at how vacant downtown office spaces across the country are being converted into housing, including how Cincinnati measures compared to other U.S. cities. Check out the full blog post here to learn more, see what projects are underway locally, and how many of these projects The Port has helped support since 2000!

Thatcher Flats ribbon cutting

The Port was thrilled to join Pennrose, LLC, the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation, Cincinnati Development Fund, the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and community partners to celebrate the grand opening of Thatcher Flats. The Port helped finance this 50-unit development, with units priced for Cincinnatians making 30-60% AMI. This is just another way The Port is making real estate work… for everyone.

Black Developers Conference

We were honored to participate in the Black Developers Conference in Cincinnati. Our Senior Vice President of Economic Equity, Jilson Daniels, and Director of
Pre-Development, Brian Ogawa, shared valuable insights on the future of real estate and economic development. The Port is proud to support initiatives that empower Black developers and promote equitable growth in our region.

Queen City Pitch

On October 4, Queen City Pitch showcased 6 incredible local entrepreneurs who presented projects that aim to redefine Cincinnati’s landscape. Participants pitched bold, transformative plans to top leaders of Cincinnati, sparking excitement for the future of our region. These initiatives could drive significant economic growth and community revitalization. Keep an eye out for these rising stars!