New development projects transforming formerly industrial Lower Price Hill

Published June 2, 2009 at 12:00 a.m.
Lower Price Hill was rocked with the explosion at the Queen City Barrelsite just a few years ago.  The event brought attention to thedeplorable state of many of the industrial properties along the MillCreek corridor that run right through the residential neighborhood.

Followingmuch discussion and debate the community worked with the city ofCincinnati to come up with a redevelopment strategy that would not onlyclean up the area, but set it up to be successfully economically in thefuture.

A key component to that development is the $25 million MetroWest redevelopment project which will eventually create 250,000 square feet of space and an estimated 400 new jobs.

Thisredevelopment process will occur in several phases over the course ofits life.  The earliest phase is nearing completion and consists of thedemolition and cleanup of the project site which should be completenext week says Sam Stephens, senior development office with the city ofCincinnati’s Department of Community Development.

Once complete,the construction phase can then ensue, but will be subject to marketdemands.  “The economy is the economy, but we remain optimistic,” saysStephens.  There is the possibility that one or two speculativebuildings be built, but that is not the first choice for the city.

The new buildings will include a number of green buildings.

A complimentary project next door is also moving forward using LEED building construction.  The new Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) engineering office building is coming along with much of the steel work now visible.

“Thisshows the best of intergovernmental cooperation,” says Stephens whomentioned that the city and MSD engaged in a land swap so that the MSDreceived adjacent land for the additional office space they wanted,while the city received more property with the MetroWest redevelopmentproject.

The city is currently helping with the financing forthe MSD office building project and will lease the building to MSD andeventually transfer the building and the land to the MSD once the leaseis complete.

The city is currently engaging commercial realtorsto help with the marketing of the MetroWest site, but the MSD has alsobeen very aggressive in trying to find additional users who might beinterested in the space.

Writer: Randy Simes
Source: Sam Stephens, senior development officer, City of Cincinnati Department of Community Development
Photography by Randy Simes

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