What’s new in Cincinnati USA?
These days, it’s more like what’s NOT new! Cincinnati USA is in the midst of an exciting renaissance. There’s a convergence of new developments, projects and convention wins taking shape that collectively makes this one of the most progressive, game-changing eras in our region’s history. Almost all of this progress will directly impact and benefit visitors to the region.
Cincinnati experienced a similar boom starting in 2003 when the new Reds and Bengals Stadiums, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the renovated Duke Energy Convention Center and new Fountain Square emerged in rapid succession. But this latest surge of activity is even more exciting. These projects bring completely new experiences to the region, change the city landscape, appeal to a broad cross-section of individuals and businesses, and represent more than $1.37 billion in new infrastructure spending from the northern suburbs to the Ohio River.
Catch a quick glimpse of some of the new developments by watching this short video from Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.
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The following is an overview of some of the major projects now underway or have been recently completed in Cincinnati USA:
NEW CONSTRUCTION
The Banks — An expansive new downtown entertainment district along the banks Ohio River, the Banks is situated between the Reds and Bengals stadiums and just south of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Phase 1 is a $500 million-plus development is now complete and includes retailers, restaurants, residential units and underground parking. Current or future tenants include:
Estimated investment: $500 million
Horseshoe Casino and Broadway Commons District — Ground has broken on February 4, 2011 for a new $400 million, 300,000 square foot casino that is scheduled to open in 2013. Located at the 20-acre Broadway Commons site on the northeast side of downtown, the new high-end casino will be just blocks from the city center, most downtown hotels and the Duke Energy Convention Center. Shuttle service will run between the casino and surrounding hotels, the Duke Energy Convention Center and the Sharonville Convention Center for at least three years.
Estimated investment: $400 million
The New School for the Creative and Performing Arts — A new $67 million arts campus has recently opened for the 2010-11 school year. The school is located off Central Parkway in downtown Cincinnati, bordered by Elm, Race and 12th streets. Alumni include Sarah Jessica Parker and Nick Lachey, and the school is the location of the MTV reality show “Taking the Stage,” currently airing on the national network. The campus will serve as a host site of the 2012 World Choir Games. www.TheNewSCPA.org
Estimated investment: $67 million
Great American Tower at Queen City Square — One of the nation’s only high-rise developments in 2010, the Great American Tower at Queen City Square is the tallest building in Cincinnati’s skyline. Located at 301 E. Fourth St. at Fourth and Sycamore streets, the $323 million complex features 1 million square feet of office space, a 25,000-square-foot pedestrian promenade and retail arcade, and a 2,350-space parking garage. The top of the 38-story tower is a distinctive crown shape whose design took inspiration from Princess Diana's tiara. The building first opened it's door to tenants at 1:11 p.m. on 1/11/11. www.queencitysquare.com
Estimated investment: $323 million
Sharonville Convention Center Expansion — The Center is currently undergoing a major renovation and expansion which began in late 2010. In total, the Center will be transformed from eight meeting rooms with 28,000 square feet of meeting space to an all-new contemporary meeting facility with 19 rooms and 65,000 square feet of space. The first phase is now open and the entire project will celebrate its grand opening in April 2012. www.sharonville.org/scc
Estimated investment: $30 million
Music Hall Renovation — One of Cincinnati’s most iconic landmark structures, the 130-year-old Music Hall in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, is slated to undergo a major renovation beginning in May of 2013 and continuing for 17 months with completion in October of 2014. The building’s last major renovation was in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Renovation of Music Hall is a key piece in the transformation of Over-the-Rhine and would maintain the historic and acoustic integrity of the hall. Music Hall
Estimated investment: $100 million
Washington Park Renovation — The project includes the renovation and expansion of the public park and the addition of a 500-space underground parking garage. It will transform a pivotal civic space in Over-the-Rhine, creating a green oasis for residents and visitors in the middle of an urban neighborhood. The Park renovation and expansion is estimated at $14 million and garage construction is estimated at $18 million. The creation of parking will serve as a catalyst for future development of at least 25 surrounding vacant properties. This project is being undertaken by the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. in partnership with the Cincinnati Park Board and the City of Cincinnati.
Estimated investment: $32 million
NEW HOTELS
21c Museum Hotel — Cincinnati will be the second location of 21c Museum Hotel– a boutique hotel based in Louisville, Kentucky that was named the top hotel in the U.S. and #6 in the world by the readers of Conde Nast magazine. The new hotel is located on Sixth Street downtown, adjacent to the Contemporary Arts Center and across the street from the Aronoff Center for the Arts in the Metropole building, recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The 21c Museum Hotel is working with the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation on the restoration, scheduled to begin in the fall of 2010. When complete, it will offer 160 rooms, an 8,000 square-foot contemporary art museum open to the public free of charge. The Proof restaurant and bar will serve contemporary cuisine made with locally grown ingredients. www.21cmuseumhotel.com
Estimated investment: $45 million
Residence Inn by Marriott — Opened in April 2011, he new 134-room Residence Inn Cincinnati Downtown is located in the historic Phelps Building, which dates back to 1926. It is surrounded by points of interest including the two-acre Lytle Park and the Taft Museum, which was part of the homestead of William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United States, and the Phelps family.
Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites — Plans for a 200-room Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites and a 610-car parking garage have been approved by the City of Cincinnati. Rolling Hills Hospitality has proposed a $14 million, 11-story hotel for the corner Seventh and Broadway and plans show the hotel will include an indoor spa and pool, a fitness room and banquet center.
Terrace Plaza Hotel — This architecturally significant building at the corner of Sixth and Vine streets downtown, considered by many to be the most important Modernist building in the city, was just sold to a New York real estate investor who is exploring several uses for the hotel, office and retail property. The complex includes 350 hotel rooms and approximately 270,000 square feet of office space.
Marriott SpringHill Suites Cincinnati — The first new hotel built in the downtown market since 1984, opened in April 2009. The 122-room hotel on Eden Park Drive caters to business travelers and features suites with refrigerators and microwaves, high-speed Internet, complimentary breakfast, same-day dry cleaning, laundry facilities, an indoor pool and exercise room. SpringHill Suites web site
NEW RESTAURANTS & BARS
Mynt Martini Bar — A fresh new martini bar serving food and drinks, located right on Fountain Square. Open Monday nights until midnight and Tuesdays through Saturday nights until 2:30 a.m. www.myntcincinnati.com
Local 127 — A new Cincinnati eatery with an emphasis on Farm to Table dining. Located at 127 W. Fourth St. just blocks from Fountain Square, downtown hotels and the Duke Energy Convention Center. Open for dinner until 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 10:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. www.mylocal127.com
Senate Pub — New to downtown Cincinnati, this purveyor of beer, wine and gourmet street food is located at 1212 Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine. www.senatepub.com
The Righteous Room — An exciting new addition to Cincinnati’s downtown entertainment district, The Righteous Room is one of the latest bars to populate the ever-growing area. Located across from the Aronoff Center for the Arts, the Righteous Room caters to a young professional crowd including patrons of the arts, the after-dinner crowd and industry workers from other nearby restaurants and bars. www.therighteousroom.com
NEW CONVENTION WINS
The 2012 World Choir Games — Cincinnati was selected to be the first U.S. host ever of the “Olympics of Choral Music.” For eleven days in July 2012, 20,000 participants from more than 90 countries and hundreds of thousands of spectators will descend upon Cincinnati USA, making it the epicenter of international music and culture. The Games will showcase Cincinnati’s arts and cultural institutions, with a special spotlight on redevelopment in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, where many of the competitions will take place. www.2012worldchoirgames.com
The 2013 Fraternal Order of Police convention — This group will bring 15,200 new visitors to our city.
National Urban League Annual Convention — Comes to Cincinnati in 2014 and will bring in an estimated 13,500 visitors to Cincinnati.
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