Gateway Quarter

= Quoting from the official website ( http://www.gatewayquarter.com/ ): =

Planning Principles
The Over-the-Rhine Comprehensive Plan, local community stakeholders and the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) created a set of planning principles that will guide the development of the Gateway QUARTER and surrounding community into a safe, attractive and productive neighborhood for residents and visitors alike.

Over-the-Rhine Planning Principles

 * Build and strengthen the OTR Comprehensive Plan and other existing plans and studies for the redevelopment of the neighborhood.
 * Strengthen area destinations that attract and encourage neighborhood and regional participation.
 * Engage and involve a diverse group of OTR developers and other local organizations, architects and entrepreneurs, to the greatest extent possible in performing revitalization work.
 * Dramatically increase the population of homeowners in the neighborhood.
 * Stimulate and foster new residential and commercial investments at all economic levels to establish a stable mixed income and diverse neighborhood.
 * Engage community stakeholders in Over-The-Rhine area in the redevelopment efforts of the neighborhood.
 * Protect and preserve historic building stock and public right-of-way, unless it is deemed infeasible to restore.
 * Ensure that infill and new construction on vacant sites strengthen the streetscape and blend into the historic character of the neighborhood.
 * Residential projects that include plans for off-street parking should preferably be placed in the rear or screened from sidewalk view.
 * Involve community partners in the education and promotion of home ownership opportunities in the Over-The-Rhine area to families of all income levels.
 * Enhance and expand Over-The-Rhine parks as viable gathering spaces that are well maintained, accessible and meet the needs of the growing community for residents and visitors.

Long Term Plan
A quiet rebirth has been taking place in Cincinnati's own contribution to the National Historic Register. Powered by 3CDC's financial commitments and the dedicated work of countless residents and business owners, Over-the-Rhine is an up and coming neighborhood characterized by vibrance and diversity. Previously vacant homes and comercial spaces are beding transformed into exciting new places to live and work, where owners are surrounded by all that the city life offers.

Construction is complete on 93 new housing units within one block of the corner of 12th and Vine Streets. In addition, 100 more units are planned each year for the next four years in the Washington Park area. The Cincinnati Park Board is in the process of planning the expansion and renovation of Washington Park, to serve as the anchor for the extensive future development. Significant neighborhood investment has already been made by The Art Academy of Cincinnati, The Ensemble Theatre, and The Know Theatre are already located within one block of the Gateway QUARTER. Plans are currently in the works for the construction of a new K-12 School for the Creative and Performing Arts just south of Washington Park.

In all, 3CDC's residential and commercial projects represent over $20 million in private investment in Over-the-Rhine to rehabilitate previously vacant housing.

= Facts and Figures =

Soapbox Video
According to 3CDC’s Kelly Leon and Robert Maly, Vice President of Development for The Model Group, in this video ( http://vimeo.com/1841771 ):
 * Phase I and Phase II are finished and were are now in Phase III
 * "During Phase I and Phase II, we invested about $70 million in Over-The-Rhine and that brought about 200 new units to Over-The-Rhine." ~Kelly Leon
 * "...and 100 units each year for the next 4 years is 3CDC's goal." ~Robert Maly
 * "Some of those - small number, about 12 of them - are apartments leased to the Art Academy of Cincinnati... ...and the rest are condos; we're about 66% sold." ~Kelly Leon
 * "In our first Phase alone, over 90% of our buyers are between the ages of 24 and 32 years old. So, you're talking about a huge influx of a demographic that is absolutely coveted by the corporations that server our region." ~Robert Maly
 * "We're currently in Phase III which is going to bring another 103 residential units to this area." ~Kelly Leon

= Phases = Gateway Quarter Phases I and II resulted in 86 for-sale units and nearly 23,000 square feet of commercial space.

Phase III
"Two redevelopment projects underway in the Gateway Quarter are seeking to become the first LEED-certified residential buildings in the neighborhood, according to a media release. Both Urban Sites' Belmain project at 1202 Main Street and Northpointe Group/B2B Equities' Mottainai Lofts at 1222-1224 Republic Street are part of a LEED-certified pilot project for mid-rise, multi-family buildings.  Both the Belmain and Mottainai Lofts are part of Phase III of the Gateway Quarter, a $30.3 million project that includes 106 for-sale housing units and over 15,000 square feet of commercial space."