CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

Downtown Cincinnati's Central Business District (CBD) is headquarters to six Fortune 500 companies and home to more than 12 million SF of office space and about 63,000 full-time employees. It is also the site of world class arts, entertainment and shopping including the Aronoff Center for the Arts, Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Taft Museum of Art, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany's, Macy's and of course the center of it all, Fountain Square. In mid-2012 The CBD It is also adjacent to the city's major league sports stadiums, home to the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals. 3CDC's redevelopment work in the CBD is currently focused on the 6th and Walnut arts and entertainment district.

Cincinnati's downtown CBD has been through a variety of transformations since the city was founded in 1788. Like many American cities, its vibrancy began to fade in the 20th century with the growth of the suburbs.

In 1995, the Cincinnati Equity Fund (CEF) was started by the City's corporate community with a strategic focus on revitalizing economic development in Cincinnati's Central Business District (CBD). To date, CEF has made $76 million in loans resulting in $342 million in total development directly spurred by the fund's investments. CEF funding has been invested in many downtown redevelopment projects including Bootsy's The McAlpin, Nicholson's, Palomino and TJMaxx.

In 2003, the City of Cincinnati along with the City's corporate community created 3CDC to jumpstart economic development in the City's urban core, agreeing that the economic future of Cincinnati depended first and foremost on a strong and vibrant downtown business and entertainment district.

Currently, 3CDC's work in the CBD is mostly concentrated on the Walnut Street arts and entertainment district, located just a block from Fountain Square, the city's newly renovated, premier public space. 3CDC has managed the CEF since 2004. In addition to the CEF investment, 3CDC is responsible for more than $47 million in additional private development in the CBD.

3CDC's renovation and revitalization of Fountain Square and the Fountain Square Garage has also sparked about $125 million in additional private investment in the Fountain Square District.

3CDC invests in projects that bring more residential, commercial and entertainment opportunities to the CBD. From the Lofts of Fountain Square, which created 18 for-sale condo units, to the Righteous Room, which brought an upscale bar and three for-sale condos to a Walnut Street establishment that was previously known for its many police calls, 3CDC's work is focused on mixed-use projects that bring people back to the city.