CINCINNATI CONVENTION CENTER
The convention center’s transformation continues to come into sharper focus with each passing month. After extensive planning and test fitting, crews installed the first aluminum composite material (ACM) panels on the westernmost incline on the building’s Fifth Street façade. Panel and insulation installation will continue to progress east along Fifth Street. Demolition of the existing Cincinnati sign began this month. Following demolition work, the sign will be upgraded to feature individual LED-illuminated letters, providing operators with complete creative control over the content shown. On the building’s interior, crews are continuing finishing work, including drywalling, painting, and installing new tile in the restrooms. Crews completed selective demolition of the existing concession stand and are now focused on underground plumbing and in-wall electric work.
At Elm Street Plaza, crews have completed underground work for the interactive fountains. Site work is ongoing, with the final grade now complete on the north side of the plaza and wrapping up soon on the south side. Stay in the know with everything happening in the Convention District by subscribing to receive biweekly construction updates.
CONVENTION HEADQUARTERS HOTEL
In Mid-June, leaders from 3CDC and Portman Holdings presented an update to Cincinnati’s City Council on the Convention Headquarters Hotel, an essential project in the reimagining of the Convention District. The project development team shared updated renderings of the new hotel, which will replace a surface parking lot located just south of the convention center, at Fifth and Plum streets. The hotel will consist of 700 rooms, including 36 suites; more than 62,000 square feet of flexible meeting space; a full-service, 3-meal restaurant and outdoor bar overlooking 5th Street; an outdoor event terrace, including a lawn and deck; and a skybridge connecting to the convention center. Construction will begin in the fourth quarter of 2025 and will be completed in the second quarter of 2028. The international, full-service hotel brand will be announced later this year.
The $536 million project received important funding with City Council’s approval of a $50 million loan, allowing the project to progress toward overall finance closing and full construction commencement in November 2025. The City’s contribution includes $10 million in savings from its investment in the convention center renovation and $40 million in proceeds from a planned bond issuance secured by the City’s non-tax revenues (fines, fees, forfeitures, licenses, etc.).
The remaining $20 million funding gap will be addressed through reduction goals, including better construction pricing & cost-efficient engineering solutions, improved market conditions when financing closes, and robust owner contingency by Portman. Stay in the know with everything happening in the Convention District by subscribing to receive biweekly construction updates.
PAYCOR HEADQUARTERS
Exterior and interior construction continued to progress in equal measure throughout June at Payor Headquarters as crews wrapped up installation of custom-made terracotta tiles on the building façade and focused on building out commercial space for future tenants. Inside the future Salazar restaurant, crews are finished with system rough-ins and are installed throughout the space as well as exhaust hoods in the kitchen. A handicap ramp was installed outside our Paycor’s lobby entrance, as well as new plantings. On Race Street, crews installed new light poles, and pedestrian signaling at Fifth and Race streets is operational. Stay in the know with everything happening at Paycor Headquarters by subscribing to receive monthly construction updates.
FINDLAY COMMUNITY CENTER
At Findlay Community Center, site excavation work is almost complete. Construction crews are currently preparing and installing shoring to support the installation of auger cast piles that will form a deep foundation for the future structure. Selective demolition work on 1829 Vine Street, the building just north of the project site, is nearly finished. Upon completion of the project, the building will be completely incorporated into the final facility design and layout. Stay in the know with the transformative redevelopment projects in North OTR by subscribing to receive monthly construction updates.
CROSSROAD HEALTH CENTER
On June 25, leaders from the City of Cincinnati, Crossroad Health Center, 3CDC, and several other project partners gathered to celebrate construction beginning on the new home for Crossroad Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center that has been providing affordable, accessible, and high-quality health care to the Over-the-Rhine community for over 30 years. Mayor Aftab Pureval, City Manager Sheryl Long, and James Berrens, CEO of Crossroad Health Center, along with other project leaders, spoke to event attendees about the project’s importance and what the development means to the North OTR community.
Construction work has continued at the project site throughout the month. Demolition of 34 Green Street is complete, and crews are now focused on backfilling the site. Further demolition work on 1715 Republic Street is scheduled to start in mid-July. Stay in the know with the transformative redevelopment projects in North OTR by subscribing to receive monthly construction updates.