Developer Selected For
$100 Million Calhoun Street Project

A developer has been selected for a $100 million mixed-use complex on the periphery of the University of Cincinnati campus.

Higgins Development Partners (HDP) was selected as master developer for the project, which will encompass the north and south sides of Calhoun Street in Clifton Heights. The project will include 100,000 square feet of retail space, 70,000 square feet of institutional space for UC, parking garages with approximately 1,400 spaces, 500 beds of student housing and 150 market-rate housing units.

The selection was made cooperatively by UC and the Clifton Heights Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CHCURC).

"We are very pleased to select HDP as our development partner in this exciting urban renewal project," said Charlie Watson, the project manager for UC. "The depth of experience on HDP's staff and their track record in other urban neighborhood projects is a perfect combination for the Calhoun Street project."

HDP previously developed for UC the $70 million University Center project that was completed in 1999. Joining HDP's team on the project are Madison Marquette as the retail developer and VOA Architects as the primary leads.

The Calhoun Street project can now move into predevelopment activities including contract negotiation, zoning analysis and schematic designs. Construction is expected to begin as early as March 2002, with completion in summer 2004.

"The Clifton Heights business district has all the prerequisites to create a thriving regional retail destination coupled with strong service-oriented retail businesses for local residents and area students and workers," said Dan Deering, director of CHCURC. "The Calhoun Street project is the next major step in making Clifton Heights an attractive community to live, work and play."

In June, Cincinnati City Council unanimously approved the urban renewal plan for the Clifton Heights business district. The plan is a joint undertaking by CHCURC, UC and the City of Cincinnati. Goals for the urban renewal plan include development potential for new retail venues, restaurants, office spaces, entertainment and cultural uses, increased parking, a new central park and new housing. Recent plan progress includes the July opening of nationally-known retailer Urban Outfitters in the Third Memorial Protestant Church on Ohio Street.