Originally the epicenter of freight rail travel for the western portion of the United States, Cincinnati’s downtown riverfront area has always been central to its identity and its image. In the later portion of the 20th century – like so many other urban cores in cities around the United States – Cincinnati’s Central Business District experienced a period of population decline and a slowdown in commercial growth.
Signaling their commitment to the revitalization of the downtown urban core, Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati took a series of proactive and forward-looking measures. One of these was the approval of the new Cincinnati Central Riverfront Master Plan in 1997. Following the plan’s approval, the city welcomed the new Paul Brown Stadium (home of the Cincinnati Bengals), Great American Ball Park (home of the Cincinnati Reds) and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to the riverfront area.
Next, the city and county set their sights on the development of the remaining 18 acres of undeveloped riverfront land between the two sports stadiums. In 2007, the master development team of Carter and The Dawson Company, in joint venture, were selected to create a vision for a dynamic urban mixed-use project and to develop this vision into a reality. Through a public-private partnership, the team would create one of the nation’s preeminent urban "Live, Work, Play" destinations.
To serve as a catalyst for the project – which has a projected economic impact in excess of $1 billion - The City of Cincinnati partnered with Hamilton County to provide infrastructure for the site, including an intermodal transit facility, parking garages, street grid improvements, and utilities. The City of Cincinnati also provided funding for the 45-acre Riverfront Park.
Following a formal groundbreaking on April 2, 2008, construction began on the first phase of the underground parking garages, roadwork, and other infrastructure projects. By fall of 2009, Freedom Way East, the new road and one of the project centerpieces was delivered. Construction on phase one of the private development (ie all vertical construction) commenced in late 2009. Luxury apartments and street-level restaurants will come on-line throughout 2011. An office building, hotel, and additional residential components will follow next.