Over the past two years the southern portion of Over-the-Rhine now known as the Gateway Quarter has seen tremendous success and transformation. Buildings that were once empty and near the point of collapse have been restored and filled up with dozens of new businesses and hundreds of new residents looking to be a part of Cincinnati's most storied neighborhood.
During that time
Link Realty worked with the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) to help with the leasing of commercial spaces and sales of the newly developed condos. One of the most spectacular achievements thus far though has been the successful creation on Vine Street of Cincinnati's trendiest business district.
Much of the early work was done with the help of Kathleen Norris who has moved on to a new partnership with Brandt Retail Group's urban retail division. Now Terri Danzilo has taken over and is working to continue that success in the always changing
Gateway Quarter.
"It seems like more stuff every week is becoming available as the developers continue to restore and save these historic buildings," says Danzilo who got her license in the early 90's and has been working with LINK Realty for over three years now.
Danzilo speaks about the exciting changes going on in the district like the nearly completed streetscaping project along Vine and some of the cross streets that includes wider sidewalks, new streetlights, bike racks, street trees, and buried utilities. A new eatery called
Senate will open mid-October across the street from the popular Lavomatic restaurant and urban wine bar.
Danizlo also talks about how both LINK, and even herself, are also changing with the neighborhood. LINK just opened up a new office in the Gateway Building that houses four agents, and Danizlo just moved into a Downtown residence in July. "I love living here, and I've lived in Cincinnati my whole life."
The success of Over-the-Rhine's Gateway Quarter can really be attributed to teamwork says Danzilo. "It's been a total team effort, and it has worked so well because everyone on the team has worked together with one another in the past."
The team is even going up to Findlay Market on Saturdays to hand out pieces of literature informing the shoppers there about the shopping opportunities available in the Gateway Quarter. Also important has been the availability of grants that have helped new small businesses get a start in the neighborhood.
The success is expected to continue as new phases continue to move forward that include more historic renovations and new infill projects north along Vine and on some adjacent cross streets. Available retail spaces continue to be filled with the last of the remaining spaces in the early Gateway Quarter project to be filled later this year. The condos are seeing similar success and agents are selling about one new condo every five and a half days - one of the best rates in the region.
Writer:
Randy A. SimesPhotography by Scott BeselerStay connected and follow Randy on Twitter
@SoapboxRandy
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.