The
2010 Gateway Quarter Tour of Living will take place on Sunday, September 12 in the heart of Over-the-Rhine. The free urban living tour is scheduled to include eight models that show off what close to 100 available loft condos in the area offer.
The event comes as the
Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) continues work on more than $70 million worth of development projects in the immediate area including 200 housing units, 63,000 square feet of commercial space, and 300 parking spaces - all of which should be complete by February 2011, with Parvis Lofts becoming available later this fall.
Previous 3CDC-related development projects in Over-the-Rhine date back to 2004 and include 205 housing units and 43,733 square feet of commercial space. To date, more than 70 percent of these housing units have been occupied, and roughly 60 percent of all commercial space has been filled resulting in more than 39 businesses becoming members in the
Gateway Quarter Merchant's Association.
"People have been attracted to the downtown area because they can actually walk to work, entertainment and dining and not have to worry about driving. People can actually save money by living downtown," said Holly Redmond, Gateway Quarter Realtor with Link Realty. "New buyers are also excited about the hype of everything new coming like the streetcar and the casino."
The area is becoming more desirable as more young professionals, first-time home buyers, and businesses move into the resurgent Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Between 2004 and 2009, there has been a 48 percent reduction in reported crime within the area, and 849 fewer crimes. Additionally, several new businesses are planned to open in the coming months as leases are finalized and build-outs completed.
"The lack of crime is huge, you can actually walk down the streets and the streets look good with the new streetscaping and stores and cleaned up buildings, it just looks fabulous," Redmond said. "But for those who may not have visited in a while, the biggest difference they'll notice is that the crime is no longer there. It's just stunning."
The 2010 Gateway Tour of Living is anticipated to show off all of this progress and more this weekend - the event coincides with the monthly
Second Sundays in OTR street fair. Gateway Quarter realtors say that condos in the area are available from the low $100s to mid $300s. Tour-goers will be able to tour ten buildings including Lackman Lofts, Duvenick, Trideca Lofts, Good Fellows Hall, Belmain, Falling Wall, City Home, Gateway Condos, and the brand new Parvis Lofts and Trinity Flats.
The
2010 Gateway Tour of Living is free and open to the public, and will run from 12pm to 4pm on Sunday, September 12. Event organizers say that automobile parking will be available at lots at the corner of 12th & Vine, Mercer & Vine, and inside the Gateway Garage that is accessible from 12th Street and Central Parkway. Free bicycle parking is available throughout the area, and Metro bus service is also available (
plan your trip).
Writer:
Randy A. SimesPhotography by Scott BeselerStay connected by following Randy on Twitter
@UrbanCincy
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