1 hour ago, 646empire said:

Isnt there already a Skyline right around there? I assuming they are closing the other one

Yes the other one will be closing. 

1 hour ago, 646empire said:

Isnt there already a Skyline right around there? I assuming they are closing the other one

The existing skyline is in a gross strip center with not enough parking and no drive thru. This is a big upgrade for skyline.

On 4/7/2024 at 7:30 PM, Ucgrad2015 said:

https://www.fox19.com/2024/04/07/frischs-big-boy-covington-shuts-down/
 

Big Boy in Covington has shut down. Would be nice to see this start the redevelopment of this section of Covington.

Not a surprise really, while Covington is focused on making a new neighborhood from scratch at the IRS spot across the train tracks this area is really still destined to stay an automobile focused fast food land for the foreseeable future.

 

This will be a huge improvement for the Skyline, with a bigger more prominent location and a drive thru, as well as being within walking distance again of Mainstrasse so hopefully more late night hours for some bad 1am food decisions. 

Probably good that Covington doesn't bite off more than it can chew. Focus on redeveloping the area east of the tracks for now. West of the bridge is about to be a big BSB construction mess until about 2032 anyway.

I believe the city toyed with the idea of rezoning that area into more of the residential neighborhood it used to be back when the plans showed the 5th street exit being removed during the BSB rework since that area would have been completely divorced from the interstate. When downtown Covington and Newport businesses freaked out and got the 5th street exit back into the BSB plans, and the removal of the 4th street on ramp became a reworked 4th street on ramp with the texas turn around, it became clear that the area would remain an auto-centric gas station / fast food haven anyway so to your point they would focus their attention elsewhere. 

Edited April 11, 20241 yr by ucgrady

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2024/06/05/retail-257-unit-complex-coming-to-covingtons-former-irs-site/73961724007/
 

257 Unit apartment complex coming to the IRS site. Will be on blocks M and N. 

$67M mixed-use development proposed for Covington riverfront site

 

A mixed-use development proposal has surfaced for Covington's massive Central Riverfront site.

 

Covington Economic Development Director Tom West presented the plan to Covington commissioners in the June 4 caucus meeting. An ordinance permitting Covington Mayor Joe Meyer to sign an economic development agreement goes up for a vote June 11.

 

CCR-MN Investment Partners LLC is listed as the developer. The company is an ad hoc formation of Silverman & Co.

 

Silverman would purchase the land for $2.6 million, with its total investment being $67.2 million. The project would occupy 1.3 acres covering blocks M and N at the southeastern corner of the former IRS site.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/06/05/silverman-covington-riverfront-irs-site-apartments.html

 

This part stuck out to me:

"The city of Covington is acting as master developer on the buildout of the Central Riverfront site, intending to replicate the human-scaled development of the rest of the city – and to give smaller Covington-based developers a point of entry – rather than resorting to vast mega-blocks such as what occupies the Banks across the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati."

 

33 minutes ago, Rabbit Hash said:

vast mega-blocks

 

 

Where are these "vast mega-blocks" hiding?  400x250 is a pretty typical city block in the United States of America.

56 minutes ago, Rabbit Hash said:

This part stuck out to me:

"The city of Covington is acting as master developer on the buildout of the Central Riverfront site, intending to replicate the human-scaled development of the rest of the city – and to give smaller Covington-based developers a point of entry – rather than resorting to vast mega-blocks such as what occupies the Banks across the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati."

 

I’m going to assume they are stating that  the blocks won’t be taken up by just one large apartment complex like how the Current and Radius did. 

1 hour ago, Lazarus said:

 

Where are these "vast mega-blocks" hiding?  400x250 is a pretty typical city block in the United States of America.

This isn't referring to the size of the street grid, it's referring to developments where a single entity develops the block into one continuous building. This reduces variations in architecture, scale, etc. and is in general less pedestrian in nature. It's not bad when it's the only economical way of developing a site, but it's definitely not the ideal way to break up a block for development.

Covington wins $16.3M RAISE grant for Central Riverfront project

By Brian Planalp – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Jun 26, 2024

Updated Jun 26, 2024 6:59am EDT

 

A huge windfall in federal dollars will, quite literally, pave the way forward at the 23-acre, $308 million Covington Central Riverfront site, where city officials and private developers are working to build a new neighborhood focused on connectivity, sustainability, innovation and jobs.

 

The city of Covington, acting as the project's master developer, has received a $16.3 million grant for site work from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE, program.

 

City officials learned of the grant in late June from the local Congressional delegation and announced it June 25, though as of this writing, USDOT has not yet officially named the awardees.

 

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^ What is the point of the street configuration shown above (2 driving + 1 parking lane in one direction, 1 driving + 1 parking lane in the other)?

10 minutes ago, taestell said:

^ What is the point of the street configuration shown above (2 driving + 1 parking lane in one direction, 1 driving + 1 parking lane in the other)?

 

If you look closely, the side with two driving lanes actually has cars going in both directions

5 minutes ago, ryanlammi said:

 

If you look closely, the side with two driving lanes actually has cars going in both directions

and the other side looks to only run the length of the park/square.

Oh, so it's like a 2 way main street on the left and a 1 way access road on the right. Makes a little more sense but still seems like more asphalt than necessary.

NKY Port, Kenton County issue RFP for $125M Covington project

By Liz Engel – Digital editor/Cincy Inno editor, Cincinnati Business Courier

Jul 29, 2024

 

Officials in Northern Kentucky are issuing a call for a project manager to lead the charge on $125 million project that could land at the former IRS site along the banks of the Ohio River.

 

The Northern Kentucky Port Authority, in partnership with Kenton County, has issued a request for proposals, or RFP, seeking a project manager to oversee the planned Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence in Covington. 

 

The facility would house Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law and the University of Kentucky College of Medicine’s Northern Kentucky campus – both relocating from nearby Highland Heights.

 

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Covington issues flurry of RFPs for Central Riverfront development sites

By Brian Planalp – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Aug 5, 2024

 

The city of Covington is inviting private developers to offer proposals for the next series of blocks at its massive 23-acre Central Riverfront project.

 

The city July 25, acting as master developer for overall project, issued three requests for proposals, or RFPs, for development sites comprising four blocks, 16 distinct property parcels and around 4 total acres, according to a Aug. 1 media release.

 

The city of Covington has issued three RFPs for four blocks at its Central Riverfront project – blocks D and E are part of the same RFP, while blocks C and K are included in independent RFPs.

City of Covington

 

Two of the blocks – referenced as block D and block E in the city’s Central Riverfront site plans – are combined into the same RFP. The blocks straddle Russell Street, which will be extended north from its current terminus at Fourth Street. The extension, which will span 75 feet in width, will include a park-like median, according to the release. The RFP envisions the twin developments should serve as a “striking gateway” to the city. Responses are due Sept. 26.

 

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Just A+ all around.     I love that Covington is acting as the master Developer.   

 

Meanwhile the Banks sits half developed...

^False equivalency.  The Banks is much, much larger.  It also physically exists.  This thing in Covington is vaporware. 

 

The Banks meets the river...at its bank.  This thing in Covington awkwardly deals with the levee. 

Just now, Lazarus said:

^False equivalency.  The Banks is much, much larger.  It also physically exists.  This thing in Covington is vaporware. 

 

The Banks meets the river...at its bank.  This thing in Covington awkwardly deals with the levee. 

I was going to say something very similar. None of this exists yet and it’s highly likely it will MANY years before a substantial piece is finished, kinda funny calling RFPs “A+” I wouldn’t pop the champagne yet lol.

It may not be an apples-to-apples comparison, but it is still somewhat shocking that nearly half of The Banks is sitting there undeveloped and neither the city or county seems to be close to issuing RFPs for those sites.

1 hour ago, taestell said:

It may not be an apples-to-apples comparison, but it is still somewhat shocking that nearly half of The Banks is sitting there undeveloped and neither the city or county seems to be close to issuing RFPs for those sites.

 

I suspect that some of the motivation for building a strip of single-family homes in Covington is to give the development "momentum".  It's doubtful that anything on this site in Covington will match the scale of the built-out blocks on The Banks. 

 

My first thought was to pile on the "lack of progress" at The Banks. And, while I think you can criticize that The Banks is not fully built out more than 25 years after it was started, there's a lot there that is completed. 

Edited August 5, 2024Aug 5 by Rabbit Hash
typo

40 minutes ago, Lazarus said:

 

I suspect that some of the motivation for building a strip of single-family homes in Covington is to give the development "momentum".  It's doubtful that anything on this site in Covington will match the scale of the built-out blocks on The Banks. 

 

The state of Kentucky is also giving this site a $150+ million dollar jolt of momentum with a new Law School and Medical College on parcels.Taking another Cincinnati idea from a decade ago and putting to too use.This entire site may fully well built out before the Banks is ever finished.

Covington has a decent history of completing their vision. Comparisons with the banks are valid to me when considering the proportions of each sides total downtown riverfront area. I like that they aren't the same, as it's what gives the regions riverfront so much interest.

33 minutes ago, ucnum1 said:

The state of Kentucky is also giving this site a $150+ million dollar jolt of momentum with a new Law School and Medical College on parcels.Taking another Cincinnati idea from a decade ago and putting to too use.This entire site may fully well built out before the Banks is ever finished.

I think the college building idea from several years ago being skipped over at The Banks was for the best it just does not fit well into what the banks has become which is very entertainment centric. This Covington site seems much more plausible for a education building. 

Edited August 5, 2024Aug 5 by 646empire

26 minutes ago, 646empire said:

I think the college building idea from several years ago being skipped over at The Banks was for the best it just does not fit well into what the banks has become which is very entertainment centric. This Covington site seems much more plausible for a education building. What is the biggest obstacle for getting the Banks built out is multi tens millions cost for parking garages to get it out of the flood plain.That said it's been going on a decade since the garage was completed on the parcel next to the Bengals stadium.

 

Covington does not too sink those infrastructure costs into the IRS site.Add in the site is next to their Regional Convention Center getting a fairly large hotel built also is a pretty easy lift there as well.

 

Agreed, as frustratingly slow as The Banks development has been, it is apples and oranges compared to the IRS redevelopment.  The Banks had floodplain issues, garages to raise it out of those, etc.  The Banks would be more akin to the RiverCenter development in Covington, but even then, Covington had a floodwall and the Ohio side does not.  The City of Covington and the State of KY basically gave away the farm to Corporex to get those buildings and infrastructure built.

 

 

I thought part of the development of the IRS site is on a parking garage to lift the development for views above the Levi?

It's simply not true that "covington finishes things" and Cincinnati doesn't.  This very large parking lot had various office proposals back in the late 1990s but...is still a parking lot 25 years later:

 

Also, The Ascent was 3/4 empty for almost 10 years after it was built. 

So far they've just demolished the IRS building and moved some dirt. The parking garage to bring the site up to levee height hasn't started construction and 3rd/Russel streets are just now starting construction. It's way too early to declare the site a success; however, the city of Covington is doing the right thing at every step and is asking for the right kinds of new urbanist, truly mixed use things in their RFPs.

 

I'm confident that a nice new neighborhood will eventually exist where the IRS was, but I'm not as confident about the timing and its way too early to declare victory of the unfinished Banks. Developers want the biggest sized projects to make the finances work out and Covington's insistence on breaking up the blocks into smaller parcels and not allow combining parcels, while a great idea that will lead to a better final product, I'm afraid will scare away some more timid developers who don't know how to develop truly mixed use blocks that aren't just podiums with stick built on top.

 

Hopefully I'm proven wrong and we get some great proposals for the sites but I'm worried about the enthusiasm in the developer market right now. All that being said, if Covington sticks to their beliefs and develops many smaller parcels instead of giant megablock / Dallas donuts, this area will feel much much more human scaled, neighborhood-ish and lively than similar sized developments of its kind. 

15 hours ago, ucgrady said:

So far they've just demolished the IRS building and moved some dirt. The parking garage to bring the site up to levee height hasn't started construction and 3rd/Russel streets are just now starting construction. It's way too early to declare the site a success; however, the city of Covington is doing the right thing at every step and is asking for the right kinds of new urbanist, truly mixed use things in their RFPs.

 

I'm confident that a nice new neighborhood will eventually exist where the IRS was, but I'm not as confident about the timing and its way too early to declare victory of the unfinished Banks. Developers want the biggest sized projects to make the finances work out and Covington's insistence on breaking up the blocks into smaller parcels and not allow combining parcels, while a great idea that will lead to a better final product, I'm afraid will scare away some more timid developers who don't know how to develop truly mixed use blocks that aren't just podiums with stick built on top.

 

Hopefully I'm proven wrong and we get some great proposals for the sites but I'm worried about the enthusiasm in the developer market right now. All that being said, if Covington sticks to their beliefs and develops many smaller parcels instead of giant megablock / Dallas donuts, this area will feel much much more human scaled, neighborhood-ish and lively than similar sized developments of its kind. 

Hoping the continued decrease in inflation and decline of interest rates will get some developers back in the game. I know quite a few that wanted to build but have been deterred/delayed their plans because of the high costs due to inflated interest rates + inflated costs of materials.

Project manager selected for $125M joint UK-NKU facility in Covington

 

Kenton County and the Northern Kentucky Port Authority have selected HDR to serve as the owner’s representative and project manager for a planned $125 million facility where Northern Kentucky University’s Chase College of Law and the University of Kentucky College of Medicine's Northern Kentucky campus will co-locate.

 

Construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to a news release.

 

The so-called Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence is likely destined for a site at Covington’s Central Riverfront development, but officials have yet to choose a specific block, and other locations are under consideration.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/09/11/hdr-project-manager-new-uk-nku-covington.html

 

Looks like that rendering is Block G.

4th street has already been reduced to 2 lanes between Madison and Johnson. I'm sure it's to facilitate the IRS work, but hopefully it never comes back and when the construction fence is ready to move they just repaint with parking and bike lanes. 

24 minutes ago, ucgrady said:

4th street has already been reduced to 2 lanes between Madison and Johnson. I'm sure it's to facilitate the IRS work, but hopefully it never comes back and when the construction fence is ready to move they just repaint with parking and bike lanes. 

Yes, the reconfiguration of 4th from Gerrard to Johnson was previously announced by KYTC, as part of a resurfacing project.

Developer proposes $8.7M project at Covington Central Riverfront

 

The next block at Covington Central Riverfront could become single-family homes bookended by two mixed-use corner buildings if a newly unveiled plan for the site comes to fruition.

 

Covington Pointe, a joint venture involving Funke Real Estate, is the proposal for block A, one of the two southernmost blocks at the Central Riverfront development, the other occupied by a Drees Homes townhomes project.

 

The block A proposal envisions two three-story mixed-use corner buildings with ground-floor retail spaces and upper-floor condominiums or apartments and 10 single-family detached homes. One corner building will be located at Fourth and Russell streets, the other at Fourth and Johnson streets.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/11/14/covington-central-riverfont-homes-block-a-funke.html

 

Booooooooo.   Single Family Detached homes,   Booooooooooo

Yeah, not what I was expecting at all.

Blocks A and B have always shown single family homes, whether townhouses or detached is up for debate, but the existing context across the street from Block B is all single family homes and a gas station.

City of Covington finalizing up to four development agreements for Central Riverfront site

By Brian Planalp – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Jan 9, 2025

Updated Jan 9, 2025 7:45am EST

 

The year to come figures to be every bit the landmark as was the year just passed for Covington’s Central Riverfront project – the former IRS site – as the city negotiates development proposals and opens up more blocks for bid.

 

The city of Covington oversaw the groundbreaking of phase one vertical infrastructure – including the buildout of the original street grid – in April 2024. Over the next eight months, it reviewed and finalized development agreements for four of the 17 blocks at the 23-acre site.

 

Tom West, economic development director for the city of Covington, forecasts more of the same in the coming months.

 

MORE

Construction progress as of 4/30/2025

Phase I infrastructure (roads, utilities) seems to be pretty much done. The only main road in Phase I that doesn't have curbs or pavement yet is the section of 3rd street that connects to Madison (seen in the foreground of the first photo)

It appears that excavation is happening on the north side of the site, maybe for the Phase II roads and parking garage.

Edited April 30Apr 30 by ry.bread

Its visible in those pictures, but the new sidewalk with trees and lawn and the reduced width of 4th street is all in place, the construction fence is still up where the bike line will go to keep things protected for now. My guess is they won't remove that until all roads are done and open, and it keeps the trees protected from idiots for a little longer to hopefully let them get nice and established.

Cincinnati developer proposes new project at former Covington IRS site

Covington’s strategy of breaking up its sprawling riverfront site into bite-sized chunks for smaller developers has yielded a new development proposal.

Downtown Cincinnati-based Sanders Development Group proposes to build a mixed-use project featuring townhomes and an apartment building on the southern half of block D at Covington’s ambitious 23-acre Central Riverfront project.

Block D comprises one of Central Riverfront’s most prominent corners, with frontage to the Russell Street pedestrian plaza – Russell Commons Park.

The 0.39-acre project consists of two parts, the first featuring six three-story attached townhomes, the second a four-story apartment building with 4,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and 15 one-bedroom market-rate units above.

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/05/05/sanders-development-covington-irs-riverfront-homes.html

4 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

Cincinnati developer proposes new project at former Covington IRS site

Covington’s strategy of breaking up its sprawling riverfront site into bite-sized chunks for smaller developers has yielded a new development proposal.

Downtown Cincinnati-based Sanders Development Group proposes to build a mixed-use project featuring townhomes and an apartment building on the southern half of block D at Covington’s ambitious 23-acre Central Riverfront project.

Block D comprises one of Central Riverfront’s most prominent corners, with frontage to the Russell Street pedestrian plaza – Russell Commons Park.

The 0.39-acre project consists of two parts, the first featuring six three-story attached townhomes, the second a four-story apartment building with 4,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and 15 one-bedroom market-rate units above.

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/05/05/sanders-development-covington-irs-riverfront-homes.html

What all blocks currently have a proposal ?

Looks like Block C is the only one in the current phase not with a proposal. In the next phase, over the future parking garage, Blocks K, P and G are already earmarked. I'm really curious what goes on Block J, as I've heard desires for many things over the years from at one point new City Hall, at one point distillery or some entertainment venue. Its a vital location so whatever goes there needs to look awesome and anchor the neighborhood.

1 hour ago, ucgrady said:

Looks like Block C is the only one in the current phase not with a proposal. In the next phase, over the future parking garage, Blocks K, P and G are already earmarked. I'm really curious what goes on Block J, as I've heard desires for many things over the years from at one point new City Hall, at one point distillery or some entertainment venue. Its a vital location so whatever goes there needs to look awesome and anchor the neighborhood.

Should be the location of the terminal for an air gondola over the Ohio River

Developer sets start date, details changes for $69M project at Covington's Central Riverfront

By Brian Planalp – Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

Jun 6, 2025

The Cincinnati developer behind the largest announced project at Covington’s Central Riverfront site has produced refined designs with added residential units from the first schematics.

The city of Covington last June selected Blue Ash-based Silverman & Co. as the developer for two blocks, totaling 1.3 acres, on the east side of the sprawling 23-acre site of the former IRS building.

Silverman & Co., through CCR-MN Investment Partners LLC, presented plans for a $69.8 million development – including land acquisition costs – that would preserve the alley running between the blocks, effectively splitting the project into north and south parts.

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