What's Happening in Cincinnati, OH…

A mostly-vacant building in Cincinnati's downtown will be getting a new lease on life.

The property, located at 32 West Sixth Street, will be renovated and turned into 62 apartments, to be rented at market rates. The building is across the street from the Dunnhumby Centre, a brand-new development that will open in a few months, and is a force for revitalizing the entire area. The total cost for the renovation of 32 West Sixth is estimated at $5.3m.

Ashley Builders will be handling most of the work, and plans to put in an application to the state for “historic tax credits”; tax incentives given to those who are working to redevelop historic properties.

The city council initially approved the tax exemption, but will need to vote again, due to some initial confusion over who is actually the developer on the project. Jeff McElravy, interim director of the city's trade and development activities, said that approving the exemption demonstrates Cincinnati's support of the renovations.

The building will meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards, which will make it a LEED building, as such structures are commonly known. Buildings meeting these “green” standards are certified as such.

Ashley Builders might consider working with brochure printers to create a booklet describing the new units. The booklet could be distributed to area realtors and rental companies.