Draft Master Plan Unveiled to Complete Development at Cincinnati’s Banks Riverfront
The draft emphasizes housing-led growth and public-space upgrades as officials weigh an estimated $800 million concept ahead of refinement for a 2026 decision.
Overview
- Design consultants presented the draft to Hamilton County commissioners and Cincinnati’s Equitable Growth & Housing Committee, sharing new renderings and a site model.
- Concepts call for high-rise residential towers on Lot 24 and added family-focused entertainment options, with some county leaders voicing cost concerns and council members showing interest.
- Five sites remain to be built; the largest, a 113,000-square-foot parcel, is said to support roughly 500,000 to 900,000 square feet of mixed-use development.
- An HR&A market study recommends up to 1,210 market-rate units, at least one new hotel and up to 80,000 square feet of neighborhood retail, and advises against new speculative office space.
- Public-realm priorities include stronger visible safety measures and exploring Freedom Way as a pedestrian-first corridor, with revisions expected through winter, targeted approval in early 2026 and a developer search to follow.