University of Cincinnati
IN-25: Innovation B

In 2016, University of Cincinnati (UC) largely completed its 15 year University-Community Partnership enterprise to revitalize an older blighted commercial district--the uptown commercial district adjacent to its south side of its campus border--whose buildings had fallen into disarray and did not serve the needs of the community. As outlined in a joint urban renewal plan (http://www.cliftonheights.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Clifton-Heights-UC-Joint-Urban-Renewal-Plan.pdf), this endeavor saw the creation of the Public/Private Clifton Heights Community Urban Development Corporation, which oversaw the redevelopment of the multi-block renovation work and liaison between the University and the neighborhood associations of Clifton Heights, University Heights and Fairview (https://www.uc.edu/af/commdev/CHCURC.html). This close strategic collaboration with the community neighborhood associates was a deliberate and innovative strategy, to insure a common vision for the re-development that met the needs of the larger neighborhood as well as those of the University campus community and the City. This development involved 2 million square feet of modern commercial and residential facilities, at an invested cost of $250 million. The new commercial district serves the needs of both the larger community, and the University, and serves as an attraction destination for the larger city's residents. The stated goal of this project is captured nicely in the plan's Prologue: "Restoring vigor and diversity through reworking of the street environment and the increased mix of retail is the purpose of these plans. We believe that small, often obvious changes, will have a heartening ripple effect. Pleasant, walk-able streets will set the stage for new shops and restaurants, stimulating noon-hour and leisure uses, and livelier evenings. As people are motivated to walk the streets, a net reduction in congestion will mean a net increase in urban pleasure and economic growth. The ultimate effect should be the knitting together of the University and residential community into something even more significant -- an identifiable uptown business neighborhood of memorable spirit and urbanity."