Enquirer coverage: The Future of Downtown Cincinnati

This year, The Enquirer is examining what the Future of Downtown Cincinnati might look like. From new developments to an influx of residential units to concerns over parking, crime and a lack of retail, there are endless topics to cover when it comes to Downtown.

Have story ideas or questions? Email real estate reporters Sydney Franklin or Randy Tucker. Are you a downtown resident, worker or business owner? Fill out our questionnaire so we can get to know you better and learn what downtown topics you care about the most.

Here's what we've covered so far:

The future of Downtown Cincinnati is being built now

Long before the pandemic began, a new era of Downtown Cincinnati was emerging. Towering office buildings were being converted to apartments and the revival of Fountain Square by the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. breathed new life into Downtown. But COVID-19 pummeled Downtown's office culture and now the city center is shifting from a job hub to a lifestyle center instead.The Enquirer's Future of Downtown series isn't just about the many changes coming to the physical city. It's also about encouraging you, our readers, to consider what you want the future of Downtown to be and what it will take to get there.

Downtown Cincinnati: What the past tells us

Through the 235 years of the Cincinnati's history, the 1-square-mile urban core of Downtown has been the heart of the Queen City, according to Enquirer historian Jeff Suess. The architecture we see today was born between the 1870s and the early 20th century when structures like the Roebling Suspension Bridge, Central Trust Tower and Carew Tower were built. During that time, Downtown transformed from its former reputation as a working-class, immigrant community to an urban office park that attracted hill dwellers for shopping and entertainment. Suess argues that current development plans for Downtown seem to aimed at "recapturing what made downtown Cincinnati special, the way folks remember it but updated for today's needs."

Downtown Cincinnati shifting from job hub to lifestyle center in wake of COVID-19

Business reporter Randy Tucker confirmed that downtown is evolving into a residential food-and-entertainment district. "Think suburban 'lifestyle centers' that include apartments, shops, restaurants and recreation – but in historic buildings and without the surrounding acres of parking lots," he wrote. Numbers back this up. From 2010 to 2020, the number of people living Downtown grew by more than 20% to just over 5,800 residents, based on U.S. Census data compiled by The Enquirer in its Neighborhood Report Card. But hundreds of new residents have moved Downtown over the past two years alone to urban enclaves like Fourth and Race or City Club Apartments. Other office-to-condo conversions are popping up post-pandemic, suggesting Downtown's population is sure to grow even more over the next several years.

These are the developments shaping the future of Downtown Cincinnati

Sixteen developments are expected to usher in a new season of activity for Downtown Cincinnati. At the top of the list is the city and county's plan to renovate and expand the aging Duke Energy Convention Center on Elm Street, a $200 million undertaking that should bolster Cincinnati's chances for attracting national events and conventions. Also under construction are a handful of residential projects inside historic Downtown structures, several of which will boast well over one hundred units in each apartment complex. Learn more about each project here.

From the editor: Brent Spence Bridge isn't the only project we need to get right

The Enquirer's editor-in-chief Beryl Love wrote about the need for Cincinnati to make smart decisions when it comes to the development of not only Downtown, but one of the biggest infrastructure projects of our time: the Brent Spence Bridge corridor project. "If the past is any indication – remember the debates over where to build what is now Great American Ball Park, and more recently, the controversy over parking lot space for Bengals tailgating at The Banks? – there will be no shortage of opinions on the best path forward," he said. "We need to ensure future generations benefit from the decisions made today."

What concerns residents about visiting Downtown Cincinnati

We polled Cincinnati.com readers on their reasons for visiting Downtown and their reasons for staying away. Hundreds of responses revealed that crime, panhandlers and parking are what concern them most, while the top reason for coming to the central business district was to see special events like sports or concerts. Shopping wasn't a major attraction. Read more on what we learned from your responses here.