Striking mixed-use North of TQL Stadium

Article posted by Coliseum, February 13^th, 2023

Image: FC Cincinnati

Demolition is underway for Phase One of a $300 million, 8.5-acre best-in-class mixed use district North of the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio (US). The district will include a hotel, apartments, office space, retail, restaurants, and a privately-owned public green space. Located in the West End, adjacent to Over-the-Rhine and near Downtown, the district will be at the heart of Cincinnati.

‘FC Cincinnati’ stated that the district is inspired by best-in-class mixed-use districts adjacent to other major leagues sports stadiums across the United States including:

Gallagher Way at Wrigleyville in Chicago (park);
The Wharf between the 41,313-capacity Washington Nationals Ballpark and the 20,000-capacity Audi Field in Washington, D.C.; and
Titletown at the 81,441-capacity Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The FC Cincinnati is an American professional soccer club based in Cincinnati (US). The club plays in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS). The team succeeded the lower-division team of the same name and was announced on May 29^th, 2018, when MLS awarded an expansion franchise to Cincinnati.

The TQL Stadium, called the West End Stadium during construction, is a soccer-specific stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio (US). It is the home of FC Cincinnati, a Major League Soccer (MLS) team that had been temporarily playing at the Nippert Stadium. The stadium is located in the West End neighborhood, at the former site of the Stargel Stadium on Central Parkway at Wade Street. The stadium price tag stands at circa $250 million and holds 26,000 spectators.

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Informed Jeff Berding, co-head honcho, FC Cincinnati, “We intend to make Cincinnati a Championship City beyond the soccer season. The district will create a community hub at the front steps of our home field, rooted in history and legacy, which aesthetically inspires and emotionally unites our City with a vision for the future. This holds true to our core values and culture as a team.”

Jeff Berding, Co-CEO, FC Cincinnati, is a Member of Coliseum Strategic Committee.

Phase One demolition will include three buildings located South of Liberty Street between Central Parkway, Central Avenue and Wade Street. O’Rourke, a market leader in this type of demolition and a certified Women’s Business Enterprise, will take the buildings down to grade level. The perimeter of the site is fenced for safety. Demolition is expected to be completed this Summer.

Commented Chris Griffin, President, West End Community Council, “As a community, we are excited about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make transformational improvements to the West End. FC Cincinnati will serve as Master Developer and Master Mixed-Use Operations Manager for the district and engage experienced third-party professional consultants to assist in executing the Master Development Plan.”

Added Chad Munitz, Chief Development Officer, FC Cincinnati, “We believe this is a seven-to-eight-year development. We started demolition today (February 9th) with the first buildings to be completed by the end of 2025.”

In 2022, FC Cincinnati announced The Compendium will develop the hotel.

Put in Josh Heuser, Founder of The Compendium, “Today (February 9^th) marks a bold step forward for FC Cincinnati and The Compendium’s inaugural hotel. We are looking forward to creating unforgettable memories for our guests through elevated design experiences and a superior level of service across our hotel, hospitality, entertainment, and retail spaces.”

‘FC Cincinnati’ further stated that the Marquee Development is serving as the initial Master Development Consultant. Marquee is a real estate developer with professional sports experience and has developed urban sites adjacent to sports stadiums including the Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville and the North Loop Green adjacent to the 39,504-capacity Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Government Strategies Group will manage Government and community relations. An Architect and Construction Management Company will be engaged soon.

J.S. Held will serve as the owners’ representative. J.S. Held is a global consulting firm with expertise in construction consulting and Owner’s Representation. J.S. Held has been providing services in Cincinnati since 1993 to some of the region’s most complex and impactful developments.

Maintained Michael Collins, Senior Vice-President, J.S. Held, “We are proud to continue to support FC Cincinnati’s growing footprint in the West End and on the national stage. We are eager to further the vision of FC Cincinnati and develop a world-class mixed-use district in the West End.”

The FC Cincinnati set record inclusion rates in the construction of the TQL Stadium. The FC Cincinnati owners (the club’s ownership group is led by Carl H. Lindner III) expect the same standard with the construction of this development. The FC Cincinnati has pledged to meet or exceed the City and Port’s inclusion goals for construction of the project.

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