UC plans to add more student housing near uptown campus after fall semester shortage

Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read

The University of Cincinnati is searching for a construction manager to work on a new student housing development near its uptown campus, state records show.

The estimated $100 million project consists of 625 beds of traditional or junior suite-style university housing; 125 beds of graduate or apartment-style university housing; a total 30,000 square feet of street-level amenity shell space; and a 300-space parking garage, according to a request for qualifications filed with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.

While the university was proud to announce its largest incoming class ever for the fall of 2022, it has also faced housing issues, struggling to find the space to house new students alongside continuing students who want to stay on campus.

University officials have said sophomores, juniors and seniors typically moved to nearby rentals and a good portion of local students opt to commute, but this year the university was overwhelmed by student requests for on-campus housing.

The property is owned by the Clifton Heights Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, though the university has an agreement in place to partner with the organization on development concepts, the document shows.

UC and the redevelopment corporation have partnered in the past to build the University Park Apartments and University Square.

The parcels of land being redeveloped are known as blocks one and two. As it stands, the site is mostly comprised of a vacant lot just to the southeast of UC's main campus.

Block one is bounded by Scioto Lane, Vine, Calhoun and McMillan streets. Block two, the eastern portion of which is planned for redevelopment, is bounded by Scioto Lane, Ohio Avenue, McMillan and Calhoun streets.

State records show construction is scheduled to begin around the fall of 2023, with the work substantially complete by the summer of 2025.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC plans to add more student housing near uptown campus