Liberty & Elm Development - C Version

February 2, 2021
To: Mayor and Members of City Council 202100464
From: Paula Boggs Muething, City Manager
Subject: DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR LIBERTY & ELM

(C VERSION)
Attached is an Emergency Ordinance captioned as follows:
AUTHORIZING the City Manager to execute a Development

Agreement with OTR Project Partners, LLC, pertaining to the
development and construction of residential rental units,
including certain affordable units, and commercial space at 1617
Elm Street and 1621 Logan Street in the Over-the-Rhine
neighborhood of Cincinnati, and providing for City assistance to
the project in the form of a rebate of a portion of the service
payments in lieu of taxes imposed in connection with a proposed
30-year property tax exemption for improvements pursuant to
Ohio Revised Code Section 5709.41, subject to the passage by this
Council of a separate ordinance authorizing such tax exemption.
ADDITIONAL DEAL TERMS – C VERSION

The Developer will commit to provide for a term of 30 years at least 10% of the newly
constructed residential units between 1617 Elm Street and 1621 Logan Street to be
rented to tenants with an annual household income not to exceed 80% of Area Median
Income.
Additionally, the Developer represents that it or its affiliate will use commercially
reasonable efforts to apply for Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) from the
State of Ohio Housing Finance Agency to support the redevelopment of the historic
properties it controls at 212-214 W. Liberty Street and 1711-1713 Elm Street, directly
adjacent to the Liberty & Elm project site. If successful, the Developer will construct
at least 5% of the aggregate housing units created by the new construction and
renovation projects in accordance with all affordability requirements associated with
LIHTC funding. Generally speaking, the average income limitations for a LIHTC
project must not exceed 60% of Area Median Income.
In order to make the project financially feasible given the reduced cash flows from
restricted rents, the Developer has reduced the VTICA contributions that it is willing
to make. For years 21 through 30 of the incentive term, the Developer is now willing
to make a VTICA contribution equal to the greater of $65,000 or 5% of the Service
Payments for the purpose of funding the maintenance and operations of the streetcar.
Development Agreement
OTR Project Partners, LLC – Liberty & Elm Development
Page 2 of 3
This is a modification of the original deal terms, contained in the B Version of this
ordinance, where the developer was willing to make a VTICA contribution in years
11-30 equal to the greater of $90,000 or 7% of the Service Payments for the purpose
of funding the maintenance and operations of the streetcar. As further described
below, this results in a projected approximately $800,000 reduction in the cumulative
VTICA contributions over the term of the incentive.
BACKGROUND/CURRENT CONDITIONS
Under ordinance 87-2017 passed on May 10, 2017, City Council authorized the City
Manager to execute a Property Sale & Development Agreement with W. Liberty &
Elm, LLC, an affiliate of Source 3 Development, to construct a mixed-use project at
the corners of Liberty and Elm Streets in Over-the-Rhine. The project required the
vacation of City-owned right-of-way including portions of Campbell Street and
Freeport Alley. Due to financing complications, Source 3 did not proceed with the
project and a new development team lead by KEAN Ventures (formerly Fortus Group)
and Buckingham Companies acquired the project in early 2018. Since then, the new
development team has worked diligently to reimagine the project and improve the
overall design. In addition to the original site at 1617 Elm Street, the project will now
incorporate the site of the former Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati, vacant
since 2015, at 1621 Logan Street.
DEVELOPER INFORMATION
OTR Partner Projects, LLC is an affiliate between FG OTR 1, LLC (KEAN Ventures),
an Ohio company, and BC OTR Cincinnati, LLC (Buckingham Companies), an
Indiana company. Together, the partnership is also developing the former Anthem
Office Site in the East Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati where they broke
ground in 2020.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Developer will first demolish the existing improvements at 1621 Logan Street and
subsequently develop a six to seven story residential apartment building with 130
rental units. The newly constructed building at 1617 Elm Street will be a five-story
mixed-use development consisting of 148 apartment units, 10,000 square feet of
commercial space, and a 220-space structured parking garage. Freeport Alley will
also be restored for pedestrian and bicycle use as part of the project. Additionally, the
Developer will commit to provide at least 10% of the newly constructed residential
units to be rented to tenants with an annual household income not to exceed 80% of
Area Median Income. Once completed, monthly rents for the project will range from
$1,400 for a studio apartment to $2,800 for a four-bedroom unit. Total project cost is
estimated to be $77,000,000.
PROPOSED INCENTIVE
DCED is recommending a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) exemption for the project
site pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 5709.41 for a period of 30 years. Following the
creation of the project TIF, the City and Developer will enter a Service Agreement
Page 3 of 3
which will require payment of full statutory Service Payments in lieu of real estate
taxes. Prior to the rebate of any Service Payments to the Developer, 33% of the
Service Payments will be paid to Cincinnati Public Schools, and for tax years 21-30,
Developer is willing to make an annual VTICA contribution equal to the greater of
$90,000 or 5% of the Service Payments for the purpose of funding the maintenance
and operations of the streetcar, in accordance with Council policy. The proposed
VTICA contributions in this C version are projected to total $650,000 cumulatively
over the life of the incentive. As mentioned above, this is a reduction of approximately
$800,000 from the cumulative amount that is projected to be contributed under the
B version of this ordinance.
As a material representation for the City to provide this incentive the Developer will
contribute $750,000 to a City-designated third-party organization to be used to
develop and preserve affordable housing in the City. Without the project TIF, the
Developer is unable to secure the construction financing for the project
improvements.
SUMMARY
Forgone Public Benefit if Project Does not Proceed
Affordable Housing Contribution (Forgone) ($750,000)
CPS PILOT (Forgone New Revenue) ($10,288,656)
VTICA (Forgone New Revenue) ($650,000)
Income Tax (Forgone New Revenue) ($611,730)
Total Public Benefit Lost ($12,300,386)
Incentive Value
Annual Net Incentive to Developer $644,340
Total Term Incentive to Developer $19,330,203
City's Portion of Property Taxes Forgone $4,023,836
Public Benefit
Affordable Housing Contribution $750,000
CPS PILOT
Annual CPS Pilot $342,955
Total Term CPS PILOT $10,288,656
VTICA
Average Annual VTICA over Term $21,667
Total Term VTICA $650,000
Income Tax (Max) $611,730
Total Public Benefit (CPS PILOT/VTICA /Income Tax) $12,300,386
Total Public Benefit ROI $0.64

City's ROI $3.06
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends approval of this Emergency Ordinance. The project

will bring additional housing units, both market rate and affordable units, to the
Page 4 of 3
urban core and will add much needed density to northern Over-the-Rhine, specifically
on the streetcar line. This development will replace a vacant and underutilized
prominent corner in the City and help fill a gap in connectivity between southern and
northern Over-the-Rhine. The emergency clause is needed so that the project can
meet its construction commencement deadlines.
Attachment: A. Property location and photographs
Copy: Markiea L. Carter, Interim Director, Department of Community & Economic

Development MLC
Attachment A: Location and Concept Plan
Property Location & Concept Plan
1617 Elm Street – Elevation

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February 2, 2021

To: Mayor and Members of City Council 202100464

From: Paula Boggs Muething, City Manager

Subject: DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR LIBERTY & ELM

Attached is an Emergency Ordinance captioned as follows:

AUTHORIZING the City Manager to execute a Development

ADDITIONAL DEAL TERMS – C VERSION

Total Public Benefit ROI $0.64

The Administration recommends approval of this Emergency Ordinance. The project

Attachment: A. Property location and photographs

Copy: Markiea L. Carter, Interim Director, Department of Community & Economic

Property Location & Concept Plan

1617 Elm Street – Elevation

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