Redevelopment of 1623 Pleasant Street

The City of Cincinnati, through its Department of Community and Economic Development, is seeking qualified developers to redevelop a historically significant property located at 1623 Pleasant Street in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The Request for Proposals (RFP) targets the rehabilitation of a three-story building constructed in the 1880s, with a total finished area of 3,296 square feet situated on a 1,700 square foot parcel. Ideal proposals will preserve the building's historic integrity, align with local preservation guidelines, and comply with the Over-the-Rhine Comprehensive Plan and Connected Communities zoning policies. The property is zoned RM-1.2-T, permitting multi-family residential uses, and developers are expected to create high-quality architectural designs that respect the neighborhood's character. The RFP requires comprehensive submissions demonstrating development capability, including detailed project vision, financial feasibility, and community engagement strategies. Proposals are due on October 23, 2025, with an anticipated contract award in December 2025 or January 2026, and the property's fair market value is estimated at $113,000.

The City encourages proposals from diverse development teams and has implemented specific equal employment opportunity requirements through its DEI 147 EEO Program form. Potential developers must complete a comprehensive corporate information attachment demonstrating organizational capacity, compliance history, and certification status, including potential Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Emerging Local Business Enterprise (ELBE), and Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) classifications. Developers may be eligible for additional incentives, including Community Reinvestment Area tax abatements, Notice of Funding Availability grants, and the American Dream Down Payment Initiative program. The RFP requires strict adherence to non-discrimination policies, with contractors obligated to provide detailed workforce composition data and demonstrate commitment to equitable hiring practices. Failure to submit complete and accurate information can result in bid rejection, and contractors must affirm they have not engaged in collusive practices to gain unfair advantages in the contract award process.