Major updates are taking place in the ongoing reconfiguration of CirclePort, a 650-acre mixed-use development that straddles Boone and Kenton County.
This includes land sales, rezoning, vertical construction, site clearings and infrastructure improvements.
Corporex, the Covington-based real estate developer behind CirclePort, labels the complex as the gateway into the Greater Cincinnati region due to its proximity to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. It’s home to several large businesses such as Archer-Daniels-Midland, Fischer Homes, TQL, Answers in Genesis, St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Toyota Boshoku.
The intended use of CirclePort was for offices and manufacturing. Now, Corporex wants to expand the development’s offering by investing in quality-of-life amenities like hotels, apartment complexes and restaurants.
“We are specific in terms of what somebody’s vision is — who either wants to buy the land, develop the land with us, or build something,” Corporex VP of Marketing Suzanne Deatherage told LINK nky.
CirclePort Mineola
Mineola Pike and Olympic Boulevard
CirclePort Mineola consists of six parcels of land located to the west of I-275 ranging from four to 19 acres. Within the redevelopment plans, the plots are designated for potential residential, retail, office and medical uses. The area already has several restaurants and hotels, such as Residence Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Guthrie’s Chicken, and Hot Head Burritos.
In November, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced Mineola Pike’s widening to four lanes from I-275 and Donaldson Highway was complete. The infrastructure update allows CirclePort to handle more traffic from increased commercial and residential development. Additionally, new sidewalks and multi-use walking paths were built next to the widened road.
Originally, CirclePort Mineola consisted of five parcels of land. That was until Corporex completed one of its most recent land sales.
In October, 5.69 acres of land located at the corner of Mineola Pike and Olympic Boulevard was sold to Kentucky Red LLC. Months prior, the Boone County Planning Commission recommended rezoning the land from Rural Suburban to Commercial-2. In turn, this would allow new commercial buildings to be constructed on the parcel.
There are plans to build a 37,300-square-foot commercial complex with six buildings on the parcel. Concept plans shared at previous planning commission meetings showed plots for a 6,300-square-foot gas station and convenience store, three commercial buildings and two drive-thru restaurants. The commercial buildings would vary in size from 5,000 to 11,000 square feet.
Located directly next door is a 5.7-acre parcel of land that will soon be home to Velo CirclePort, a 233-unit apartment community under development by Arlington Properties. Construction is well underway, with concrete elevator shafts and the wooden bones of the apartment complex already visible from Mineola Pike. According to Corporex, construction is expected to be finished by spring 2025.
To the south of the Velo apartment complex is an 8.8-acre parcel of land being cleared and graded. The parcel has courted interest from residential developers.
“Our proactive clearing of that 8.8 acres has already shown interest,” said Bert Hehman, an associate director of sales and leasing at Corporex. “We feel that the demand for multi-family in this area will meet the proactive work that we’re doing.”
In addition, a 19.4-acre parcel of land behind the St. Elizabeth Training Center and Olympic Corporate Center II has been cleared and graded. The parcel is located right off I-275 and can be accessed by Olympic Boulevard.
CirclePort Pacific
Turfway Road and Pacific Avenue
CirclePort Pacific features two plots of land totaling 109 acres. The largest plot, approximately 100 acres, is now completely cleared and graded.
Corporex designated the plots for potential office, residential, industrial, light manufacturing, and senior living uses. Utilities are already available at the site.
CirclePort Dolwick
Dolwick Drive
CirclePort Dolwick features the Pacific Corporate Center, an 80,000-square-foot building previously occupied by Convergys. After Convergys moved out, Corporex stripped the building’s interior down to the shell. The building’s interior is set to be subdivided and redesigned.