A municipal order that the Union City Commission approved on Monday will allow for the extension of Brilliance Avenue, making way for the Grammas Center.
The Grammas Center is a six-acre development coming to Brilliance Avenue and U.S. 42. Named for the family that has owned the property for more than 15 years, the center is a $50 million project to build retail space and 12 four-story condos. The project is planned to be completed in 2024.
Union’s contribution to the project will be the extension of Brilliance Avenue.
In a video announcing the partnership in May, Union Mayor Larry Solomon said extending the road all the way to Mt. Zion Road will grant access for future residents of the Grammas Center and residents of the Harmony subdivision next door.
The municipal order approved Monday night is a temporary easement on private property near the Grammas Center property, according to Communications Director Amy Safran. She said the extension of Brilliance Avenue is a key first step in the Grammas Center development. The city did not offer details on when construction on the new section of Brilliance Avenue may begin.
This municipal order comes as Union is juggling several multi-million dollar developments along U.S. 42. Next to the Grammas Center, on 22.5 acres, will be the new Union Town Center. Commissioners are exploring design concepts from MKSK Studios that feature a new city building, community center, retail and residential spaces, and features a large park as the focal point.
In addition to the Grammas Center, the city is planning the Union Promenade at U.S. 42 and Old Union Road, a $150 million mixed-use development on 61 acres. The Promenade will also share space with a new Cincinnati Children’s Hospital location, that has an estimated $10 million initial investment. In July, the city broke ground on the project.