Cincinnati City Council Approves the Banks Riverfront Plan

25 years in the making. 1,300 new residential units. 2.5 million square feet of housing, retail, and office space. $750–800 million in new private investment.

Cincinnati City Council has approved the Urban Design Plan Update for The Banks — completing the vision for one of the country’s most storied riverfront revivals.

HR&A Advisors, alongside Perkins&Will, MKSK Studios, Kolar Design, and Nelson\Nygaard, developed the plan over 11 months in close collaboration with the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and a wide range of community and business stakeholders. The plan advances a shared vision for activating the remaining five developable parcels within the original riverfront footprint — strengthening public spaces, improving connections between The Banks, downtown Cincinnati, and the Ohio River, and setting a clear framework for future development.

This work builds on decades of partnership to reimagine Cincinnati’s central riverfront as a dynamic, connected, and accessible civic destination.

Read the full plan here.

Related Coverage: 

Hamilton County, Cincinnati ‘will pursue a master developer’ for the Banks — The Cincinnati Business Courier

The Banks Redevelopment: Cincinnati City Council clears path for $750M-$800M project — Fox19

‘Go big or go home’ | Final vision for The Banks calls for 1,800 housing units, new retail and more connection — ABC9 WCPO, Valerie Lyons, 6.9.26

Cincinnati city council committee advances plan to finish The Banks development — WLWT