Since 2018, we have seen an unprecedented investment in the urban core of Northern Kentucky (NKY), from a groundbreaking $1 billion dollar river-front mixed-use development, $200+ million-dollar entertainment district, to a Double-Gold award winning urban bourbon distillery, 140+ acre river-front development, revitalized apartments and state-of-the-art condos, transformational regional greenway and blueway initiatives, and an innovative next-generation smart corridor.
Riverfront Commons – a 20-mile multi-use path along the riverfront connecting Devou Park in the west to Pendery Park in the east through the river cities of Northern Kentucky. Click here to view an interactive map. Click here to view videos of this riverfront corridor project.
Downtown Corridor Assessments – through a partnership with Downtown Strategies, we will work with our city partners to conduct market visits and an in depth analysis for specific corridors in each of our cities to create connected communities and resilient downtowns for small business and enhanced quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
US27 Smart Corridor – is a 6-mile underutilized corridor in the community whereby partnering communities are leveraging technology to implement strategic smart solutions in the areas of public safety, transportation, and sustainability for economic development efforts.
Grant Writing and Management Services – through researching, writing, consulting, and managing we help our city partners obtain the necessary resources from state, federal, and foundations to support local and regional priorities. Some examples of these include: USACE Ecosystem Restoration Grant, USDOT RAISE Grant, various Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (SMAQ), Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (SNK), Transportation Alternative (TA), Land and Water Conservation Funds (LWCF), Recreational Trails Program (RTP), etc.
Newport’s 225th Anniversary Murals – a re-purposing of structural flood walls into a vibrant banner of murals in downtown Newport, Kentucky. The project will leverage other arts and cultural projects in the area including the Riverfront Commons Trail, Newport River Walk Plaques, Taylor Creek Park, and New Riff Distilling.
Taylor Creek Overlook – an integral part of the Riverfront Commons project, the overlook park stabilizes and improves and river bank area while providing green space and a future venue for gatherings along the riverfront with a spectacular view of the Cincinnati skyline.
Developers Day – an annual event since 2007, where over 200 developers, investors, and related professionals converge on Northern Kentucky’s riverfront to see first-hand the growth and additional opportunity for development in each of the Southbank partner cities.
The Southbank Shuttle – an urban shuttle/trolly bus that runs every fifteen minutes and connects the cities of Covington, Newport, Bellevue, and Cincinnati. This system was originally conceived, owned and operated by Southbank. However, as it grew in popularity it was taken over by the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) and became part of the regional transit network. It is now one of the most heavily utilized routes in the system and is a key part of our urban transportation network.
The Purple People Bridge – a private pedestrian bridge was conceived and developed by Southbank. The L&N Bridge between Newport and Cincinnati was being considered for demolition. The leaders of Southbank saw an opportunity to create a pedestrian link between Kentucky and Ohio, which is now an extremely popular and heavily used pedestrian connection that is an important part of our urban core.
The World Peace Bell – the world’s largest swinging bell is in Newport, KY. The bell is viewable anytime as an outdoor landmark at the corner of York Street and 4th Street in Newport, KY. Click here to learn more about the purpose, history, and creation of the World Peace Bell.