Overview:
Avondale Town Center revitalizes historic neighborhood in Cincinnati with $46 million, 11-acre mixed-use development, creating new jobs and hosting various services and shops
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, The Community Builders, and the many project partners on April 23 at Avondale Town Center at the northwest corner of Reading Road and Forest Avenue, celebrated the culmination of the transformative $46 million, 11-acre, mixed-use development residential and commercial construction project that has revitalized the historic Avondale neighborhood.
Mayor Aftab Pureval, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, The Community Builders, and community members discussed the economic, workforce, and quality of life impact the project has had in Avondale and provided an update on the businesses scheduled to open in 2024.
The celebration allowed attendees to tour the facilities, meet with the project’s leaders and community members, and witness firsthand the impact of this significant community investment. Guests also enjoyed tastings from town center eateries such Zola’s Place and delicious parfaits at Saturday Morning Vibes, received gift vouchers via a generous donation from Children’s Cincinnati to spend at ATC, to shop at the town center businesses, and were able to tour the diverse range of companies and retailers within the new development.
The project encompasses 319 mixed-income apartments and 78,000 square feet of commercial and retail space across three buildings, creating many new jobs and hosting various services and shops, including a grocery store, health services, fashion boutiques, a pharmacy, and restaurant and more. Notably, this project includes the first laundromat in the community and a relocated federally qualified health center.
The Community Builders’ mission is to build and sustain strong communities across 15 states where all people can thrive. Its mission-driven businesses work with partners to develop, finance, and operate residential communities, neighborhood amenities, and opportunity programs for families, seniors, and adults with disabilities.
Bart Mitchell, CEO and president of TC, said, “ATC is the capstone of more than a decade of investment by TCB in the Avondale community. The vibrant Town Center brings new retail, health care, and dining experiences. These new businesses have created as oasis is what was for too long a desert. ATC provides what we all enjoy is our neighborhoods, a pharmacy, a restaurant, a breakfast bar, a health center, and retail shops.’’
The new Avondale Town Center on Reading Road and Forest Avenue. Credit: Dan Yount 
Tennel and Chanel Bryant, who spoke at the Avondale Town Center celebration, plan to open a meat market and grocery store in the center. Credit: Dan Yount 
Guests attending the event celebrating the Avondale Town Center. Credit: Dan Yount 
Speakers at the event and community business owners included Bart Mitchell, President/CEO, The Community Builders; Mayor Aftab Pureval; Monica Mitchell, Children’s Hospital; Councilmember Reggie Harris; Sandra Jones Mitchell, President, Avondale Community Council; Tennel and Chanel Bryant, Owners, Country Meat Company, and Pastor Donald Jones among many others. Credit: Dan Yount 
Food and entertainment were available to guests attendingg the Avondale Town Center celebration. Credit: Dan Yount 
Mayor Aftab Pureval was one of the speakers at the event. Credit: Dan Yount 
Signs for some of the stores in the Avondale Town Center. Credit: Dan Yount 
Saturday Morning Vibes Cereal Bar is a popular spot for good food and good vibes. Credit: Dan Yount 
Speakers at the Avondale Town Center celebration were, from left, Tennel Bryant, business owner; Mayor Aftab Pureval, Pastor Donald Jones, president of the Avondale Coalition of Churches; Bart Mitchell, President/CEO of The Community Builders; City Councilman Reggie Harris; Monica Mitchell, PhD, Director/Community Relations, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital; Danielle Burris, Avondale resident; Chanel Bryant, business owner; and Sandra Jones Mitchell, President, Avondale Community Council. Credit: Dan Yount
He noted that many of these businesses are led by local Black and women entrepreneurs, bringing needed services to Avondale, while building their own wealth.
“Black and women-led businesses also played a powerful role in building ATC. In fact, $26 million in development contracts were awarded to minority and women business enterprises. Through these businesses, new jobs have been generated for residents of this community,” he added.
Community Life supports residents through coaching and access to resources, which is made easier now with these local businesses providing access to health care, fresh food and quality early education, Mitchell said. “ATC is setting a new standard for quality, inclusion, economic opportunity and community engagement for revitalizing neighborhoods. Together, we are making Avondale a better place to live, work and play.”
As well as the residents of Avondale, Mitchell recognized the many funders and partners making ATC possible. They are City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Low Income Investment Fund (LISC), Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Cincinnati Development Fund, Uptown Consortium, United Way, Unnewehr and Edelweiss Foundations, United Dairy Famers, Interact for Health, Fifth Third Bank, HomeBase, Reinvestment Fund, New Hope Community Capital, BUILD Health, Avondale Community Council and Avondale Development Corporation.
“This is the change the residents here wanted to see,” said Mayor Aftab Pureval. Monica Mitchell, of Children’s Hospital, added that we are here to celebrate the strong businesses that have located in the center, and the center provides a gathering place for the community and events.
However, both City Councilmember and resident Reggie Harris, as well as Avondale Community Council President Sandra Jones Mitchell emphasized the success of the center and its businesses is dependent on the support residents give them.