COVINGTON, Ky. – Six months ago, the City of Covington, Kenton County, the Northern Kentucky Port Authority, and The Catalytic Fund announced their partnership to acquire the historic C&O Roundhouse and former Duro Bag manufacturing site at 1301 Madison Avenue.
Spanning nearly 8 acres, the site features more than 200,000 square feet of redevelopable industrial space located just one mile from I-71/I-75 and a six-minute drive from downtown Cincinnati. Underutilized and, for periods, vacant, the site has presented a significant redevelopment opportunity for nearly two decades.
Since obtaining control of the property in April, the project partners have worked to better understand the site's market opportunities and the community's vision for its future.
Shortly after the acquisition, the public partners hosted a tour attended by local and regional developers, architects, and construction professionals. In May, the partners convened a developer roundtable where industry leaders shared insights on the property's highest and best use, balancing community priorities with market realities.
In June, the partners enlisted Kenton County Planning & Development Services (PDS) to facilitate a community engagement workshop. Nearly 40 residents representing 15 Covington neighborhoods participated in a Design-Think exercise to help shape the future of the property. Participants overwhelmingly envisioned a walkable, mixed-use destination centered around community gathering spaces, offering food and retail, new housing opportunities, and the preservation of the historic roundhouse. This was followed in July with a tour for local business leaders hosted by the Covington Business Council.
“As we seek to transform this site into something vibrant that builds on the momentum we are seeing throughout our City, we must continue to engage the community to ensure the vision aligns with Covington’s values,” Mayor Ron Washington said. “I look forward to continuing to see this unique opportunity develop into something that our community can be proud of.”
“The Roundhouse is a project where strong partnerships, thoughtful planning, and patience make all the difference, Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann said. “By listening to the people who call this community home and to industry experts, we're putting ourselves in the best position for long-term success.”
As the team continues its stabilization efforts and due diligence, it is preparing to launch the next phase of the redevelopment process: identifying a private development partner. The partners are starting to meet one-on-one with prospective developers to explore innovative redevelopment concepts that build upon the community's vision and market feedback. Together, the partners aim to create a transformative project that extends the momentum of downtown Covington south into the City's surrounding neighborhoods.