TWO YEARS OF QUICK STRIKE WINS!
TWO YEARS OF QUICK STRIKE WINS!
Quick Strike in Action: $2 Million & Two Years of Wins 425+ Affordable units & $120M in CDC Development
Posted by HomeBase Cincinnati | July 2025
Quick Strike Quick Stats:
First Round Stats (FY 2023-2024):
$2 million in requests
Nine neighborhood applications
Recommended funding awards for five neighborhood projects
Not all recommended applicants requested the maximum funding award ($250,000)
These awards will enable:
At least 418 affordable and mixed-income residential units
Potential for seven or more neighborhood commercial spaces
Immediate site control to prevent nuisance speculation and protect neighborhood-driven redevelopment
Projected Impact:
More $100 Million in total development activity launched or unlocked
At HomeBase Cincinnati, we believe in momentum. Over its first two years, the Quick Strike Acquisition Program has proven to be a catalytic tool for neighborhood development across Cincinnati. That’s why we’re proud to share the early results from our second year managing the City of Cincinnati’s Quick Strike Acquisition and Project Support Fund, and a recap of the first year.
This $1 million initiative, launched in FY2024, is designed to move faster than traditional city programs— unlocking strategic properties and accelerating catalytic neighborhood projects, now $2 Million dollars have been released into neighborhoods, leveraging over $120 Million in development.
With nearly $4 million in funding requests over the past two years, HomeBase recommended investments for eight projects across seven neighborhoods—all meeting the City’s requirements for funding. These awards have enabled the proactive acquisition of vacant, blighted, and strategic properties—accelerating affordable housing and community revitalization efforts.
To date, at least two Quick Strike-supported projects—Vine + Polk in CUF and Belmar Hills in Mt. Washington—have secured competitive 9% and 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) awards—critical milestones toward bringing over 100 affordable housing units to fruition. Altogether, funded projects are expected to generate more than 425 affordable and mixed-income housing units, and unlock an estimated $120 million in total development impact citywide.
Seven Community Development Corporations (CDCs) or Community Based Organizations (CBOs) were awarded funding, each has demonstrated deep community knowledge, along with the persistence and creativity needed to move projects forward despite real-world challenges.
Building on the momentum from its inaugural year, the second round of the Quick Strike Acquisition and Project Support Fund is fueling community-led transformation in Cincinnati’s most under-invested neighborhoods. Administered by HomeBase Cincinnati, this nimble fund is empowering community development corporations to act fast on high-impact opportunities.
Second Round Stats (FY 2024-2025):
$1.65 million in funding requests
No funding cap this round
Six neighborhood applications aimed at acquiring 15 properties
Three projects recommended for funding—each advancing community ownership, small-scale infill, and corridor revitalization
These awards will enable:
Reuse of three long-vacant, high-visibility buildings in key business corridors
New commercial spaces and 7–10 affordable housing units serving community needs
Immediate site control to prevent nuisance speculation and protect neighborhood-driven redevelopment
Projected Impact:
More than $7.5 million in total development activity launched or unlocked through these early-stage investments
First Round Awarded Project Updates & Recap:
Second Round Awarded Project Updates & Recap:
CUF – Affordable Housing at Vine + Polk
Clifton Heights CURC, in partnership with Over-the-Rhine Community Housing (OTRCH) and 8K Construction, is leading Vine + Polk a $20 million development that will deliver 57 affordable housing units in the CUF neighborhood. All units are targeted to households earning 60% or less of Area Median Income (AMI).
A $200,000 Quick Strike award allowed CHCURC to secure the project’s final layer of acquisition financing. After multiple rounds of advocacy and technical refinements, the project was awarded 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) in May 2025—securing approximately $12.5 million in funding. This is a major step toward equitable development in a high-opportunity area.
Mt. Washington – Belmar Hills Senior Housing
With the help of a $190,000 Quick Strike award, Mt. Washington CDC acquired the site for Belmar Hills, the neighborhood’s first-ever affordable housing development. This 54-unit senior housing project is being developed in partnership with Sieber Construction, a trusted firm with a strong LIHTC track record.
Belmar Hills was awarded 4% LIHTC and is now progressing through architectural design, permitting, and financing milestones. Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2026, and the project is poised to become a critical anchor for housing equity in the East Side. This is projected to be a $13.8 Million housing project.
College Hill – Planning Big for a Business District Anchor
College Hill CURC used its $250,000 award to acquire a major redevelopment site along Hamilton Avenue, setting the stage for 300 new mixed-income housing units and commercial spaces. This is College Hill CURC’s largest acquisition to date and the work to reimagine the plaza has begun.
Northside – Gateway Revitalization Begins
NEST acquired 4001 Hamilton Avenue, awarded $190,000, has exciting plans to restore and activate this prominent business district property at the gateway to Northside. The team at NEST is working with top-tier experts to ensure both authenticity and functionality of this historic building. Stabilization work is slated to begin soon.
Price Hill – Business Corridor Revamp Underway
Price Hill Will is using its $170,000 award to stabilize and prepare 3515 Warsaw Avenue for redevelopment. The building is one of five slated for transformation along Warsaw Avenue, adding onto the finished Warsaw Avenue Creative Campus. Funding is being finalized for the next phase.
Northside– Continued Business Corridor Revitalization Underway
NEST was awarded $400,000 to acquire Park Theater- a key piece of the heart of their business district- at 4157 Hamilton Avenue. Awarded in February, NEST has since closed on the building and begun community engagement efforts to understand the community’s hopes, desires, and dreams for the space.
Westwood– Beloved Theater and Final Piece to Connect Townhall Business District
Westwood Works was awarded $250,000 to acquire 3118 Harrison Avenue- the community’s beloved Westwood Theater. Once a vibrant community space, it is currently a vacant and blighted parcel dividing the connectivity of the Townhall Business District of Harrison Avenue. Westwood Works is currently working through due diligence prior to closing,
Winton Hills Community Council was awarded $287,500 to acquire 5301 Winneste Avenue- the former site and building of the Mother of Christ Church. HomeBase has worked alongside the community since November of 2024 to get to this point, and Winton Hills is currently working through due diligence prior to closing,