Throughout centuries of civilization, humans have been lured by the power and the beauty of rivers. Singers sing about them. Poets write about them. Rivers connect us.
Those of us who live in Greater Cincinnati, know all about the lure of a river. So does Covington-based Corporex, the development team behind Newport’s Ovation, a massive mixed-use community, that takes full advantage of its prime location on the banks of the Ohio River.
Ten years ago, Corporex purchased the sprawling 25 acres that sit in the space between the Taylor-Southgate Bridge and the Licking River. Since then, roads have been built and structural foundations have been poured. Today, Ovation is busy getting ready to open its doors to homeowners, renters, and businesses who want to take advantage of the community’s superb location.
Ovation will grow over three phases to include the already completed PromoWest Pavilion concert venue, plus 500,000 square feet of office space, 1,000 luxury residential units, 524 hotel rooms and 250,000 square feet of retail and entertainment spaces.
Despite a serious number of bells and whistles, when asked what he felt was the number one draw to this new development, Tom Banta, Chief Real Estate Officer for Corporex answer was, “Its connectivity to the river. Ovation engages the river in a much more direct manner than you typically see.”
This engagement comes in the form of rolling green hills that lead from the complex to the riverbank, and panoramic views of the riverfront and the Cincinnati skyline. Ovation also gets serious props for walkability. It sits near what will eventually be a paved 11-mile walking trail that traverses from Ludlow to Fort Thomas and is just steps—or maybe a bridge—away from world-class dining, the Bengals’ and Reds’ stadiums, the Newport Aquarium, incredible concert and theater venues, as well as restaurants and bars.
A 35-foot-wide wooden boardwalk will run the length of three, four-story buildings which house a total of 88 residences. Most range from 1,800 to 1,900 square feet and include two bedrooms, two baths and two balconies. Some floor plans offer an additional study and powder room. All come with high-end appliances, 24-hour concierge service, and daily trash and recycling pick-up. The first residents should move in during mid-to-late 2023.
With a contemporary flair, the residences were designed to appeal to a wide age range—from baby boomers to millennials, says Mark Bischoff who serves as the director of design for Corporex.
“Every eight units have their own elevator,” says Bischoff. “You enter the elevator just a few feet away from your assigned parking space, then take it directly to your residence. There is not a single stair to climb and there are no long corridors. It feels like a high-end private residence.”
Each unit features magnificent views thanks to the precise positioning of the structure. “We turned the axis of the building to maximize the view of both rivers, the Cincinnati skyline and the Roebling bridge,” Bischoff says.
Pricing ranges from $965,000 to $2.2 million, depending on the floor and particular floor plan. Two buyers have already purchased double units on the penthouse level and there is similar interest from additional buyers.
Heather Harris, senior vice president, sales and marketing for Corporex sums up the appeal saying, “Ovation’s Boardwalk Residences offer maintenance-free living, allowing residents and tenants to have more free time to get back to what they love.”
Learn more at ovationontheriver.com
Article by Karen Bradner
Article originally appeared in May 2022