The ongoing development of the Banks and riverfront parks system
aren’t the only projects drawn by downtown Cincinnati’s waterfront.
The developers converting the former 309 Vine building into a
mixed-use apartment community have begun pre-leasing the 294
units, some with views of the Ohio River.

“I’m a great lover of water – every great real estate deal we do is
always in a city that has a great waterfront,” said Jonathan Holtzman,
owner and CEO of City Club Apartments (CCA), which is developing
the property.

The historical conversion began in July 2016 and is scheduled for
completion in the spring of 2018. Residents will begin moving in this October. In addition to apartments
ranging in space from 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet in 50 different floor plans, the building will
include 45,000 square feet of street-level retail and office space, a 6,000-square-foot rooftop restaurant,
rooftop terraces with an indoor/outdoor pool, hot tub, fitness center and 330 parking spaces.

Brinkmann Constructors, based in St. Louis, is the project contractor, with BKV Group, Damon Farber and
Village Green Interiors serving as the designers of City Club Apartments-Cincinnati.

When Holtzman describes the apartment community’s finishes and amenities, it is apparent that historical
conversions in urban settings are a passion.

“We think our customer is highly educated, has disposable income and is looking for more than a typical
one- or two-bedroom, two-bath floor plan called ‘luxury,’” said Holtzman. “Luxury is an overused word – we
don’t use the word luxury in our brand.”

Instead, City Club Apartments – Cincinnati will offer unique finishes that are designed exclusively for CCA
apartment communities. Residents can choose from varying-sized apartments with dens or terraces,
powder rooms or extra baths, 5-foot showers or 36-inch tubs, sleeping lofts or duplexes. Each unit will
come with hardwood and ceramic floors, custom closets, granite countertops and kitchen islands.

The smaller apartments are designed for a younger renter with an entry-level salary. According to
Holtzman, this market typically does its living outside of the apartment walls – in the building’s communal
spaces, boutique-style lobby, corner coffee shop or bar, or in the nearby parks.

Holtzman’s interest in Cincinnati goes back to 1985, when he managed buildings for Cincinnati real estate
developer and philanthropist Manny Mayerson while working for Village Green, a company his grandfather
started 100 years ago in Farmington Hills, Mich. But his involvement as an owner/developer didn’t come to
fruition until he saw Cincinnati’s current redevelopment begin to take shape. He was drawn by the
changes taking place from the riverfront up to Over-the-Rhine.

Holtzman recently sold his interest in the operating companies of Village Green and purchased its real
estate portfolio and development pipeline, forming CCA with Canadian investor Alan Greenberg.
The company is owner/developer of approximately 10,000 apartments in 30 apartment communities.