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 (FY 2023-2024):
$2 Million in requests
9 neighborhood applications.
Recommended funding awards for FIVE neighborhood projects.
Not all recommended applicants requested the maximum funding award ($250,000) available.
Awarded projects will create:
At least 418 affordable and mixed-income residential units will be built or rehabbed, and at least 7 neighborhood commercial spaces.
Expected Impact $100 million in development.
Second Round (FY 2024-2025):
$1.65 Million in requests
No funding cap this round.
6 neighborhood applications, to requests were to acquire 15 properties
Recommended funding awards for THREE neighborhood projects with a focus on community ownership, small-scale infill, and corridor revitalizatio
Awarded projects will create:
Activation or reuse of three long-vacant, high-visibility buildings
Creation of new community-serving commercial spaces and affordable housing units (projected: 7–10 units)
Immediate site control to block nuisance buyers and preserve community-driven redevelopment pathways
Expected Impact: At least over $7.5 million in total development activity initiated or unlocked through these early investments.
At HomeBase Cincinnati, we believe in momentum. 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, was designed to move at the speed of community readiness—unlocking strategic properties and accelerating catalytic neighborhood projects, now there have been $2Million dollars released into neighborhoods, leveraging over $120Million in development.
Over its first two years, the Quick Strike Acquisition Program has proven to be a catalytic tool for neighborhood development across Cincinnati.
With nearly $4 million in funding requests over the past 2 years, HomeBase recommended investments for 8 projects across 7 neighborhoods, these projects 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, a critical milestone for bringing over 100 units of affordable housing 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, and each has demonstrated not only their deep community knowledge, but also the persistence and creativity required to move projects forward in the face of 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 neighborhoods. Administered by HomeBase Cincinnati, this nimble fund is empowering community development corporations to act fast on high-impact opportunities.
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 space. This is College Hill CURC’s largest acquisition to date.
Northside – Gateway Revitalization Begins
NEST acquired 4001 Hamilton Avenue, with plans to restore and activate this prominent business district property. While historic preservation requirements introduced unexpected complexity, the team is working with top-tier experts to ensure both authenticity and functionality. Stabilization work is slated for this summer.
Northside – Gateway Revitalization Begins
NEST acquired 4001 Hamilton Avenue, with plans to restore and activate this prominent business district property. While historic preservation requirements introduced unexpected complexity, the team is working with top-tier experts to ensure both authenticity and functionality. Stabilization work is slated for this summer.