Butler County riding boom development cycle after the bust

If the construction cranes towering over both sides of Ohio 129 entering Butler County are any indication, the next wave of development in this hot spot between Cincinnati and Dayton has arrived.

Commercial development activity in Butler County is rising back to pre-recession levels, and a lot of its happening at the same time thanks to once-in-a-lifetime projects such as the mega shopping and office complex Liberty Center and a proton therapy center being built at Cincinnati Childrens Liberty Campus for cancer treatment.

What youre seeing right now is the commercial response to years of residential development and growth, said Chris Wunnenberg, director of development for Schumacher Construction Dugan Inc., a West Chester Twp.-based property development and management company.

More than 3,000 non-residential building permits were approved through the end of November across Butler County townships, Trenton and New Miami. A year ago, 2,945 permits were approved, according to the countys development department.

Commercial activity is also trending higher over recent post-recession years in Fairfield, Hamilton and Middletown.

Right now it means new investment, new job opportunities, new shopping opportunities and better health care options, Wunnenberg said.

For example, five new hotels are in various stages of construction along the Interstate 75 corridor in West Chester and Liberty townships and Sharonville. A sixth hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, was the first to open in September.

Other construction started this year includes two outdoor sporting goods stores Bass Pro Shops and Cabelas Inc. in West Chester Twp.; the Artspace Lofts in downtown Hamilton, which includes 42 artist apartments on top of commercial space; a health rehabilitation center Covenant Village of Middletown; and an all new auto supply plant in Monroe for UGN Inc.

Meanwhile, Miami Universitys rural Oxford campus has turned into a construction zone during the last five years as officials have renovated or demolished dozens of buildings. More than $400 million has been spent since 2009, with more work to go, said David Creamer, Miamis vice president for finance and business services.

New business announcements signal what else could come. Business projects announced for next year that could lead to more new construction include a significant forthcoming announcement from The Christ Hospital Health Network, plans for a natural-gas fired power plant in Middletown and the second phase to add more retail space at The Streets of West Chester.

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Butler County riding boom development cycle after the bust