COVINGTON, Ky.-- A historically significant building in Northern Kentucky is getting a face-lift.
303 Court Street, which was once home to both Kenton County and Covington governments, will soon serve a new purpose of bringing more living space to the area.
When it opened in 1969, 303 Court Street was one of Covington's tallest buildings. At one point, the top four floors of the building were the county jail.
Eventually the city left, with the county taking over ownership. A few years ago, Kenton County moved to the former Bavarian Brewery, leaving 303 Court Street open for new possibilities.
The building is about to get even taller, with a new look and new people living in it, thanks to a deal between the developers Covington and Kenton County.
A few years ago, Kenton County moved to the former Bavarian Brewery, leaving 303 Court Street open for new possibilities.
Contractor Al Neyer took over ownership to design a better future.
“After four and half years of work, we’re very excited that we’re going to be developing the hayden,” said Danny Lipson, Chief Development Officer for Urban Sites.
Developer Urban Sites is working with Al Neyer to transform the former City-County building into the Hayden.
Lipson called it a “brilliant move” by Kenton County, to energize to parts of Covington.
They’re stripping 303 Court Street down to its concrete skeleton before adding two floors, creating 133 new luxury apartments and retail space on the ground floor.
“It’s already a great neighborhood over there, and if we can add a few more businesses on the ground floor, it’ll just help it to be another great, walkable neighborhood,” Lipson said.
The building is nestled in the Roebling Point business district. Residents will have one of the best views of the Cincinnati skyline, and will be able to walk to downtown in minutes.
Covington is investing about a half a million dollars into the project. The money is to be used principally to support infrastructure and other public realm improvements to make the area of the building better.
“So it’s public money being spent to improve public spaces to enable a private sector development,” said Covington Mayor Joseph Meyer.
Whenever the city has these kinds of developments, it does thorough analysis of economics to make sure there is some economic return to the city. Covington is expecting The Hayden to eventually provide more than $80,000 dollars in revenue to the city every year.
“These new projects look good. They add a whole lot of people to the streetscape of the community. And those people cost money,” said Covington Mayor Joseph Meyer. “We want to, as a matter of policy, make sure that these buildings are paying for the cost that they will incur on the public end.”
Meyer said there’s a ton of demand for housing in Covington right now. He said he expects these new units to go quickly.
“It’s gonna be another iconic building, and one of the more remarkable adaptive reuses of a building in the region,” he said. “So I think it’s going to be just a fabulous addition to the city’s skyline, if you will.”
Construction on the project is set to begin in mid-July. It’s expected to take about two years.
For more information on the project, read the City of Covington’s release.