CINCINNATI — The executive director of the College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation will replace Congressman-elect Greg Landsman on Cincinnati City Council.

The selection announcement of Seth Walsh, as the choice to fill the soon-to-be-vacant seat, took place Friday morning. The decision came from Council member Reggie Harris, who as successor designee had the responsibility of finding Landsman’s replacement.

Landsman resigns on Monday following a meeting of the Budget and Finance Committee, according to Harris. Walsh will be sworn in at that time. 

Including Walsh and Harris, eight of the nine members of City Council are Democrats. Landsman is a Democrat as well.

In a statement, Harris noted Walsh’s successes with College Hill’s community development corporation, CHCURC, as a primary reason for his selection. 

CHCURC works with residents, neighborhood associations, business owners, and strategic partners on revitalization efforts in the Hamilton Avenue Business District. It focuses on things such as affordable housing, economic development and small business support.

Harris believes Walsh will be an “asset” to City Council on the work it’s prioritizing this term.

“Cincinnati, as well as the nation, is facing an unprecedented housing crisis. We are fortunate to have someone like Seth to step into this seat whose work in College Hill has become the model for community-driven affordable housing creation and neighborhood revitalization without displacement,” Harris wrote.

Under Walsh’s leadership, CHCURC created or preserved hundreds of units of housing in College Hill, including more than 100 units of affordable housing, Harris said. The 31-year-old also played a role in $85 million in investment in College Hill during his time in office, Harris said.

Other projects include a facade improvement program and work to create a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, or DORA, along Hamilton Avenue.

“I can’t wait to get to work,” Walsh said in the joint statement with Harris.

Landsman’s seat opened after he defeated Republican Rep. Steve Chabot in the race to represent Ohio’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In late November, Landsman tapped Harris to lead the replacement process. The duo announced at the time that they’d release an online form to allow people to apply for the City Council seat. 

Throughout the process, Harris said he wanted to collect feedback from the other members of City Council and Mayor Aftab Pureval before making the final selection. But he stressed the ultimate decision was his to make.

The application was open for less than a week. There were 37 complete applications received, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, a Spectrum News partner. He said he then whittled the list down to 12 candidates.

Harris said Landsman didn’t offer any specific options to replace him.

The formal announcement takes place Tuesday morning during a press conference at City Hall. Harris’ office said community members plan to attend to support the selection of Walsh.