Available office space in Hamilton
More than 400,000-square-feet of office space at Ohio Casualty headquarters, 131 and 136 N. Third St.
An estimated 150,000-square-feet of industrial space at Vora Technology Park, 101 Knightsbridge Dr.
More than 150,000-square-feet of retail space at Elder-Beerman building, 150 High St.
SOURCE: Melissa Johnson-Gabbard, economic development administrator for Hamilton
HAMILTON — The influx in available property in this city presents both opportunities to attract development and challenges to fill the empty space.
Hamilton has more than 700,000 square-feet of vacant office building space and 200 acres of empty city-owned land, according to city records.
The industrial vacancy rate is more than 10 percent in Hamilton and Fairfield, according to Cassidy Turley Commercial Real Estate Services.
“There is more plentiful availability than what I’ve traditionally seen right now,” Turley said. “Hopefully it’s a platform for opportunity.”
Available land, 150 acres at Hamilton Enterprise Park and 55 acres at University Commons, is seen as an advantage for Hamilton.
“Having that land is very significant to driving future economic development,” said Melissa Johnson-Gabbard, economic development administrator.
But it’s a lot of space to fill at a time when businesses are scaling back their footprints and increasing efficiencies.
“Hamilton has to focus on recycling its properties,” Gabbard said. “With Ohio Casualty we have to be realistic, there are smaller odds that one person will go in. We need to find a combination of multi-tenants.”
City Manager Joshua Smith said the city needs to find outside financing for redeveloping its Brownfield sites — under utilized, abandoned facilities with contamination from previous industry.
“We need to position our community to take advantage of all the necessary next-generation industries,” Smith said.
The Brownfields Redevelopment Program has been around 12 years, utilizing Clean Ohio funds on blighted properties. Successes include three locations of Matandy Steel and Metal Products and the Kroger on South Erie Highway, where Mosler Safe operated for more than 100 years.
Attract and retain
When it comes to economic development, two words continually pop up among city and business officials — attract and retain.
There lies at least 600,000 square feet of vacant space within Hamilton’s two most visible business districts — Main Street and Downtown — the majority being the Ohio Casualty building.
James Rubenstein, professor of geography at Miami University, said successful development comes from attracting good business matches.
“Be frank about the competitive advantage of the site,” Rubenstein said. “Downtown is Hamilton’s greatest strength and it’s greatest challenge.”
With its architecture and the Great Miami River, Hamilton is distinct compared to the hundreds of shopping malls in the Tri-State, which makes it a harder landscape to market.
“What is it that can play off all these people coming into Hamilton to work, go to court, get permits?” Rubenstein said. “Hamilton is the county seat, it’s not going anywhere.”
Rubenstein said Hamilton should take cues from similar cities capitalizing on their uniquenesses, such as the Oregon District in Dayton and MainStrasse Village in Covington, Ky. — both 19th century neighborhoods with vibrant stores and eateries.
“Downtown has seen a change in landscape over time, it’s become more concentrated,” said Melissa Johnson-Gabbard, economic development administrator for more than 10 years. “We have to have a mindful, well-thought strategy.”
Attract
Efforts to attract new business occur daily, Gabbard said, through leads from the state, county, area brokers and the Cincinnati USA Partnership. There have been around 120 leads so far this year.
Other leads come about from existing business in the area. Part of Ryerson Tull’s presence as a metal producing company in Hamilton came through their relationship with Matandy Steel and Metal Products.
“They rent office space from us and utilize our equipment,” said Frank Pfirman, president of Matandy who used to work with people from Ryerson Tull at Southwestern Ohio Steel.
Gabbard said the city promotes to site-selection consultants — hired by private companies — the existing infrastructure, operating costs and availability of labor that matches the prospective company.
“We evaluate our assets and target those industries,” Gabbard said. “We have different marketing materials for office facilities or industrial parks.”
Hamilton’s economic development budget was recently reduced and now consists of Gabbard and an administrative assistant. The city plans to hire an economic development specialist who would focus on recruitment, retention and small business.
“Small businesses need a champion to help them work their way through the process of permits and zoning,” City Manager Joshua Smith said.
The new hire, grossing $51,210 to $65,645 annually, will likely be instated by January.
Retain
Gabbard, members of Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and the City Manager’s Executive Leadership Team visit area businesses every month.
Gabbard said all the businesses in Hamilton have varying needs.
“We’re setting up four right now,” she said. “We follow up on issues they’re experiencing, or expansion projects, and help when we can.”
As president of Matandy, Pfirman appreciates these retention visits and said it shows the city really cares.
“They come down to see how things are going,” Pfirman said. “It’s more of a courtesy on the city’s part.”
Also conducting retention visits is Gary Richards, business district manager — who focuses on the city’s business districts: Downtown – Special Improvement District, German Village, Main Street, Lindenwald, South East and the Route 4 Corridor.
“There are positive and negative comments, such as not enough parking, but businesses are pleased with the overall ambience and like being in the heart of the city because of the downtown traffic,” Richards said.
Richards relays the concerns he hears of parking, cleanliness, code enforcement and crime to city officials and the chamber.
Todd Fowler, president of the Main Street Area Association, is optimistic.
“Hamilton is one of Southwest Ohio’s best kept secrets,” he said. “We have to have someone take an outside view, and the city manager could be the catalyst that changes the city.”
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