U Square @ the Loop Gets New Leasing Team

By Adrian Maties, Associate Editor

U Square @ the Loop, the nearly $80 million mixed-use development located just south of the University of Cincinnati, will break ground at the start of 2012. The project developers, however, have decided to replace the team charged with leasing the retail space; they have signed a new contract with Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate Inc.

Cassidy Turley’s John Heekin, Andrew Sellet and Mike Heekin have been working for nine months to  bring restaurants and retailers to fill the 80,300 square feet of retail space. They have managed to fill 12,700 square feet of space at U Square, bringing four tenants, including DiBella’s Old Fashioned Submarines, Firehouse Subs and Great Clips are among the tenants. They also have another 34 letters of intent.

The new brokers have been charged with bringing in national apparel tenants. As the Cassidy Turley team is still negotiating three or four leases to fill another 7,500 square feet, Jeffrey R. Anderson will handle leasing the remaining 60,000 square feet of space.

Formerly known as Uptown Commons, U Square @ the Loop is a vibrant mixed-use project scheduled to open in March 2013 near the University of Cincinnati. To be built on a 4.2-acre strip of land between McMillan Avenue and Calhoun Street, U Square will include two parking garages with 716 parking spaces, 161 apartments, office space, restaurants and retail. The project is a joint venture between Al Neyer and Towne Properties L.L.C.

U Square @ the Loop is the largest local project besides The Banks to break ground since the recession.