Cincinnati City Council unanimously approved a zoning change that will allow Xavier University will move forward with an ambitious new gateway to its Evanston campus thanks to a zoning change, and will soon begin demolition for its Xavier Square mixed-use project.

Cincinnati City Council unanimously approved the rezoning of the property at (BIRD'S EYE) from residential and manufacturing use to institutional-residential.

The site is the future home of the Hoff Academic Quad, a new main entrance to campus consisting of a multi-purpose Learning Commons, a new facility for the Williams College of Business, a new central utility plant and parking and greenspace improvements.

At the heart of the 9.5-acre quad, the Learning Commons will provide Xavier students with a high-tech, highly social educational environment that will include:

* Magis Plaza, the technological hub
* Center for Student Excellence
* Center for Teaching Excellence
* Center for Community Engaged Learning
* Institute for Jesuit Education
* Information Resources Center
* Renovations to Alter Hall and University Library

The new business school will house new classrooms, a trading room, a data-mining laboratory, a studio for taping and reviewing sales presentations and centers for business ethics, entrepreneurship and investment research.

Construction is expected to begin this May.


Zumbiel to be gone in four seconds

On Saturday morning at 8 AM, the former --> --> -->Zumbiel Packaging --> --> --> plant on Cleneay Avenue will be imploded to make way for Xavier Square, a 20-acre mixed-use project at the (BIRD'S EYE).

Xavier Square is a joint venture between the university and the Corporex Companies that will include:

* 120,000 square feet of office space
* 100,000 square feet of retail space
* A 90-room boutique hotel
* 550-600 student apartments
* 120 market-rate housing units
* A university recreation center, bookstore and health center

Demolition of some of the site's buildings is already underway and is expected to take 2-3 months.

Groundbreaking should occur by late 2008 or early 2009.

Funding for both projects will come from "To See Great Wonders: The Campaign for Xavier", the university's $200 million capital campaign, which was launched in 2006.

A website featuring both projects is scheduled to go live today.

Previous reading on BC:
Blume to discuss Xavier Square on Thursday (3/11/08)
Site features Xavier Square interactive map (2/14/08)