I’m not expecting any of my regular readers to jump on something this big. But this is a very interestig opportunity for development in a fantastic central location.
Springfield Township is not entirely contiguous, and this 6-acre parcel is part of a neighborhood section that is nestled between the Cincinnati neighborhoods of Mt Airy (south) and College Hill (east), North College Hill on the north and Colerain Township on the west. It’s large enough to be a throroughly proper neighborhood if someone wanted to go that route. Contact me, and we can build the biggest EcoVillage in the state.
Finding a truly blank canvas in a convenient, established location is the holy grail for builders, dreamers, and developers. A flat, scraped-clean parcel is one thing, but finding over six acres of raw land—with trees, natural contours, and untapped potential—is something else entirely.
That’s exactly what’s waiting at 2342 Banning Road. This isn’t your standard suburban infill lot; it’s a 6.04-acre opportunity that offers a rare combination of seclusion, convenience, and total flexibility. We’re not just talking about one kind of opportunity. This property is a “choose your own adventure” for development, with the location, utilities, and topography to support three wildly different, incredible visions.
The Property: The Basics
Here’s what you need to know:
- Size: 6.04 acres of undeveloped land.
- Utilities: The site is bare, but because the location is central and the there’s great access, public water, public sewer, natural gas, and electricity are all available right at the street. This is a massive head-start versus being out farther.
- Topography: This is where the magic happens. The “interesting topography” isn’t a bug; it’s a feature. It’s a perfect canvas for creative, climate-adapted architecture—think passive solar design, walk-out lower levels, and gravity-fed water management.
- Zoning: The versatile R-3 and R-6 zoning in Springfield Township is the key that unlocks its potential, allowing for everything from a single high-performance estate to a multi-unit sustainable community.
The Vision: Three Paths to a Greener Future
This is where the site’s potential truly shines. That 6-acre, dense-zoned parcel isn’t just one thing; it could be at least three.
Vision 1: The High-Performance Single-Family Sanctuary
For the buyer who wants a private, one-of-a-kind home that works with the land, not against it.
- Imagine: A long, winding drive through the trees leads to a custom home perfectly sited for passive solar orientation.
- Right in the center of the region, but acres away from your neighbors? Surrounded by hikable terrain, a creek, and tons of trees? A nature-lover’s dream.
Vision 2: The Eco-Intentional Community
For the group that wants to build a walkable, shared, low-impact lifestyle. The zoning is ideal for a “pocket neighborhood” or co-housing community.
- The Dream: A cluster of 4-8 smaller, high-performance homes (perhaps built to the Passivhaus standard) centered around some shared outdoor amenities.
- The Green Build: This is a perfect setup for shared, resilient infrastructure. Think a community micro-grid with a shared solar array or geothermal field. The shared green space becomes a permaculture food forest and community garden, turning the landscape into a productive, edible ecosystem that supports biodiversity.
Vision 3: The Low-Impact Neighborhood
For the developer with a conscience. This is a prime parcel to prove that development can be both profitable and environmentally responsible.
- The Dream: A thoughtfully planned community of single-family homes or townhomes. Clustering homes to maximize some shared open space, preserving tree canopies and wildlife corridors as boundaries with other neighbors.
- The Green Build: Use the natural topography to your advantage. Design the entire neighborhood around a sustainable stormwater plan. Instead of traditional pipes, use bioswales, rain gardens, and retention ponds to capture, filter, and infiltrate all rainwater on-site. This creates beautiful, natural water features, reduces strain on the public sewer, and sets a new standard for responsible development in the area.