Riverfront development lands HomeFest 2015
Manhattan Harbour – the Dayton, Kentucky riverfront development led by David Imboden – will be the site of HomeFest 2015.
The Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky is organizing the HomeFest luxury home show from Sept. 19-Oct. 4, 2015 at the site. The trade group representing region home builders held HomeFest in Union’s Triple Crown neighborhood in 2013 and this August.
Imboden said about 10 homes could be part of the luxury home show. His company is courting builders to participate in the show and he expects builders to be announced in the next few weeks.
He contacted the home builders group a few years ago to consider the Manhattan Harbour site for HomeFest. At that time, home lots weren’t defined and significant infrastructure work remains unfinished.
“I think a lot of people had doubts whether (we would) be able to get this site developed and bring it out of the floodplain,” said Imboden of DCI Properties. “I think it (HomeFest) does add to the validity of our site.”
Walker Homes is building a model home at Manhattan Harbour that it will show during HomeFest. The property, which will be listed for $1.2 million, is expected to be completed by late December, said Brent Walker of Walker Homes. If the model sells, Walker could decide to build another home to show.
“We think getting a few more houses constructed at the beginning stages of the project is fantastic,” Walker said.
Imboden said the site could feature more than $600 million of development now that his company owns the marina and surrounding land. He said Manhattan Harbour spans 141 acres and is expected to feature residences, restaurants and other commercial developments.
Imboden started working on the Manhattan Harbour project in 2005, but later ran into financial problems and was unable to complete the development before the Great Recession hit. He was able to maintain control of most of the property and eventually worked out deals with creditors to keep the project going. Meanwhile, the site was raised out of the floodplain, making development viable.
Staff writer Terry DeMio contributed.