HOUSING

New home construction activity up in Cinci, Dayton

The Cincinnati market’s rise in new home construction activity in 2013 continued through September, with homebuilders year-to-date pulling building permits for construction of 2,249 single family home, condominium and apartment units, according to updated figures provided by the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati.

The level of Cincinnati residential construction activity from January through the end of September this year is beating activity for the same period of 2012 by 29 percent. For the same January to September time period of 2012, there were 1,749 residential building permits issued in Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties, according to figures provided by the builders trade group.

Warren County is leading new home construction activity in all of greater Cincinnati. Local governments issued homebuilders in Warren County 650 permits this year, a 50 percent increase from the same time period of 2012 when 432 permits were issued.

Dayton-area homebuilders year-to-date have pulled permits for construction of 1,312 housing units, according to Home Builders Association of Dayton. STAFF REPORT

MANAGEMENT

First Financial names new Cincinnati market president

The Cincinnati-based bank on Thursday announced the promotion of Paul Silva to Greater Cincinnati and Kentucky president.

Silva will lead the team of commercial relationship managers serving clients in the region, bank officials said.

Prior to joining First Financial in 2010, Silva was president of Merchants Bank.

Silva will continue to work at First Financial’s corporate headquarters located at 255 East Fifth St. in downtown Cincinnati.

He takes the place of Adrian Breen, who has taken a new job opportunity as president and chief executive officer of American National Bank in Omaha, according to First Financial. STAFF REPORT

CONSTRUCTION

UD approves $7.5M project

The University of Dayton will invest $7.5 million to renovate space in the College Park Center for the School of Education and Health Sciences.

The advancement division will leave the sixth floor to move to the 1700 South Patterson Building; and staff from Chaminade Hall, its annex and the Frericks Center will move in during summer 2014, according to UD.

The center already houses the doctor of physical therapy program and the Dayton Early College Academy, and a new physician assistant practice program, which will enroll its inaugural class in August 2014, will be housed on the fifth floor, according to UD.

There are no immediate re-use plans for Chaminade Hall, which will require a renovation, according to Beth Keyes, vice president for facilities management. STAFF REPORT