A downtown business in Cincinnati, One Logistics Network, has announced plans to relocate due to increasing violent crime and other alarming issues in the area. Victor Louis, the CEO and founder of the logistics firm, expressed that downtown Cincinnati, once an attractive location, has become less viable for business growth.
Situated on Seventh Street in the Queensgate neighborhood, Louis highlighted his ambition to double his business size over the next five years. However, he feels that maintaining operations in the Queensgate area hinders that goal, particularly in light of deteriorating conditions since the pandemic.
The company is set to move to Blue Ash, citing a more favorable environment and proactive engagement from the local community as decisive factors in his choice. Louis emphasized that he received persistent outreach from Blue Ash officials, contrasting that with a lack of responsiveness from Cincinnati city leaders regarding his concerns about the declining conditions in the city, which also include issues such as homelessness and poor road maintenance.
Louis recently reached out to several city leaders to address his concerns but has yet to receive a response. Cincinnati mayoral candidate Corey Bowman did reach out after seeing Louis’ letter, asking how the city could create a more business-friendly atmosphere.
Despite these conversations, Louis remains resolute about his decision to relocate, stating, “I have to do what’s best for my business,” a sentiment reflecting the struggles many businesses face in urban areas experiencing rising crime and other social challenges.
This situation raises broader questions about urban development and the factors that influence businesses’ decisions to stay or relocate. As cities face these challenges, the hope remains that with engaged leadership and community support, improvements can be made to retain businesses and foster growth in struggling neighborhoods.