About Us
8K is a Cincinnati-based construction and development company with offices in OTR.
We’re focused on building stronger neighborhoods by preserving and strengthening the things that help them stay vibrant, distinct, and accessible.
Capabilities
We work across affordable housing, mixed-use revitalization, storefront activation, and general contracting—with a close read on context and a belief that growth should add to a neighborhood’s identity rather than erase it.
Development
- Project Design
- Zoning & Permitting
- Financing Expertise
- New Markets Tax Credits
- Historic Tax Credits
- Tax Abatements
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
- Tax Increment Financing
- Government Debt & Grants
Construction
- Pre-Construction
- Construction Management
- General Contracting
- Self-Perform
- Design-Build
- Historic Renovations
- Ground-Up Construction
- Commercial Build-Outs
Our Team
The people behind 8K are as varied as the neighborhoods we work in. Different backgrounds, interests, skills, and points of view make us more creative, more grounded, and better at what we do.
- Drew Chestnut Project Manager
- Michael Chewning Principal
- Mike Davis Maintenance Technician
- Michael Fischer Principal
- John Ford Leasing & Marketing Manager
- Brian Gingras Senior Superintendent
- Barrett McClish Principal
- Conor McCullough Director of Construction
- Elizabeth Sheetz Accounting Manager
- Morgan Noel Smith Development Manager
- Matt Wiseman Senior Superintendent
Things we believe in
Creativity
We recognize that every neighborhood is unique, so we approach every project with openness, curiosity, and respect for the culture already rooted there. We believe creative thinking and problem solving should contribute to neighborhood vitality and strengthen the fabric of the communities where we work. We believe that our work helps neighborhoods become stronger, better, happier and more vibrant versions of what they already are.
People
We understand the true assets of a neighborhood are the people who bring it to life. Residents who call a neighborhood home, along with its entrepreneurs, makers, local businesses, and cultural institutions, are essential to vibrant communities, and we are committed to creating the conditions for them to endure and flourish. We believe strong neighborhoods are built through human connection, local culture, and opportunities for people to participate meaningfully in the life of their community.
Transparency
We believe trust is built through honesty, clarity, and consistency. We communicate directly, say what we mean, and work through challenges openly with our partners and communities. We are committed to seeing projects through as far as they can go, and we believe the people we work with deserve visibility into both the opportunities and the obstacles along the way. We do not pursue projects under false pretenses, and we value relationships grounded in integrity, accountability, and respect.
Teamwork
We believe in working with neighborhoods, not just within them. We know good ideas come from many places, and we value collaboration with residents, business owners, community leaders, and partners who care deeply about the future of a place. We bring vision, execution, and a dogged approach to every project—staying open to critique and adjusting when needed in pursuit of the best outcome. We’re committed to doing the hard work necessary to create lasting prosperity.
The 8K Story
Before the mixed-use projects and neighborhood partnerships, there was a single home. What started with an $8,000 house in Northside became 8K’s first proving ground—shaping our company’s ethos and establishing the hands-on work ethic that still defines us today.
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2009
It starts with an $8k house
8K began with 4120 Langland in Northside, the original $8,000 house and our company’s very first project.
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2010–12
Early houses and lessons
Projects like 4324 Beech Hill, 1520 Chase, 9 Moline, and 4207 Mad Anthony helped sharpen our craft, including our first for-hire renovation and first nonprofit partnership.
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2013–15
The work starts to widen
With projects like 223 Magnolia, 1523 Chase, 4100 Fergus, and Dubwerx, we expanded into OTR, completed our first multifamily project, and took on our first commercial engagement.
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2016
A company takes shape
Following a major transition, we formed 8K Construction, 8K Development, hired our first employee, and began building the company in earnest.
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2016–17
Development gets bigger
Projects like 4018 Apple and Main Street Townhomes marked our early city-backed development work, while Brown Bear Bakery and Fergus for NEST expanded our hospitality and nonprofit construction experience.
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2018–19
Broader growth emerges
Single-family rehab work continued, while projects like Homemakers and 57 E. McMicken marked important firsts in bar build-out, mixed-use, affordable housing, tax-credit work, and private investment.
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2020–21
New construction era
With Mad Anthony Townhomes, 1714 Vine, Mid City, and Gosling Flats, we expanded into new-construction single-family, repeated successful mixed-use models, entered the CBD, and secured our largest GC contract to date.
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2022
A milestone year
60 E. McMicken became our new headquarters, and KeyMark CH marked major growth in College Hill—including our first development partnership with CHCURC, first New Markets Tax Credit deals, and first parking lot.
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2023
The portfolio expands
Projects like 1007 Dayton extended our work into the West End and continued our affordable mixed-use momentum.
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2024
Street-level momentum
With 56 E. McMicken and 4024 Glenway, we continued building on proven mixed-use models while creating deeply discounted storefront opportunities for minority tenants and neighborhood-serving businesses.
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2025-26
Raising the bar
Projects like the Cincinnati Development Fund Office, 129–131 W. Elder, The Bridge Evanston, and Mid Line reflect a growing body of work in office, affordable housing, historic tax credit development, and larger-scale new construction.
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Beyond
The next chapter
Projects like The People’s Project and Town Hall Flats point toward our largest and most ambitious work yet, including structured parking, school renovation, mixed-income housing, and neighborhood development.
