Traditions at Camargo is located in Madeira, Ohio, an exceptionally affluent community surrounded by the Village of Indian Hill, and was developed by Leo Brown Group to meet the rising demand for high quality aging services options on Cincinnati’s northeast side. Developed under the Traditions brand, the community was designed as a modern, resident centered environment that blends hospitality, wellness, and clinically appropriate support, helping older adults maintain independence while ensuring seamless access to higher levels of care as needs change. In addition to serving residents, the project was intentionally conceived as a community asset, strengthening local connections and expanding senior focused resources within Madeira.
Development
Construction
Management
Cincinnati, Ohio
140,000 SF Campus
Completed in 2019
153 Units
Traditions at Camargo required navigating a complex development process in a highly constrained, infill suburban market. The project involved redevelopment of a former industrial site, extensive coordination with municipal stakeholders, and positioning senior living as a compatible, community-oriented use in a location with a history of denied proposals.
The site was previously occupied by a decades-old manufacturing facility that required full demolition and environmental remediation before redevelopment could begin. Given the site’s proximity to downtown Madeira and prior failed development attempts, zoning and entitlement represented a significant hurdle. Through sustained collaboration with city leadership, planning authorities, and neighborhood stakeholders, the development team successfully secured approvals by aligning the project with the City’s long-term vision and addressing a concurrent municipal need, the relocation of the Madeira Senior Center. This public-private approach ultimately allowed the project to move forward while strengthening its role within the community.
Construction at Traditions at Camargo involved redeveloping a constrained infill site while delivering a senior living community carefully designed to complement its surrounding neighborhood. The scope required close coordination between the construction team, architects, and municipal stakeholders in a highly visible, downtown-adjacent location.
The project included the full demolition of a former Play-Doh manufacturing facility, followed by environmental remediation and site preparation. Building on a tight infill site required extensive coordination with the City, adjacent property owners, utility providers, and the project architects to address access, sequencing, and logistics. Architectural collaboration was critical in refining building massing, materials, and façade articulation to maintain a residential scale while incorporating structured parking and meeting senior living program requirements.
The community opened just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and began operations during an unprecedented period for senior housing. Early leasing momentum and disciplined operational management positioned the property to weather significant industry disruption.
Thanks to strong pre-leasing efforts, the community reached over 40% occupancy by March 2020. During the height of the pandemic, the focus shifted to expense management, operational discipline, and maintaining financial stability despite restrictions and uncertainty. The property ultimately stabilized and was acquired by a publicly traded REIT, achieving returns in excess of original underwriting. Traditions continues to manage the community today, building on the foundation established during its earliest and most challenging years.
