By reviving spaces in Cincinnati
REIMAGINING CHILDCARE
MItali Taraikar | Asmita Gurung
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Across the U.S., families can’t afford care, providers are overwhelmed, and low-income neighborhoods are left behind. This project, Reimagining Childcare, looks at how cities like Cincinnati are failing their youngest residents and how planning can help fix it.
Explore the project and see how affordable childcare can help close the gap between the privileged and the overlooked.
Why Childcare is Important ?
TYPES OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
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Childcare is more than just babysitting. It is a part of building community and strengthening the workforce.
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Despite the income, race, zip code which part of the city they belong to, every child deserves to have a strong foundation.
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Publicly Funded : Federal Head Start and Early Head Start, state-funded pre-kindergarten
Privately funded : Community-based businesses, including home-based and center-based child care
Insufficient funding
Limits the number of children who can enroll in federal programs like Head Start.
HIGH COSTS
unequal DISTRIBUTION
OF RESOURCES
leads to disparities in availability and affordability of high-quality ECE across regions.
high cost
of quality ECE create financial strain for families, reducing their ability to choose better programs.
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impacts of afforable ece
PROBLEM
STATEMENT
How can the adaptive reuse of underutilized spaces (vacant or abandoned buildings) in Cincinnati's residential neighborhoods be used to create a network of flexible, affordable, and accessible childcare options that supports the city's low income families and working parents?
Three main goals - FAA
Flexibility , Accessibility and Affordability
Flexibility
Childcare facilities will offer care beyond traditional 9-to-5 hours, supporting families who work early mornings, evenings, weekends. Parents from mid to low-income households tend to be in non-traditional shifts workforce.
Affordability
Childcare costs will be kept at or below 7% of a family's income, making it accessible for low- to middle-income households as defined by federal standards.
Accessibility
Childcare centers will be located near public transit routes and stops, ensuring that families without personal vehicles can still easily reach quality care.
present Landscape
of income goes on child care.
seats are lacking
Non-Traditional care hour: Child care outside of 9 to 5 working hours
> 60%
857
Lack of
future Landscape
> 7%
500
On-site
of income to spend on child care
seats to be created
Non-Traditional childcare hour for employees
prepare
where our idea began
The APA Trend Report 2025 highlights the growing childcare crisis low wages, worker shortages, and rising costs for families. It calls on planners to take action through zoning, workforce development, and stronger community support. This inspired our project to reimagine childcare as essential infrastructure for thriving neighborhoods.
process diagram
the childcare crisis
IT'S HARD TO FIND. EVEN HARDER TO AFFORD.
NATIONAL OVERVIEW
Childcare costs more than ever. Workers are underpaid. And families especially moms are being pushed out of jobs.
STATE OF CHILDCARE IN OHIO
Ohio has some of the worst childcare access in the country. It has lowest eligibility for public childcare in U.S. (145% FPL)
the care economy & workforce
Care work like childcare and elder care is undervalued. It’s hard work, but workers get paid little and often leave the field. This leads to fewer providers and bigger gaps, especially in low-income areas.
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Care workers earn around $16/hour, often with no benefits
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85% of care workers are women
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Care is now more expensive than rent in many places
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A family needs to earn $138,000/year to afford care for one infant
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39% of people live in childcare deserts
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The average cost: $9,697/year per infant
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Many programs don’t have enough funding or space
cincinnati
Where You Live Shouldn't Decide If You Get Care
In Cincinnati, care is even harder to afford and even harder to find in low income neighborhoods.
Cincinnati’s care deserts reflect a bigger equity problem.
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Demographic Understanding
two studied areas with the biggest gaps: South Fairmount and East Price Hill
Census Tract 272
Total Population: 2,099
Under 5: 139
18-64 yrs: 1,189
Early childhood enrollment: 53
86 aren't enrolled
Single Parent household: 24.48%
Median HH Income: $30,000
Total Population: 5,055
Under 5: 523
18-64 yrs: 2,837
Early childhood enrollment: 85
438 aren't enrolled
Single Parent household: 33.26%
Median HH Income: $39,688
Census Tract 92
Total Population: 3,837
Under 5: 471
18-64 yrs: 1,699
Early childhood enrollment: 28
443 aren't enrolled
Single Parent household: 10.47%
Median HH Income: $27,386
Census Tract 93
Total Population: 3,837
Under 5: 471
18-64 yrs: 1,699
Early childhood enrollment: 28
443 aren't enrolled
Single Parent household: 10.47%
Median HH Income: $27,386
Census Tract 96
The problem is big but fixable.
These strategies show how planners can take action now to make childcare more fair, affordable, and local.
precedents
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Childcare Rescue Plan
Policies for affordable, accessible and flexible childcare
Childcare Benefits for Workers
Offer free or subsidized childcare for childcare workers’ children, ensuring better staff retention and making childcare more accessible to caregivers themselves.
Volunteer-Based Support
Develop a structured volunteer program where individuals gain childcare training while helping reduce operational costs, leading to more affordable services.
Multifunctional Childcare Spaces
Promote dual-purpose facilities by integrating co-working spaces, event venues, or community hubs, making childcare more cost-efficient and widely available.
Incentivize 24/7 Childcare
Provide funding or tax benefits to encourage day & night childcare centers, ensuring round-the-clock support for working families with non-traditional schedules.
SWIPE RIGHT
WHY ADAPTIVE REUSE?
Adaptive Reuse means we work with the neighborhood not over it.
Building new is costly, slow, and often displaces the very families it aims to help. Renovating vacant buildings is faster, more affordable, and keeps childcare rooted in the heart of the neighborhood. These spaces already hold a place in the community, reimagining them as flexible, modular, and multifunctional childcare centers honors that history while creating new opportunities for care and connection. Vacant buildings aren’t empty, they’re full of potential.
Not every vacant building is right for childcare, so we used four key criteria based on our research and the LISC Adaptive Reuse Resource Guide to find spaces that are safe, accessible, and rooted in the community.
building selection criteria
1
BUILDING FOOTPRINT:
Must be >2,000 sq. ft to ensure spacious and uncongested childcare facilities.
PROXIMITY TO BUS STOP:
Within ¼ mile for better accessibility to families without vehicles.
3
2
BUILDING STORY:
Limited to ≤2 floors for easy access and child safety.
4
ZONING PERMIT:
Located in a zoning district where childcare centers are permitted.
IDENTIFIED BUILDINGS THAT MEET THE CRITERIA
One vacant building was identified in each of the four census tracts: 272, 92, 93, and 96, located in South Fairmount and East Price Hill. Two properties are currently listed for sale, creating opportunities to purchase or lease and transform them into flexible, community-based childcare centers.
funding sources & potential partnerships
To make these childcare facilities a reality, a mix of funding sources and strong partnerships will be critical. Several programs and community organizations have been identified that could provide financial support, operational resources, or collaboration opportunities. These partnerships can ensure long-term sustainability and community integration for the childcare centers.
Historic Tax Credits:
Buildings in historic neighborhood may qualify for Historic Tax Credits, helping to offset renovation costs for historic structures.
New Market Tax Credits:
Buildings located within a Neighborhood Business District (NBD), making it eligible for New Markets Tax Credit incentives to support community development.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program:
CDBG grants can fund community revitalization projects, including childcare centers, with a focus on serving low and moderate income families.
Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation:
Grants ($15K–$30K) could be used to fund equipment and playgrounds for at-risk children..
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Design Prototype - modular set up for identified buildings
2918 Price Ave , East Price Hill
2918 Price Avenue
A Vacant Building converted into a multifunctional childcare.
Movable walls and collapsible doors.
Gymnastics
Pod
Movement
Pod
Creative
Pod
Snacks & Social Pod
Nap Pod
Outdoor
Play Pod
Space is used as a multifunctional space. Could be booked for events and programs.
First floor transformed to event space after 6pm.
A vacant building of 2 storey: Building condition before adaptive reuse
Co-working space: Parents will drop their kids at the childcare at the first floor and work on the second floor.
Parents get to work, study or rest. And children thrive in safe, stimulating spaces.
What happens when childcare is nearby?
Parents can rejoin the workforce without having stress.
Children get quality Early Education that builds lifelong skills.
Communities grow strongger from inside out.
Vacant buildings can drag down the surrounding neighborhood, creating a sense of blight and disinvestment.
What was once a symbol of neglect can become a place of laughter, learning, and connection building a brighter future for children and their communities.
When families have reliable, flexible care right where they live... Suddenly they can bretahe easier
487 Elberon Ave
Vacant building in neighborhood business district transformed into childcare facility with playground open to community after 6pm.
Building in great condition vacant for a long time.
Revitalizing neighborhoods starts with investing in our youngest residents because when children thrive, communities do too.
recommendation
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Transform empty buildings into safe, flexible childcare centers.
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Offer childcare beyond the traditional 9–5 to support all working families.
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Use grants, tax credits, and partnerships to expand childcare access.
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Keep family childcare costs below 7% of income.
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Place childcare near public transit and within neighborhoods.
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Collaborate with local groups and agencies to strengthen childcare services.
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Raise wages and create growth opportunities for childcare workers.
The childcare crisis isn’t affecting all families equally. Marginalized communities are feeling the heaviest impacts, facing fewer options, higher costs, and greater barriers to care. By investing in affordable, accessible, and flexible childcare, we can close the gap, strengthen neighborhoods, and create a future where every child has the chance to thrive no matter their zip code.
Mitali Taraikar
Mitali Taraikar is a Graduating Master of Community Planning student of the University of Cincinnati. Click to view full profile
