The vision for Manhattan Harbour goes back more than fifteen years, when the city of Dayton—which owned the riverfront property—agreed to sell it for development. A vote by city council approved the sale and led to the start of the region's newest, most exciting riverfront community.  

Engineers prepared the riverfront site by bringing in millions of cubic feet of dirt to raise the riverbank out of the flood plain—and to give developers a blank canvas on which to design and build the new community. A massive undertaking, preparation of the riverfront site took nearly a decade to ensure that the new development would be above the 100-year flood plain, and would earn the approval of the Army Corps of Engineers.

With a price tag of more than $500 million and more than a mile and a half of uninterrupted riverfront property, the project generated a great deal of excitement. Phase I broke ground in January 2014 with the the construction of high-end homes on riverfront lots. The homes featured breathtaking vistas of the activity taking place on the river, and each was uniquely designed with awe-inspiring features.

The following year, Manhattan Harbour was the site of the 2015 Northern Kentucky Homefest, sponsored by the Northern Kentucky Home Builders Association. Pre-show excitement was at an all time high as then executive vice president of the Northern Kentucky HBA Brian Miller announced, "This long-awaited riverfront community in Dayton, Kentucky has been a buzz in our community for a decade and we are ready to introduce this new community to the region." The 2015 show at Manhattan Harbour went on to become the best attended Home Show on record. The two-week event took on a festival-like atmosphere showcasing local restaurants, vineyards, breweries, and other Dayton businesses. Taking center stage were five newly constructed homes featuring theater-style views of the Ohio River, high-end features and finishes, solid construction, large kitchens that flowed into dining areas and spacious family rooms—with every room taking advantage of the panoramic scenery—unique interior design trends, and professional landscaping. 

Phase II of the development started in January 2017 with the construction of The Gateway Flats, a $20 million luxury apartment development comprised of two four-story buildings housing 76 high-end lofts with gourmet kitchens, balconies offering river and skyline views, a rooftop deck, 24-hour fitness facility, and other lifestyle amenities. 

Construction continues along the Dayton riverfront as this transformative residential development, long in the making, realizes its dream. Each new home and building is unique and adds its own style to Manhattan Harbour. Every detail makes a statement of luxury and beauty.