Historic Portsmouth, Ohio Property Sells at Absolute Auction Across From $34.2M Riverfront Project

A historic property and adjoining commercial lot at Front and Court streets sell with no minimum, no reserve and no starting price, live and online, Dec. 10.

PORTSMOUTH, OH, UNITED STATES, November 11, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Auction Ohio Real Estate will sell a historic property at 605 Front Street and the adjoining commercial lot at 613 Front Street in Portsmouth, Ohio, at absolute auction on Thursday, December 10, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET. The property is directly across the street from the $34.2 million Portsmouth Riverfront Development Project, which is nearing completion. Both tracts will sell to the highest bidder with no minimum, no reserve and no starting price, with live on-site and online simulcast bidding.

The property faces Court Street Landing, where Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine broke ground in August 2025 on the state-funded riverfront project. The park adds a flood-resilient amphitheater, a scenic overlook, kayak launch and the "Confluence" sculpture at Alexandria Point Park, a three-mile riverwalk trail loop linking downtown to the waterfront, an inclusive playground, and a 60-site RV campground beside Ridgeline Park, which connects the riverfront to Shawnee State University. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for November 20, 2026. Next, a $40 million recreational boat dock is planned, expected to be completed by mid-summer 2027.

Two Tracts, Nearly Half an Acre

- Tract 1, 605 Front Street: A historic building on a 102' x 132' corner lot. About 3,316 SF on two floors, plus a finished basement of about 1,200 SF and a finished attic.
- Tract 2, 613 Front Street: An adjoining vacant commercial lot, 61'10" x 132'.
- Combined: 163'10" on Front Street by 132' on Court Street, 0.49± acres.

Bidders may bid on either tract or both, with individual and combination bidding.

Historic Character

The building was used as a group home through May 2026. It has a full wet sprinkler system and a commercial basement kitchen with a fire-suppression hood. Original features include four black marble fireplaces, original woodwork and a Victorian iron fence.

Location

The property is in Portsmouth's Boneyfiddle Historic Business District, just minutes from Shawnee State University and its Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. The corner lot is on the north side of Front Street, faces Portsmouth's famous Floodwall Murals, and is directly across from the entrance through the floodwall to Portsmouth Riverfront Park and its new 4,000-seat amphitheater.

Who This Auction Is For

- Investors and developers positioning next to Portsmouth's new riverfront
- Buyers looking to restore a large historic single-family residence
- Owner-users seeking office, hospitality or mixed-use space in Boneyfiddle
- Student-housing investors near Shawnee State University
- Builders interested in the adjoining commercial lot

Auction Details

- Auction: Thursday, December 10, 2026, 2:00 PM ET (simulcast, live and online)
- Location: 605 Front Street, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
- Method: Absolute, with no minimum, no reserve and no starting price
- Terms: 10% deposit; 10% buyer's premium; closing within 30 days; 2% buyer broker commission available to cooperating agents
- Open houses: Tue, Nov 24, 2-4 PM; Tue, Dec 1, 2-4 PM; Sat, Dec 5, 12-2 PM; auction-day inspection from noon
- Photos and registration: auctionohiorealestate.com

About Auction Ohio Real Estate

Auction Ohio Real Estate has conducted real estate auctions across Ohio for about 40 years, helping sellers reach motivated buyers on a set date through transparent, competitive bidding. Learn more at auctionohiorealestate.com.

Historical information in this release was gathered from public records and local sources believed to be reliable, but it is not guaranteed to be accurate. Interested buyers are responsible for verifying any historical details on their own.

Mark Euton
Auction Ohio Real Estate
+1 513-678-7347