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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > September > 14
Monday, September 14, 2009
Kevin Riley: Here’s your chance to help shape downtown Dayton
At Urban Nights last week, people got their first peek at the developing Greater Downtown Plan.
Led by Michael Ervin, a retired physician and health insurance executive, and supported by the Downtown Dayton Partnership, the planning effort is not yet complete. Citizens are still being asked for input.
And while the process is going slower than scheduled, Ervin and others are insistent that input and buy-in are more important than speed.
Hundreds of volunteers — many of whom Ervin personally recruited — have been marching forward with ideas and drafts.
They’re undeterred by issues that could slow them down, including deficits at Dayton and Montgomery County, the impending departure of Dayton City Manager Rashad Young and the looming election.
The plan will be highlighted in several upcoming “Open Studio” sessions, the latest events in Ervin’s relentless push for public input.
In every conversation, he insists that the plan isn’t “exclusive,” but instead must be the “community’s plan.”
Of the folks working on different aspects of it, he says: “We have no need to be right or have all the good ideas.”
And some of the ideas will grab attention, including:
BEING BICYCLE FRIENDLY
The latest draft proposes that Dayton pursue formally becoming a “Bicycle Friendly Community,” a designation that requires a different view of downtown streets and other transportation corridors. The plan would change the purpose of a downtown street as a “utilitarian tool to move vehicles through the city as efficiently as possible,” and instead focus on bikes, pedestrians and a park-like atmosphere. More access to rivers
The plan calls for making changes to the rivers downtown, including eliminating the dangerous low dams so boaters and kayakers could navigate larger and more visible portions of the rivers. Also, the levees would be modified to create access and views of the rivers.
HIDDEN TREASURE?
As volunteers have worked on the plan, they’ve also discovered a piece of infrastructure that some believe could give Dayton a key advantage in attracting businesses. When Dayton began modifying its traffic light system, it installed a nearly citywide loop of fiber-optic cable to control it. The city needs only a fraction of that system’s capacity to operate traffic lights — and the techies around town believe it’s possible to use the rest of the “bandwidth” for other things.
Those involved are cautious in their enthusiasm. But if the city can offer low-cost, super-fast network capacity, Dayton may have a special opportunity to attract businesses to downtown.
DOWNTOWN HOUSING
One of the potentially controversial parts of the plan involves creating downtown housing.
The group is wrestling with this part of the plan, and they face several challenges. In order to make downtown vibrant, more people have to live there. No one seems to disagree with that.
During the past 20 years, only about 600 housing units have been built or renovated downtown, according to the Downtown Dayton Partnership. For downtown to thrive, more housing in different price ranges would have to be available, especially if the city wants to attract young professionals who want to live in urban areas.
The plan could call for developing as many as 5,000 housing units during the next 10 years, although there is not yet agreement on a number. Most believe that some kind of private equity investment fund would have to be set up to help make it happen. Of course, the question also has to be asked: will it work?
How the overall downtown plan would be financed — including housing plans — will be the next big hurdle for Ervin and his volunteers. He hopes to begin work on that this fall.
But it’s good news for Dayton and the region that this work keeps going.
It would be tempting to slow down, or to dismiss big ambitions as pipe dreams in these difficult economic times. But the times are actually forcing people together and inspiring better ideas. Even in tough times, it’s important that we find ways to keep moving forward.
Downtown needs a plan, and the next two to three years are likely to be crucial for it — and the region.
“We need the whole region to support this,” said Ervin. “Dayton is important even if you live in Tipp City, Beavercreek or Centerville.”
TAKE A LOOK
What: View Greater Downtown Plan Where: 8 N. Main St., National City Building near Third and Main streets When: • Oct. 3: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. • Oct. 5: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 5 to 8:30 p.m. • Oct. 6: 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: City of Dayton, Columns, Kevin Riley
Editorial: Windstorm’s blowback wasn’t all bad
What was learned one year ago today surprised even lifelong Ohioans. A hurricane can hit us, too.
Tornadoes we know about — watch the sky, turn on the TV or radio, get to the basement or a sturdy interior room. Wait a while for the storm to pass. While tornadoes are dangerous and can be devastating when they hit, the effects generally are very localized and the actual event is over quickly.
The windstorm of 2008 — a “dry hurricane” remnant of Hurricane Ike — was totally different. It didn’t feel dangerous. Some people stood outside most of the day and watched as trees were lifted from the ground and branches tumbled. A huge area was affected — practically every corner of the Dayton area. Then the aftereffects seemed to go on forever, as utility crews struggled for nearly two weeks to restore power.
It was a ringing reminder of an interesting paradox — demonstrating how very dependent we are on communal services and yet how separated we can be from each other when roofs aren’t blowing off or trees aren’t making the street impassable.
How many of us got to know people or had experiences that we wouldn’t have had otherwise only because we weren’t glued to our Internet connections and cable televisions or moving through our neighborhoods with a cell phone plastered to our ears?
The windstorm forced everyone out of their routines, and we learned a few things. Obviously, community services matter. They cost money, whether in taxes or contributions, but life is a mess without them. We always knew we needed quality police, fire and rescue services. But also working overtime during the storm were street maintenance crews, power company repair crews, disaster relief teams and others.
At the same time, people themselves proved they can be a tremendous resource when motivated to use their time and talent and when they tap into their basic human kindness. The most uplifting memories of the storm are the human stories — neighbors helping neighbors, people checking up on each other, those with power opening their homes and businesses to those without.
That spirit, flexibility and willingness to pitch in had its own rewards.
Think again about the utility workers working round the clock after the storm the next time you return home and find the power company’s trimming crews have buzzed your trees more aggressively than you expected. Your yard’s look may have to suffer now to keep your neighbors’ power on some day later on.
Think also about being prepared for the unexpected. Everyone should have a plan for where they would go, and what they would do, if disaster struck again. Picking up a few flashlights and extra batteries is a good place to start.
Most of all, walk next door now and again and knock on the door. Know who’s there and what their needs might be in a time of crisis. It could make a difference the next time something bad happens. In the interim, it will just make you both feel good.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Editorials, Law Enforcement and Public Safety, Scott Elliott
