Revitalized Fairgrounds neighborhood hails recent gains

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By Tim Tresslar, Staff Writer Updated 10:15 PM Saturday, January 23, 2010

DAYTON — While a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Jan. 22, recognized the addition of an energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable home to Dayton’s Fairgounds neighborhood, local officials also stressed the neighborhood’s other gains.

The event highlighted a home by Litehouse Development Group LLC, the first of 14 single-family homes and townhouses that the group plans to build on multiple sites in the Fairgrounds neighborhood.

Since the 1990s, Miami Valley Hospital, the University of Dayton, the city of Dayton and CityWide Development have worked together to revitalize the neighborhood. During Friday’s ceremony, Steve Budd, president of CityWide Development, said 40 blighted homes had been removed from the neighborhood and 23 new ones built in their place. Improvements made in the neighborhood also helped spur more investment on nearby Brown Street, he said.

Litehouse’s homes include such features as water-saving plumbing fixtures, a rain-harvesting system and energy-efficient windows, doors and appliances. Unibilt Industries of Vandalia builds the modular components for the homes.

Home prices increased in December

Sale prices for single-family homes seemed to rebound in December when compared to the same month a year ago, according to figures released last week by the Dayton Area Board of Realtors.

During the final month of last year, the average home price climbed 16.5 percent to $120,372 from $103,278 a year ago, the board said.

The median sales price reached $96,000, versus $80,750 a year ago, an increase of 18.9 percent. The organization reported 7,611 listings, giving it a 10.5-month supply at the current rate of sales.

On an annual basis, the average sales price for a home slipped 1.7 percent to $123,273 from $125,348, the board said. At the same time, the median sales price slipped to $105,000, from $108,000, a drop of 2.78 percent.

Staff writer Tim Tresslar covers commercial and residential real estate for Dayton Daily News. His Real Estate Notebook appears every Sunday. He can be reached at (937) 225-7317 or via e-mail at ttresslar@coxohio.com.

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There is a 'grand plan' lacking for Dayton. Livable, relatively safe neighborhoods exist only in small pockets, often protected from overflow by the highways, hospitals and other large properties. Even these pockets are fighting a losing battle. IMO Dayton should start downtown and work out gradually. This will reduce the front the city and developers have to fight on. And the one tool not used enough is the bulldozer. It is too late to save a lot of what was once worth saving. It's a shame.

fortressdayon
11:55 AM, 1/30/2010

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Like most things, Dayton has missed the point.

Nicole
9:02 AM, 1/30/2010

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Dont get me wrong here. I think its a good thing that is happening in this neighborhood. Just seems kinda pointless though is all.

FreedomWriter
4:49 PM, 1/24/2010

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I wonder why they are so concerned with this neighborhood when MVH is just going to buy up the whole area eventually anyway to further their expansion needs. It will be a battle between them and UD to see who can make the most land grabs in that area. Just wait until the fairground`s land goes up for sale as the county will see that this land is worth far more than for a simple Fairgrounds, and move it out into the county somewhere freeing up that land for development. It will be a free for all.

FreeedomWriter
4:47 PM, 1/24/2010

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These houses and the townhouses downtown on Patterson are, in a word, fugly. It is possible to develop housing that will have a longer lifespan than the mortgage term by using recycled brick and stone on the exteriors. The additional cost would have a greater long term impact for neighborhoods by eliminating lack of exterior maintenance on future property values. It is important to add economic sustainability to enviornmental sustainability. What ever happened to "timeless" architecture?

bobby
9:46 AM, 1/24/2010

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