City looking at three properties downtown

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By Jeremy P. Kelley, Staff Writer 1:07 PM Wednesday, December 23, 2009

CENTERVILLE — A block of three vacant properties for sale on Main Street in downtown Centerville has the attention of city officials who hope to keep improving the historic district.

The properties at 35, 39 and 45 N. Main St., immediately north of Town Hall Theater, are for sale as a package for $500,000, according to the sign outside.

The three homes, all built in the 1880-1920 range, are owned by the family of Dick Stewart, who ran his insurance business out of one of them. Stewart died in April, and the family has listed the properties for sale, according to Centerville officials. The family did not return calls seeking comment.

“It’s another one of those areas where you need something to happen, and we’ve tried to help bring people to the table, but so far nobody’s (committed),” City Manager Greg Horn said. “There are a lot of possibilities.”

City planner Steve Feverston said the properties are in the city’s architectural preservation district, which allows a variety of residential, commercial or office uses. The existing buildings could be renovated, or if the city’s board of architectural review approves, they could be demolished to make way for newer buildings. Parking likely would be a key issue in redeveloping the properties.

“In the last five to seven years, we’ve seen great growth in the business and vitality of downtown, with Graeters, City Barbeque, Square One Salon, Panera, Esther Price and others,” Feverston said. “There are also the specialty shops like women’s clothing and shoes that are playing off one another. There’s a really good synergy downtown that we’ve not seen before.”

Nathan Cahall, the city’s economic development director, said these three properties could keep that progress moving, and the city would be eager to talk to developers about helping in that process.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2278 or jkelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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