City seeks leaders for East Third Street redevelopment

Mayor says business leaders in corridor are the key to success.

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By Jeremy P. Kelley, Staff Writer 11:25 PM Wednesday, February 1, 2012

DAYTON — City Commission heard a wide-reaching, long-range proposal Wednesday for the redevelopment of East Third Street, centered on development at key intersections including Keowee, Springfield and Findlay streets.

The plan, presented by University of Cincinnati professor Francis Russell and Dayton community activist Gordon Heller, suggests many new housing options, a “bus rapid transit” system connecting downtown to Wright-Patterson, and a business incubator.

The proposal could dovetail with the Welcome Dayton group’s call for a cluster of international businesses on East Third Street. City Commissioner Matt Joseph said conditions seem right, citing cheap rent, high traffic and established Hispanic-owned businesses. But Joseph cautioned that both the “international marketplace” and the broader East Third Street effort are long-range plans.

“The leadership issue is exactly why it hasn’t been tackled yet,” Joseph said. “We did Salem Avenue and we’re doing Brown Street, because large institutions were there with the capacity to lead. There’s no hospital or university (on East Third). That’s what we’re trying to mitigate for.”

Mayor Gary Leitzell said East Third Street businesses can organize to succeed, pointing to the Belmont business district as an area where that approach works.

“We can start forming a group around Urbieta Construction and Huffman, and go up the street with TechMetals and those industries,” Leitzell said. “It’s going to have to start small ... and we’ll find whatever we can to support it.”

Montgomery County Treasurer Carolyn Rice said the new county land bank could help acquire properties around East Third. Jack Dustin, director of Wright State’s Center for Urban and Public Affairs, said that area’s population and income base is strong enough to support more development.

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