Dayton to demolish nearly 100 buildings, replace with low-income units

$4.3 million in federal funds will be used to address blight in neighborhoods.

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By Lucas Sullivan, Staff Writer Updated 2:44 AM Tuesday, June 22, 2010

DAYTON — In an effort to aggressively address neighborhood blight in the most stricken areas of Dayton, the city has come out swinging with $4.3 million in federal money to demolish nearly 100 buildings, replacing them with low-income or disability housing.

The Neighborhood Stabilization Project funds will be awarded Wednesday, June 23, to Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority, St. Mary Development Corp. and East End Community Services Corp.

The city has received $26 million in stimulus funds in the last year to address some of the 15,000 vacant properties that drive down market values and invite criminal activity.

With this round of funds, the city is going after abandoned units throughout the city on the west and east sides:

DMHA ($1.55 million) will purchase properties near Germantown and South Broadway streets to construct a 50-unit, low-income senior apartment building, director Gregory Johnson said. There are also plans to buy five to seven homes in Belmont and reconstruct them for the sensory and mobility impaired.
St. Mary ($1.5 million) will purchase and redevelop 40 units near West Third Street and Ardmore Avenue for low-income families.
East End ($1.25 million) will demolish 45 abandoned properties near Wayne Avenue and Wyoming Street. Replacement homes will later be built for low-income families.

HUD requires the city use some of the NSP funds for low-income families, but Aaron Sorrell, the city’s housing development manager, said money addressing those with handicaps was not a requirement.

“It is based on the need we are hearing is out there for that type of housing,” Sorrell said.

DMHA, East End and St. Mary have already spent millions on demolishing homes within the last year and have the confidence of the commissioners, who said last week they are especially pleased with the rehabbing work that Johnson’s group is doing.

“We’ve spent about $16-$18 million (in the last 10 months) rehabbing properties in Montgomery County,” Johnson said. “We have done some in Huber Heights and other areas, so we are equally dispersing these properties throughout the county.”

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