A Dayton Daily News examination found 2020 is expected to be another year for major development in this region.
From General Motors starting construction on its new Brookville plant to developers starting a major Centerville retail and commercial project or developers finishing initial stages of the Dayton Arcade rebirth, development will not slow in 2020.
Some of the projects are using local, state and federal tax breaks for the projects. Others are private ventures looking to expand in the Miami Valley.
Here’s what you can expect to see in 2020:
General Motors engine plant
The new GM DMAX plant is projected to be built by the end of 2020 in Brookville, marking an improbable return of the auto maker to the Dayton area.
MORE: It's official: GM is building a $175 million DMAX plant in Brookville
Construction started in the fall of 2019 on the facility at West Campus Boulevard and Collective Way will have more than 100 employees when it is built.
DMAX in Moraine will continue to have more than 800 workers and the new Brookville business will send the established plant machined engine components.
First homes at Union Village
Homes will be under construction this year at the 1,230-acre village planned community coming to Warren County.
Ten builders announced in December that they will start building homes, apartments or condos as part of the first phase of Union Village, a community also to feature a $15.3 million, 20-field sports complex expected to open in the spring.
Union Village is expected to be developed over the next 30 years on the land off Ohio 741, between Springboro and Mason.
MORE: Restaurant, offices to be built in new Warren County community
The development will have retail, restaurants and offices accessible via walkways and a 200-acre greenway system of meadows, woodland parks and pathways connecting to Warren County Armco Park and the Warren County Sports Park at Union Village. The town center will be anchored by a $6 million, three-story building for Otterbein’s headquarters, a restaurant and bank, as well as the Union Village real estate office.
Last year, the entrance to the town center and the road system for the first phase were completed.
RELATED: New urbanism community betweem Dayton, Cincinnati to test market
New tower at Soin Medical Center
A significant addition at Soin Medical Center is on track to be completed this summer.
The $70 million, five story tower broke ground Sept. 2018 and is part of a steady series of expansion projects at the Beavercreek hospital, which has continued to grow its footprint since Kettering Health Network first opened it in 2012.
The expansion will house surgical services, cardiac services, private inpatient rooms, an ICU and also have unused space that leaves room for more expansion.
Dayton Arcade first openings
After years of anticipation, parts of the revitalized Dayton Arcade will start to open this year.
Demolition and renovation work has been underway all year as part of the highly anticipated project to bring the nine-building Dayton Arcade back to life.
The effort is happening in multiple phases. This year, some of the highlights will be
• the Art Loft Housing taking tenants by the end of the year;
• Several food and beverage tenants that will be announced and opening;
• the Hub opening, which is the innovation center by University of Dayton and The Entrepreneurs Center.
• The Rotunda will reopen and the new theater and “shark tank” for business pitches will open on the lower level of the Rotunda;
• and the North Arcade will close its financing and rolling forward with the shared use commercial kitchen.
Fire Blocks tenants coming soon
The first apartment renters will start to move in early this year at the Fire Blocks, according to the developer of the downtown Dayton district.
A representative with Windsor Companies, which has been rehabbing the historic buildings along East Third, St. Clair and Jefferson, said this year residents will starting moving into their new loft apartments.
On the street level, this year the Century Bar will be moving next door to a much larger space at 18 S. Jefferson St., and new restaurant Paradox will be opening next door to the Century Bar. Grist, with pastas and breads, will be opening across the street from Paradox. Salt Block Biscuit Co will be opening at the entrance of the residential loft apartments. Salt Block, which makes biscuits and pairs them with locally sourced jams, eggs and slow-roasted meats and gravy, is opening early this year at 115 E. Third St.
MORE: Fire Blocks draws interest from restaurants, entertainment businesses
Two Social bar will be opening as well. The bar by Gem City Social Sports will open at 123 E. Third St. and have ax-throwing, bocci ball, giant Jenga, old school video games.
In the next couple of weeks, Fire Blocks developers will also be announcing a new coffee shop, a new modern American dinner, a new urban furnishings store and a new craft beer bar, as well as some large new office tenants.
Racino hotel addition
An 11-story hotel with a 112-by-9-foot, 6-inch LED sign will be under construction this year at the Miami Valley Gaming racino in Turtlecreek Twp.
Construction is expected to begin later this month or early February.
In addition to the hotel, the $100 million racino expansion is to include a 12,000 square-foot gaming expansion, 7,500 square-foot restaurant expansion and 1,000 space parking garage.
This is the second expansion since the racino opened December 2013.
Centerville Place development
Centerville city council will vote on a plan for the redevelopment of Centerville Place on Jan. 27.
Dillin LLC is planning a more than $130 million redevelopment plan for a large portion of the shopping center at Ohio 48 between Sheehan and Spring Valley Roads, including the former Kroger location.
“This type of investment is a game-changer; it does not happen every day. When we were approached by Mr. Dillin and his investors, we were overwhelmed with excitement regarding the possibilities for Centerville Place,” Centerville City Manager Wayne Davis said.
A tenant is already committed to a 60,000-square-foot office on site though the developer is not naming the tenant yet.
Current tenants at Centerville Place will continue their leases and will be offered the opportunity to occupy space in the newly-created property alongside a collection of new tenants and services. Concept plans for Phase 1 include 200 residential units. Phase 2 will add approximately 140 more, including brownstone townhomes.
Henny Penny expansion
Food and restaurant equipment producer Henny Penny Corp. will be expanding its manufacturing facility by 150,000 square feet in Eaton in 2020, which is a 35% increase in its Preble County footprint.
MORE: Henny Penny embarks on ‘biggest expansion’ in company history
Construction has started and is on track to be completed by the end of this year, said Miller Valentine Group Midwest market president Dave Dickerson.
The expansion will mean 70 new jobs at the Eaton manufacturer, which makes frying equipment for customers like McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, KFC and Chick-fil-A.
Julie Sullivan, of the Dayton Development Coalition, said that agriculture is still a major part of Preble County’s economy, but the area has had some significant business expansions recently, from Henny Penny to Neaton Automotive.
“They have some very strong industry and I think we’ll continue to see growth in Preble County,” she said.
Another giant airport warehouse
The latest giant industrial building under construction near the Dayton International Airport is on track to be completed by the end of May, said Miller Valentine Group Midwest market president Dave Dickerson.
The Dayton V building is the latest in a series of massive buildings developed by Kansas City-based NorthPoint Development, Inc., which contracted with Miller Valentine for construction.
The 521,000-square-foot facility is being built on around 30 acres at the intersection of Dog Leg Road and Union Park Boulevard in Vandalia.
The building is being developed speculatively and no tenant has yet been announced. However, the neighboring warehouses have quickly attracted new businesses such as plastics maker Alpla and retailer Crocs.
Dayton Motor Car building back to life
The once-abandoned Dayton Motor Car Building will come back into use this year.
MORE: Dayton Motor Car building renovation kicks off
The six-story building at 15 McDonough St., just east of the Oregon District, will be home to Gosiger Inc. on the first two floors and is seeking tenants for the rest of the space, said Miller Valentine Group Midwest market president Dave Dickerson.
Built around 1875, the iconic Dayton Motor Car Building originally housed a farm implement center and later produced automobiles, including the Stoddard-Dayton Motor Car.
The building is part of the Dayton Motor Car Company Historic District, which was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
OnMain plans taking shape
The redevelopment of the former Montgomery County Fairgrounds will move forward this year now that the city of Dayton has approved the plan and zoning changes.
Buddy LaChance, onMain CEO, said in December that the next steps include finalizing the designs of the first phase of work, identifying financing for new infrastructure on the site and finding tenants and users for the first building, which likely will be constructed on the corner of Stewart and Main streets.
OnMain is a joint business venture by Premier Health and the University of Dayton, who together own the 37-acre site.
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