Urban living and amenities remained in strong demand, and the revitalization of the urban core continues to chug along, with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of new projects in the pipeline, including new hotel, office and housing projects.
“Downtown progress was strong in 2021,” said Sandy Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “There are $600 million in projects in the works — things are definitely not slowing down, and the progress we have seen this year, despite the pandemic, is remarkable.”
Since the launch of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan in 2010, about $1.65 billion has been invested in the greater downtown area, according to the Downtown Dayton Partnership.
This year, there has been about $140 million in new investment in greater downtown — up from $94 million last year, according to data from Amy Walbridge, Dayton’s downtown development coordinator.
The pandemic impacted some projects, causing delays, supply chain issues and other setbacks. But many projects barreled ahead.
Greater downtown saw $233 million in new investment in 2019 and $100 million in 2018, according to Walbridge’s estimates.
The first phase of the Dayton Arcade historic rehab project is mostly complete. It cost about $90 million.
Earlier this year, residents started moving into 110 newly constructed apartments in the complex, and people are living in the arcade for the first time in more than 40 years.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
The nine-building complex, which shut its doors in the early 1990s, also welcomed its anchor tenants this year: the University of Dayton and the Entrepreneurs Center, which occupy about 95,000 square feet of space in multiple buildings, including the famed rotunda.
The developers are planning a second phase of the project, focused on buildings north of an alley that cuts through the property.
According to Walbridge, other projects completed in 2021 include:
- A $10 million rehab of the Manhattan building at 601 E. Third St., which has been converted into new office spaces.
- A new $6 million facility opened on the 1400 block of N. Keowee Street for 2J Supply HVAC Distributors, which will serve as its headquarters and distribution center.
- A $4.5 million renovation of the Graphic Arts building on the 200 block of South Ludlow Street created about 20 new apartments.
- A $10 million renovation upgraded the Greater Dayton RTA’s Longworth Street garage and maintenance facilities.
- A $4 million new food cooperative called the Gem City Market opened at 324 Salem Ave., bringing fresh foods to a former food desert.
- A $2.9 million project replaced the Deeds Point pedestrian bridge, which closed for safety reasons due to rusting and corrosion.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Twenty-nine new businesses opened in first-floor spaces this year, and 20 Black-owned businesses have opened downtown in the last 18 months, according to the partnership.
The Fire Blocks District, centered around the 100 block of East Third Street, welcomed a variety of businesses into its storefronts, including Two Social, a bar with axe-throwing and other adult games; Jollity, a new restaurant with “elevated midwestern fare”; Bozacks Cocktail Lounge; and Third Perk Coffeehouse & Wine Bar.
Credit: Staff
Credit: Staff
New businesses opened elsewhere downtown, including 1Eleven Flavor House, a comfort and Caribbean food restaurant; Sueño, an upscale Mexican restaurant; Flyboy’s Deli; Beaunique Boutique; the Entrepreneurs Connection; and BBA Café.
About 30 new market-rate apartments were added this year at the arcade and the Graphics Arts building, the partnership said, and nearly 470 new units are expected to open by the end of 2023.
There are now about 1,837 market-rate units downtown — a 66% increase from 2015. Most of the new apartments in the arcade are affordable units.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Walbridge says there are about $323 million worth of projects currently under way and about $231 million are in the design phase.
Woodard Development and Crawford Hoying, the Water Street District developers, are constructing a new apartment building called the Sutton near Day Air Ballpark, as well as new hotel product and a brewery and taproom nearby.
The Sutton, a five-story structure, is being built on a vacant lot on the 300 block of East First Street, next to the Lincoln Storage building, west of the baseball stadium.
The project is expected to create about 47 one-bedroom units and two dozen micro units.
Just a few blocks east is the site of a new 134-room AC Hotel by Marriott, which is going up next to the massive Mendelson’s liquidation outlet.
AC hotels can be found at about 175 destinations around the world, and Marriott says they provide a modern, stylish, comfortable and elegant stay.
The hotel is expected to have a luxurious rooftop bar, with sweeping views of downtown.
The Water Street developers also are constructing a $27 million new apartment building called the Monument across the street from RiverScape MetroPark.
The building is expected to have 124 market-rate units, as well as first-floor retail and restaurant space.
Other downtown projects under way include a $26.5 million conversion of the Barclay building on North Main Street into a new boutique hotel called the Hotel Ardent; a $30 million renovation of the Biltmore Tower senior-housing apartments; and a mixed-use renovation of the old Price Stores and Journal Herald buildings into housing and commercial space.
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