Grafton Hill apartment project gets $2M in state support

Ohio has twice as much funding than past  years to award to historic preservation rehab projects in Dayton. The Commodore Apartments developer, located at 522 Grand Ave. is hoping to win some of the $60 million worth of credits. JIM NOELKER/STAFF

Credit: JIM NOELKER

Credit: JIM NOELKER

Ohio has twice as much funding than past years to award to historic preservation rehab projects in Dayton. The Commodore Apartments developer, located at 522 Grand Ave. is hoping to win some of the $60 million worth of credits. JIM NOELKER/STAFF

The developer of the Fire Blocks District and other large commercial properties in downtown Dayton has been awarded $2 million in state historic tax credits to rehab the 10-story Commodore Apartments building in the Grafton Hill neighborhood.

Windsor Companies plans to spend about $7.4 million to turn the vacant apartment building at 522 Grand Ave. into 43 new market-rate apartment units.

The state announced the latest round of historic preservation tax credit awards on Wednesday afternoon and the Commodore Apartments was the only Dayton project to seek an award in this funding round.

The Commodore Apartments in the Grafton Hill neighborhood in Dayton. CONTRIBUTED

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This project might sound familiar because Windsor also was awarded $725,000 in state historic tax credits in spring 2023 for the same project. This award will replace that one.

The Commodore Apartments, which opened in 1924, has been vacant since 2018.

The 54,000-square-foot building will be turned into a mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments.

Windsor Companies in its application for tax credits said the apartments are expected to appeal to young professional and Baby Boomers.

The Commodore Apartments at 522 Grand Ave. in Dayton's Grafton Hill neighborhood. CONTRIBUTED

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Windsor Companies, based in Columbus, has revitalized the Fire Blocks District, turning what was a sleepy and rundown area around the 100 block of East Third Street into a thriving mix of shops, offices and housing.

Windsor also has turned other downtown buildings into new housing, including the Graphic Arts building on South Ludlow Street and the Home Telephone building (Price Stores) on South Jefferson.

Windsor is working to renovate a 22-story office building called the Grant-Deneau Tower at 40 W. Fourth St. into apartments. The company also acquired and tore down the former Midwest Tool & Engineering Co. building on Webster Street, near the 2nd Street Market.

Windsor plans to construct new apartments on the site.

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