The 37-acre district would have encompassed the Towne Square area and the historic downtown area, part of South Detroit Street, part of Main Street and part of South Whiteman Street.
There are five establishments with a liquor license inside the proposed DORA area: Devil Wind Brewing at 130 S. Detroit St., the Xenia Elks Lodge at 71 E. Second St., Acapulco Mexican restaurant at 88 Xenia Towne Square, The Buck and Ear at 124 Xenia Towne Square and the Ramada at 300 Xenia Towne Square.
Xenia City Manager Brent Merriman said if council voted against the DORA, city staff likely would not bring another application before council this year.
Doug Lane, owner of Devil’s Wind Brewing Company on Detroit Street, spoke in favor of the DORA. He said he thought the outdoor drinking district would bring more people downtown. Lane said he didn’t think the DORA would cause public drunkenness or disorderly conduct in the downtown area because of the heavy police presence that is already in Xenia.
“There’s a lot of potential within our community to continue to grow,” Lane said.
Lane said other communities that have DORA districts previously had bad reputations and he thinks a DORA could help improve Xenia’s image.
Denise Davis, a Xenia resident, spoke at the city council meeting against the proposed DORA. Davis said she hasn’t seen any hard data to back up how other towns with a DORA are doing.
“I am adamantly opposed to the DORA,” Davis said. “I am not against responsible drinking if you are of age, but I don’t like the idea of using alcohol to lure foot traffic.”
Davis also expressed discomfort at the size of the DORA, potential underage drinking and trash. Davis has concerns that Xenia’s downtown is different from the other downtowns of the cities that have DORAs.
Dayton’s Oregon District, Springboro, Springfield, Lebanon and Middletown have established DORA drinking districts. Tipp City recently approved one.
The city also received 44 emails in favor of the DORA and 41 emails against bringing a DORA to downtown Xenia. Members of council expressed concerns over public opinion being divided on the issue.
Councilman Levi Dean said that with 85 emails, which is more than he’s seen on any other issue in his time on council, he felt the city had plenty of public feedback.
“1974 was when the tornado came through and it took a toll on our community, we’ve been in that sluggish mode for a while. It’s starting to look better out west but our downtown is lacking,” said Councilman Cody Brannum. “I feel at the end of the day, it is up to each business owner to put up the sign that says ‘I accept DORA,’ ‘I do not accept DORA.’”
Brannum and other council members who supported the DORA said they thought it would help small local businesses who are hurting because of COVID.
After lengthy conversation and a public hearing on the DORA, Councilman Will Urschel proposed tabling the vote until the city could get more feedback on the DORA and the potential Towne Square development. That motion did not pass.
Urschel said when the city acquired the Towne Square land, they said they wanted public feedback and have public discussion on what development Xenia residents would want to see there. Urschel said it didn’t make sense to seek so much input on the Towne Square development and not ask the broader public about their opinions on the DORA.
Council members Urschel, Thomas Scrivens, Mayor Sarah Mays and Wesley Smith voted no.
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