UD, Premier meet with county officials on fairground property

UPDATE @ 5:24 p.m.

Montgomery County Administrator Joe Tuss said in an email that he met Friday with representatives from the city, UD and Premier Health “to discuss the current situation and how Premier and UD might help support the redevelopment of this community asset.”

Tuss called UD and Premier Health “anchor institutions” in the community.

Tuss said the media report circulating “that a deal has been struck is not accurate.”

UPDATE @ 5:20 p.m.

Premier Health and University of Dayton issued a joint statement Friday afternoon:

“As neighboring institutions, the University of Dayton and Premier Health have long collaborated on community and economic development initiatives. As neighbors to the Fairgrounds, we have an interest in how it is ultimately developed and that it complements the growth and positive momentum in this important area of our community. We are in discussions with the City and County on how we might help support redevelopment of this community asset.”

EARLIER REPORT

Montgomery County officials have met with Premier Health and the University of Dayton to discuss the future of the Montgomery County Fairgrounds and explore possibilities for the property.

An area media report posted online today said that a deal has been struck to sell the fairgrounds. However, multiple sources contacted by this news organization say that report is not true.

On Wednesday, the county, county fair board and city of Dayton announced they have rejected the two redevelopment proposals they received for the property because they failed to meet key criteria and would require too much taxpayer subsidies.

After the announcement, Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein said local community stakeholders would have to step up and participate in redevelopment efforts to make it financially feasible, because the city will not spend many millions of dollars for the infrastructure upgrades developers wanted.

UD and Premier Health officials have expressed strong interest in seeing the fairgrounds developed.

Miller-Valentine Group, based in Dayton, was one of the two firms that submitted a proposal for the fairgrounds.

The proposal includes a letter, dated Sept. 22, from Premier Health President Mary Boosalis, who expresses her organization’s support of Miller-Valentine’s planned uses for the fairgrounds and overall design.

“I also believe your proposal is complementary with the many years of investments made by Premier Health on the Miami Valley Hospital campus and in the nearby fairgrounds neighborhood,” she wrote.

Miller-Valentine proposed partnering with the hospital and creating new medical offices, as well as constructing a parking garage for the hospital and other buildings on the property.

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