Original article posted 11/27/2024 It's been over five years since I wrote an article about what major downtown site could be next after the Dayton Arcade redevelopment had officially gotten underway. Today, of course, the Arcade's first phase has been a success and … [Read more...] about Fidelity Building and Paru Tower: History and What’s Happening Now?
Odd Fellows (IOOF) Building History in Dayton
The building at the SW corner of Third and Jefferson Streets looks very ordinary today but is actually an old landmark that is unrecognizable from what it once was. It was originally a 4-story Gothic Revival stone structure built circa 1870 as a temple for the … [Read more...] about Odd Fellows (IOOF) Building History in Dayton
1989 in Dayton: A Lost Historic District and Two Office Towers
A little while back I covered Dayton's oldest commercial buildings that survive downtown. There I wrote about how the classic 19th century business block, most often Italianate or other Victorian style architecture, is all but extinct in Dayton's central business … [Read more...] about 1989 in Dayton: A Lost Historic District and Two Office Towers
Building Substitution and Conversion on South Main
I've published several articles that take a Then and Now look at particular intersections in Dayton. Today is an interesting case in that it features the same corner at three different moments in time. And for a part of town (the southern edge of downtown) that has very … [Read more...] about Building Substitution and Conversion on South Main
Dayton Arcade Hotel, Retail Nearing Completion: Some Reflections
The second phase of the Dayton Arcade (the North half of the complex) is looking closer to completion. These photos were taken in late February, 2025. Pictured above are the Third Street Building (in the middle) with its iconic Flemish-style façade and the Gibbons Annex … [Read more...] about Dayton Arcade Hotel, Retail Nearing Completion: Some Reflections
Wright Company Factory History
I've written a couple of articles and recorded a video about the Wright Brothers including where in Dayton they lived and where they had their print and bike shops. Sadly there are very few locations that still stand in their original location. But there is another … [Read more...] about Wright Company Factory History
The Federation Block and Redevelopment on Xenia Ave
A recent article describes a current project to "renovate and restore" the Twin Towers neighborhood, focusing on the 500 block of Xenia Ave which CityWide Development has identified as the "best location for economic development along the corridor." New Hope Project, Inc. … [Read more...] about The Federation Block and Redevelopment on Xenia Ave
The Decline of Downtown Retail post-1950: Suburbanization, Urban Renewal, and More
Recently I reflected on the golden age of retail in downtown Dayton, tracing the history of Rike's, Elder-Beerman, and other popular downtown department and specialty stores. Today the environment is much different, with many local businesses struggling to survive and only a … [Read more...] about The Decline of Downtown Retail post-1950: Suburbanization, Urban Renewal, and More
Bommy’s Bar, Dayton’s First Apartments, and Riverview Park
The image above depicts a popular saloon known as "Bommy's Place" that once stood off of Salem Ave just across the Great Miami River in Dayton View. It was owned by Fred Bomhard who opened it in 1896. The establishment was known as "one of the best-known and most popular … [Read more...] about Bommy’s Bar, Dayton’s First Apartments, and Riverview Park
West First Street – Dayton’s Old Park Avenue
The story of Downtown Dayton from the 19th century through the first half of the 20th largely involves the transition from homes to office buildings and other larger structures. Then in the 1950s and 60s still more were removed for parking and some whole areas were cleared … [Read more...] about West First Street – Dayton’s Old Park Avenue