On Courthouse Square in the center downtown Dayton, there is a very unusual space that is easy to miss. A staircase descends below street level into a sunken courtyard lined with vacant storefronts and red awnings. Unless you already know to look for it, you could walk … [Read more...] about The Lost Underground Restaurants on Courthouse Square
Why Historic Buildings Had Grand Entrances (And Why We Stopped Building Them)
The Grand Entrances of Ludlow Street in Downtown Dayton Ludlow Street in Downtown Dayton doesn't have the tallest buildings in the city, but it's one of the best places to see a particular architectural feature that has mostly disappeared from American downtowns: the … [Read more...] about Why Historic Buildings Had Grand Entrances (And Why We Stopped Building Them)
The Lost Dayton Summer Resort and Mead Estate that Became Triangle Park
Recently I found an image of an old farmhouse house in Dayton (above), which I learned after some digging actually connects two different Dayton stories I've written and talked about in recent months. One was the home of Daniel Eldridge Mead on West First Street, which … [Read more...] about The Lost Dayton Summer Resort and Mead Estate that Became Triangle Park
Dayton’s Oldest Parking Garage: History of the First Street Garage
I recently covered the recent reopening of Rabbit Hole Books after being closed for two months. Today, we will dig more deeply into the history of the parking garage where it is located, and whose condition has led to the ongoing disputes between the bookstore and the … [Read more...] about Dayton’s Oldest Parking Garage: History of the First Street Garage
A Rare Second Empire Mansion in Dayton: History of the Isaac Pollack House
The Second Empire style Isaac Pollack house was built in 1876, but not at its present location at 208 West Monument Ave across from the Downtown YMCA. Instead, it was originally located a few blocks away at 319 West Third Street. Originally, it stood next to an … [Read more...] about A Rare Second Empire Mansion in Dayton: History of the Isaac Pollack House
Rabbit Hole Books Reopens in Downtown Dayton After Two-Month Closure
Rabbit Hole Books reopened on Thursday, April 23, after more than two months of closure following a fire in the garage building where the bookstore is located on West First Street in downtown Dayton. The closure became a major local story and featured disputes between the … [Read more...] about Rabbit Hole Books Reopens in Downtown Dayton After Two-Month Closure
New Townhomes for Flats at South Park and Martin Sheen in Dayton
A residential development in the South Park neighborhood that has already added apartment buildings to a busy corridor is now on its third phase which consists of smaller townhome units. The first phases of the Flats at South Park added two large apartment buildings on … [Read more...] about New Townhomes for Flats at South Park and Martin Sheen in Dayton
What’s Happening at the Dayton Fairgrounds and Nearby Housing, Office, and Commercial Projects
I recently released a new Dayton Vistas podcast episode and video focused on several major projects taking shape near the urban core, along with some of the history that helps explain why these areas matter today. This episode covers new housing, office, and commercial … [Read more...] about What’s Happening at the Dayton Fairgrounds and Nearby Housing, Office, and Commercial Projects
West Side Chevy Building: Will San Marco Adaptive Reuse Move Forward?
The potential redevelopment of the site around the former Zion Baptist Church has the potential to significantly enhance the gateway to the Wright-Dunbar neighborhood, a key connection between downtown and West Dayton. But there's another site in between that corner and … [Read more...] about West Side Chevy Building: Will San Marco Adaptive Reuse Move Forward?
$6M Cornerstone Project Advances on West Third Street in Wright-Dunbar
The commercial district on West Third Street in Wright-Dunbar has welcomed a number of new businesses in recent years. The West Social Tap & Table food hall which opened in 2022 at the corner of West Third and Williams has been the biggest. But another large project … [Read more...] about $6M Cornerstone Project Advances on West Third Street in Wright-Dunbar