Original article posted March 9, 2018 Redevelopment of the former Montgomery County Fairgrounds has slowly shifted from planning and fundraising toward visible construction. The 38-acre site along South Main Street is now being developed as onMain, a long-term partnership … [Read more...] about Dayton Fairgrounds Redevelopment: The Historic Roundhouse and the OnMain Development
New Developments
New Retail Shops Now Open in the Dayton Arcade’s North Arcade
Last Friday I attended the reveal of the new retail spaces inside the Dayton Arcade’s restored North Arcade. It was striking to see such a large crowd gathered inside a landmark that sat vacant for decades. I have been covering the Arcade’s story for years, from … [Read more...] about New Retail Shops Now Open in the Dayton Arcade’s North Arcade
Centre City Building (The Mainline) Redevelopment Overview
With the Dayton Arcade’s major construction largely complete, attention is shifting just across Main Street to another huge structure that has sat vacant for years. Few buildings have generated as much long-running curiosity, or frustration, as the Centre City Building, … [Read more...] about Centre City Building (The Mainline) Redevelopment Overview
A Place for Peace: Inside Dayton’s International Peace Museum on Courthouse Square
Editor's note: I’ve written quite a bit about Courthouse Square and its history, challenges, and future as a central gathering place. One thing that can get overlooked in those conversations is the role of the institutions already in and around space today. This guest … [Read more...] about A Place for Peace: Inside Dayton’s International Peace Museum on Courthouse Square
5 Dayton Redevelopment Projects to Watch in 2026: Housing, Office, Retail, and Historic Preservation
Downtown Dayton and its historic neighborhoods are taking some significant steps forward. In the first episode of my new Dayton Vistas Podcast, I take a closer look at five redevelopment projects to watch in 2026, spanning major adaptive reuse efforts downtown as well as … [Read more...] about 5 Dayton Redevelopment Projects to Watch in 2026: Housing, Office, Retail, and Historic Preservation
Belle of Dayton: A Distillery with a Prohibition-Era Connection
Located at the edge of Dayton's Oregon District, the Belle of Dayton distillery has a fascinating history not only for its location, which has housed a wide range of tenants over the years, but also for the story of the Belle of Dayton brand which takes us all the way back … [Read more...] about Belle of Dayton: A Distillery with a Prohibition-Era Connection
The History and Architecture of 1922 and 1918 Brown Street
A pair of interesting buildings on Brown Street forms part of one of the more intact blocks of neighborhood commercial structures in Dayton, and also help tell the story of the surrounding area. Recently these buildings were sold, and online posts have advertised the … [Read more...] about The History and Architecture of 1922 and 1918 Brown Street
New Indie Bookstore Open in Historic Building on East Third in Huffman
There's a new bookstore on East Third Street in the Huffman neighborhood. The Cozy Book Nook, a shop focused on indie authors, has recently opened at 1400 East Third Street after relocating from a smaller space on South Dixie in Moraine. Husband and wife team Tony and … [Read more...] about New Indie Bookstore Open in Historic Building on East Third in Huffman
Fidelity Building and Paru Tower: History and What’s Happening Now?
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?
Hawthorne School: History of an 1886 Dayton School Converted to Condos
McPherson Town is a Dayton neighborhood just a short walk from downtown that is known for its beautiful stock of historic homes. There's also one prominent building in the area that is residential today but was constructed for a different purpose. That is the … [Read more...] about Hawthorne School: History of an 1886 Dayton School Converted to Condos