There are two major projects underway that aim to transform major sections of downtown Dayton. And these developments are transitioning from ideas to reality as increasing construction activity has started to bring the historic structures back to life. Let’s look at a few photos of these projects as well as an update on their progress and when they are expected to open.
Dayton Arcade Construction
We’ve published a timeline of the Arcade that summarizes the roller-coaster ride that brought us to this point. Anchor tenants the University of Dayton and the Entrepreneurs Center will occupy 100,000 square feet for offices, classes, co-working spaces and more. The first phase also includes 110 housing units aimed at artists and creatives. Other future tenants may include The Contemporary (formerly DVAC) and others.
This summer, the Arcade’s interior alterations dating to the 60s and 80s were demolished, largely restoring its original look. Lots of activity has focused on the exterior as well. Work on the Ludlow Street building “removed brick that was installed in the 1960s, revealing stone and metal underneath.” Overall, 90% of the complex’s 700-800 historic windows will be removed, cleaned, re-glazed and reinstalled.
When can we expect to see the Arcade reopen? A UD communication stated that its student-run bistro in the Arcade is scheduled to open in the summer of 2020, while the rest of the UD portion is slated for late 2020.
Below: Night shots of the South Arcade buildings. Seeing lights on in structures that have been shuttered for decades gives a tantalizing glimpse ahead to when the complex is fully re-activated.
Below: The Lindsey and McCrory Buildings on Main Street, also part of the redevelopment. Lead paint and asbestos abatement work has been happening in the old office tower which will be turned into apartments.
Fire Blocks Construction
Just a few blocks away, the redevelopment of several buildings in the area of downtown known as the Fire Blocks is finally starting to heat up. And it’s been a long time coming. A Dayton Business Journal series in early 2017 profiled a $100 million plan to turn the block into “the connecting hub for the spokes all around downtown Dayton.” At that time, it had been in the works since 2015, “construction had begun” on the Huffman and Elks buildings, and that phase was said to be fully funded. But progress soon stalled and historic tax credits were threatened to be revoked if the developers could not show sufficient evidence of financing.
The project was eventually taken over by The Windsor Companies, said to have the “capacity and the vision” to get the project done. The new team certainly shares the grand expectations of the previous one, intending to “create a new community encompassing all areas of a global urban neighborhood.” Windsor has a track record of success in Columbus and has indeed moved the project forward, but has also run into some delays.
On July 5, 2018, construction work began on the roof of the Elks Building, a deliberate effort by Windsor “to build some goodwill and trust in the community about the project” after the previous one failed. That day, pre-leasing began for apartments that would be ready “in about a year.”
In February 2019, a spokesperson said that “by late summer, there should be six new businesses — bars, restaurants, fitness and cafes — in the Fire Blocks.” Throughout the summer, some construction was visible but nothing approaching the large crews at the Arcade. More future tenants were promoted, but none opened.
The apartments were still said to be opening in the Fall in an email sent on August 21. Then on November 2, over 180 people registered for an official leasing kickoff event. It included a tour of the Huffman and Elks buildings, which were now said to be move-in ready in January and February, respectively.
Now the first two businesses, an activity bar and a bakery, “should open by the end of 2019.” The Paradox restaurant in the Elks Building “is slated to open at the beginning of 2020.”
Such a complex project involving the adaptive reuse of historic structures naturally has a lot of moving pieces, and unforeseen stumbling blocks are to be expected. But hopefully these projects will remain on track so that Daytonians will be able to enjoy the reborn Fire Blocks in a couple of months’ time.
The Huffman Building, set to become apartments (upper floors) with a variety of businesses on the ground floor
The iconic Elks Building on the corner, which will have apartments on the upper floors and the Paradox restaurant on the corner retail space. The smaller three-story building to the right is where the Century Bar is relocating.
Thank you for these timelines! It drives me crazy how the Windsor Company keeps throwing unattainable dates out there.
Hi Andrew, appreciate the blog.
It’s too bad to read that those amazing panels will be removed from the Price Stores building; it looks like what’s underneath is attractive but pretty standard early 20th Century commercial architecture.
I’ve never seen panels like these deployed on such a large scale. Have you heard anything about a plan to re-use them elsewhere? They’ll not just be sold as scrap, I hope?
Thanks!
We are very excited about the trajectory Dayton is now on. It has been a difficult year and the grand opening of the Arcade will be an opportunity for the greater regon to come together again. A block party within “the nine” blocks(eight blocks surrounding the arcade block), turned into a festival area would be cool..Hope that work begins soon on the Grant Deneau at 4th and ludrow, The Centre City building could be a huge win for dayton if the right developer showed interest. Exciting is Stratacashe buying the tallest building in Dayton. Their new parking garage can include some studios, perhaps one and/or two bedrooms with balconies on floors above the parking. That location would be perfect for a Kroger store or Dorothy Lane Market(or other simular grocer). Even the top floor could include an all season space where it is open-air when warm and protected by moving glass panels when colder. Stratacashe will be creative and use that high density corner well. Some great new neons/signage will dress up the 30 story tower and tie the new garage/apartments and the courthouse square building together nicely. Perhaps Stratacashe would then maybe like to purchase the Third National building on Main at some point and tie it into the complex as well. It will be great to see new large signage of Stratacache from the interstates. All this new energy in downtown provides opportunities to really be creative in the Dayton urban core. A large garage and new apartments can be built in the former DDN property, to provide additonal parking in the core and offer more living options for students at Sinclair and UD. Perhaps Dayton needs some new buildings in the skyline(these two forementioned areas can be great impact zones). These two buildings can be between ten to twenty floors and really add to a true city center exerience and increase the density that cities need to thrive. Balconies and other simple upgrades will provide great city life and bring the energy between the ground floor upwards. That is what true cities do is build upwards. Dayton will benefit from being the mid city between Columbus and Cincannati. It’s time to bring new ideas by thinking ouside the box. That thinking is young at heart and exciting. Dayton can and should offer great diversity in housing, design, price points, and create a true showplace for the greater Dayton region.
Thanks for the comment! I like all of your ideas, especially the block party in “the nine” to celebrate the Arcade. Also definitely agree on those Stratacache points and hope they follow them. And man, how great would it be to see a couple of new towers in the skyline!? Finally, as someone who works at Sinclair I’m really hoping both the Grant Deneau and former DDN site get redeveloped soon.