In a 2020 that was full of bad news, the progress of the Dayton Arcade was one of the most positive stories for lovers of the Gem City.
In our recent roundup of downtown development news, we shared details about the Arcade’s continuing restoration and construction. Its highly-anticipated opening is expected to happen in the early months of 2021.
The Arcade project involves nine interconnected historic buildings, so what exactly can Daytonians expect to see with the completion of the first phase?
The biggest (and most visible) component is the “Innovation Hub,” where anchor tenants The Entrepreneurs Center and the University of Dayton will occupy 95,000 square feet centering on the iconic Arcade rotunda.
This will bring a large concentration of entrepreneurs, faculty, and students into the center of downtown on a regular basis. Sinclair College will have a presence in the center as well.
But in addition to the Hub, apartments are nearing completion in the Commercial Building at the corner of Fourth and Ludlow, as well as the Lindsey Building which fronts Main Street.
As since the project is decidedly mixed-use in nature, there will be plenty of restaurant and retail tenants in the spaces on Fourth and Ludlow streets to complement the offices and housing.
One major tenant will be Crafted & Cured, which is moving from its former location on Wayne Ave in the Oregon District. It will be taking over a much larger space which will allow the business to expand its kitchen.
There will also be a bistro run by University of Dayton students.
(And the second phase of the Arcade redevelopment, focused on the north portion including the Third Street Building, will have more of a focus on food operations.)
Another tenant will bring fine arts to the Arcade: The Contemporary (formerly the Dayton Visual Arts Center) is moving to the complex, and like Crafted & Cured it will be gaining significant space for its art galleries.
Part of the design of the project is to make these businesses connected to and easily accessible from the surrounding streets (the Arcade spans the whole block between Third and Fourth and Ludlow and Main).
So those who walk in downtown Dayton will soon see a whole new level of vibrancy.
Hello,
I came by your site by way of Amazon where I had been redirected to your book Lost Dayton. I grew up in Dayton after my parents brought me back from California. Where my father was stationed in te Navy t San Diego. I grew up in and around Dayton going to school, enjoying
Movies downtown and shopping at Rikes, Beermans, Donenfelds and going to the Arcade with my mother frequently. One of my first memories is Helena Homes where we lived when I went to first grade at Van Cleve School. Trouble is I have not been able to find anything on Helena Homes in anything I’ve read. I’d like to know the story of how it came to be and what happened to it. The places I remember are long gone but Dayton was a great place to grow up.
Hi Linda, thanks for commenting and sharing those memories! I do not believe I’ve come across anything on Helena Homes, but I’ll add that to my list of sites to research and I’ll let you know if I come across anything.
Could she be talking about Parkside Homes? They were not far from Van Cleve Elementary school.
Hi…The research librarians at Dayton Metro Library, Main Branch Downtown, most likely would be able to help your quest. Dayton Historical Society, also, might be a good source. Dayton Daily News has a plethora of pictures…but is tough for me to navigate.
My wife and I were researching an older property on Adams Street. It was built before the 1890’s and the impetus seemed to be NCR.
Good luck…Dave M
I went to Whittier elementary school in late 50’s.
Do you know why they tore this wonderful school down.
Lots of memories there.
Thanks