Recently I wrote about the lost East Second Street historic district (today the Premier Health Tower). For today's post we'll shift south one block to see how the entire east side of Main and the north side of Third have also been lost to demolition over the years, not at … [Read more...] about Urban Renewal and Lost Buildings at Main and 3rd
Urban Planning
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
What’s the Story Behind Downtown’s Pretzinger Lane?
One of the shortest streets downtown can be found just across from the south side of the Dayton Arcade. Pretzinger Lane is a mid-block street that runs only from Fourth to Fifth, and it offers nice vistas as one walks down it but overall is a bit of a curious case. … [Read more...] about What’s the Story Behind Downtown’s Pretzinger Lane?
James H McGee Boulevard History: Road Widenings, 35 West, and Neighborhoods
In my last article on the Bowers Building on West Third Street, I mentioned how James H McGee Boulevard was originally created as a widening of what had been Western Ave. As it turns out, that is an interesting story in its own right which I'll dig into today. James H. … [Read more...] about James H McGee Boulevard History: Road Widenings, 35 West, and Neighborhoods
Opinion: Dayton Should Remove Parking Minimums from Zoning Code
Editor's Note: This is a guest article written by Matt Sauer In 1923, the city of Columbus required a new apartment building to provide off street parking, the first time parking minimums (as they would come to be called) were ever enforced in the US. City governments … [Read more...] about Opinion: Dayton Should Remove Parking Minimums from Zoning Code
Opinion: Should Fifth Street in the Oregon District Go Car-Free?
In spite of the recent tragic events in the Oregon District, East Fifth Street remains one of Dayton’s great destinations. I often say that the Oregon District, specifically Fifth Street, is Dayton’s one true “big city” neighborhood. The business and entertainment district … [Read more...] about Opinion: Should Fifth Street in the Oregon District Go Car-Free?
Opinion: A Pedestrian Vision for Wayne Avenue
The Wayne Avenue corridor is trending in a nice direction right now. New businesses are popping up, including the microbrewery Branch and Bone. It’s even becoming a bit of a coffee shop corridor anchored by Ghostlight to the south and Press to the north with two new ones, … [Read more...] about Opinion: A Pedestrian Vision for Wayne Avenue