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
Wright-Dunbar
New Housing for West Dayton’s Wolf Creek Neighborhood
Dayton's Wolf Creek neighborhood, just across the river from downtown, has historically suffered from disinvestment and a large share of its housing stock was recently found to be in a dilapidated state. But a variety of new projects are bringing new housing options to … [Read more...] about New Housing for West Dayton’s Wolf Creek Neighborhood
The Grocery that Never Slept: Frank Hale, the Wright Brothers, and Dayton’s First Store Chain
The Wright-Dunbar neighborhood has multiple sites connected to the Wright Brothers' exploits in bicycles and then airplanes, but the Hoover Block at the SE corner of West Third and Williams is where Wilbur and Orville worked on their first business venture: printing. The … [Read more...] about The Grocery that Never Slept: Frank Hale, the Wright Brothers, and Dayton’s First Store Chain
Wright Dunbar Townhomes: New Market-Rate Housing for West Dayton
Over the past few months, new townhomes have been rising near downtown Dayton. But there are several factors that make this project particularly noteworthy. One is the area where the new buildings are being constructed. On West Third Street in the Wright-Dunbar … [Read more...] about Wright Dunbar Townhomes: New Market-Rate Housing for West Dayton
Where Was the Wright Brothers Bike Shop in Dayton?
My last article covered where the Wright Brothers lived in Dayton. This one will highlight the places in town where they worked to turn their revolutionary ideas into the invention of powered flight. Because the brothers made and repaired bicycles before focusing on … [Read more...] about Where Was the Wright Brothers Bike Shop in Dayton?
The Wright Brothers House in Dayton (And What Remains Today)
Dayton has a rich history of innovation spanning key inventions in a wide variety of industries, but the most famous is of course the Wright Brothers and their quest to achieve powered flight. Wilbur and Orville lived and worked in a few different places around the Gem … [Read more...] about The Wright Brothers House in Dayton (And What Remains Today)
History of The Ark Restaurant on West 3rd St
Featuring Research By Sue Montesano I've previously written about the commercial district on West Third Street in Wright-Dunbar, and one of the most interesting structures there is the 3-story Enterprise Building built in 1890 and originally home to the Pekin … [Read more...] about History of The Ark Restaurant on West 3rd St
A Lost Building at 1014/1016 W Third St
Sometimes when I'm doing research on a particular Dayton site I come across something totally unrelated that piques my interest. And rather than consider it an unwelcome distraction or use it as an opportunity to go completely down a rabbit hole and forget what I was … [Read more...] about A Lost Building at 1014/1016 W Third St
New Fund Can Boost Historic Business Districts
In late September, the City of Dayton announced a new program to help activate vacant and underutilized commercial spaces impacted by the pandemic. The First Floor Fund, administered by CityWide Development, aims to provide low-interest and forgivable loans to small … [Read more...] about New Fund Can Boost Historic Business Districts
Dayton Looking for Developers for Gem City Ice Cream Property
With the new Third Street Bridge once again connecting downtown to innerwest Dayton, several projects are underway on West Third in Wright Dunbar, most notably a food hall. But one historic property associated with the Wright Brothers is still languishing in limbo with … [Read more...] about Dayton Looking for Developers for Gem City Ice Cream Property