Urban Nights - Resident Perspective

In 2002 the Rehabarama was in Downtown Dayton and we walked through a variety of downtown residential buildings out of curiosity.  We were impressed with all the options available, but couldn't imagine giving up our house in Centerville for any of the existing units.  That was the first incarnation of Urban Nights, an event that now occurs twice each year, in the spring and fall.  Ironically, during that first walk downtown in 2002, we met our future developer, and oooh'd and ahhh'd at his current project, with no knowledge that we would put an offer on a warehouse side unit of Cooper Lofts a year later.  Minds can change and what would "never happen" can actually turn out to be one of the best decisions of your life.  We are a success story of the potential in Urban Nights.

As residents, my husband and I look forward to Urban Nights with great anticipation.  We love to answer questions of the people who walk through and to tell them our story.  We have opened our home on the tour in years past, hoping to entice those who cannot imagine what a finished unit could look like.  All of our neighbors are very proud of their homes and we all are quite supportive of downtown growth initiatives.  Although there are still open units, there are also quite a few success stories in our building and in our neighborhood.

In Dayton proper, a buyers market with minimal price increases, the Cooper Place town homes are selling in weeks (not months), and it is said that there is a list of potential buyers for the 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage units across from Cooper Park.  The oldest, most established condominium units in Webster Station, the residents are very conscientious to keep the association fees down and the landscaping blooming.  A Cooper Place unit has never been open for Urban Nights simply because they sell too fast to be available on the circuit.  Potentially you will see a unit open this year and be enticed to put yourself on that waiting list.

Last fall we had an Urban Nights after party in the courtyard of our building.  This past spring we camped out at our neighbor's unit that was for sale and volunteered information to those passersby whom seemed interested in learning more.  On September 15, we hope to enjoy the company of our neighbors and possibly meet some people who will be the next residents that say "I never imagined I would love living downtown this much."