Dilapidated building faces demolition despite history

Another example of our history getting torn down. This particular building appears to be in very poor shape, and would require a major investment to bring it back to life. Anybody out there know somebody who can help?

By Joanne Huist Smith
Dayton Daily News
Link: Dilapidated building faces demolition despite history.

Designation on the National Register of Historic Places may not be enough to save the time- and weather-beaten Women's Christian Association building at 800 W. Fifth St.

The city of Dayton's Division of Housing Inspection declared the building a structural nuisance in April 2006. Now the city has asked the city's Landmark Commission for permission to bring down the building, which has been vacant since 1975.

This building at 800 W. Fifth St. in Dayton is on the National Register but the city of Dayton division of housing inspection says the building is a nuisance and needs to be torn down. It is the former Women's Christian Association, organized to provide services to black women who were excluded from the YWCA. Dayton's Landmark Commission plans to hold a hearing March 15 regarding the city's request to demolish the building.

"We've got to stop destroying our history," said Margaret Peters, a retired Dayton schoolteacher, author and local historian. "I'm adamantly opposed to this."

Comments

[Maureen Heacock]

The good news is that, partly due to the presence of some interested UD faculty and others, the Commission decided today to defer their recommendation for 30 days, to see if any interested party comes forth with a plan to save the building. If someone comes forward within 30 days, they will be given an additional 60 days to present a plan. So if anyone has any ideas about ways to rehabilitate this important piece of West Dayton history, now is the time to speak up!