Rehabarama comes to South Park!

What a great time it is to be living in Historic South Park!  Two amazing pieces of news have come together for the benefit of South Park, through hard work, organization, and through people starting to realize what a wonderful place South Park is and can be.

A couple of weeks ago, we had the exciting announcement that South Park had won a highly competitive grant from the American Institute of Architects, in celebration of their 150th year as an organization.  Starting with a kick-off meeting this Saturday, architects from firms throughout the Dayton region, together with significant input from neighborhood residents and other community constituents, will work over the next two months to envision a future for South Park:  how we want it to look, feel and work, and how we can get it there.  See the DDN story for more details.

And building on this story (and actually, helping to create the conditions that led to winning the grant), we learned yesterday that the City has authorized and agreed to promote a privately-funded Rehabarama in South Park this October!  Two investors have independently made their way to South Park, determining that our neighborhood was well-positioned to take advantage of the kinds of resources they could bring to bear.  They have been purchasing vacant properties in South Park and are working to restore them and make them home-owner occupied.  Several of the properties that they are transforming will comprise the Rehabarama show.  See more details here.

What is most exciting to me about these two events is that it feels like people are starting to understand what is so special about South Park.  We work together, we address problems, we are committed to each other and to this place, and we keep focused on our long-range goals.  And we even manage to have a lot of fun together while we're doing it!

Stay tuned for more details about the AIA process and Rehabarama!

Comments

[Kevin Moran]

Thanks for your site and commitment here, Bill. And certainly thanks for posting this news for your readers.

We are very ecouraged by the early numbers of people wanting to participate in this grant. As a South Park resident myself, I'm hoping for conformity, patience and focus with this exciting opportunity from AIA. I look forward to this Saturday for the kick off.

As for our Rehabarama, what great news! I hope everyone will be encouraging and respectful to our investors, Theresa Gasper and Michael DiFlora. It's not easy to get everyone on the same page in a community as large as South Park. But people like our neighborhood president, Karin Manovich, has worked hard to get us good press and encouraging news. Lets hope this will continue great things for this area and for Dayton to come.

Cheers!

[Bill Pote]

Kevin - though I certainly appreciate your kind words, I can't take credit for this post. It comes from one of your own neighbors - Maureen Heacock. Maureen graciously offered to be a guest blogger here on Dayton MostMetro so that she can share with the rest of us all of the exciting developments in South Park.

Thanks Maureen for the update - we are now even more excited about the things happening in your neighborhood!

[Kevin Moran]

Well than a thank you to Maureen for getting the word out here!

[Lisa Persons]

I couldn't be prouder of my friends and neighbors than I am today!!

The AIA meeting at Emerson Academy on Saturday was a resounding SUCCESS!!!! By last count, there were over 130 people in attendance!! The AIA folks were overwhelmed by the turnout from neighbors and local community members!!!

As always, this would NEVER have happened without the hardwork of the people that have made a commitment to the success of our neighborhood. As a resident of only two years, once again, I will reap the benefits of the dedication of my neighbors!

If you are looking for a home, without the 'cookie-cutter' feel; a home where people greet each other from their front porches; celebrate your joys with you; console you in your losses; South Park is where you should call home!!

I can't wait to see what happens in the changing future of South Park!!!

My personal thanks to Karin Manovich, Galen Wilson, and Amanda Moran for having the vision, where many others would not!!!

[Maureen Heacock]

Lisa, I agree--what a phenomenal turn-out we had! And it wasn't just numbers--there was a tremendous energy in the room, a real sense of being able to make a difference, and GREAT, innovative ideas being thrown around. And even more remarkable--I heard very little negativism, or a sense of "we couldn't possibly do that" or "Get real--this is South Park we're talking about!" Everyone seemed to have a sense that this was the time to think big, and think differently. In other words, to connect with the Richard Florida conversation going on elsewhere on this site, I didn't hear any "squelchers" anywhere--astonishing for a crowd that size.

South Park folks are fired up--what a great time it is to live here!

[Robert]

I was really disappointed that I had to miss that meeting. I heard that two of the architects approached the HSPI president afterward and said they were thinking of moving to South Park! After one meeting! Proof that SP's residents are enthusiastic and exude a strong sense of community... Can't wait for the rest of the AIA150 meetings and the Rehabarama!

[Amanda Moran]

What an exciting day! There was a walk-through today to show all the Rehabarama project houses to potential interior designers. Walt Hibner was there from HBA, along Theresa Gasper of Full Circle Development, and Michael and Holly DiFlora of The Home Group LLC. The number of designers that showed up was inspiring. They were all troopers, the day was hot and almost chokingly humid. The houses are in full construction now, and the designers have to try to visualise the potential. This is something that is much easier for the designers to do than for most people. The next step is for the designers to sit down together and decide who gets to do which house. The houses have a feel to them, a personality unique to each. Some will be starkly modern, some will be softer contemporaries, some will be restored to exacting perfection. Some are very large, going on room after room, and one in particular is like a tiny dollhouse (with 12 ft ceilings). I think it will be hard for them to decide! All-in-all, a very good day in South Park.