J. Seward Johnson comes to Dayton

It was recently announced that this summer, Downtown Dayton will be the new home to a public art exhibit called City Life.  This is a first for Dayton, and it should be a lot of fun!  It is a series of life-sized bronze sculptures that will be on display throughout downtown.  Created by J. Seward Johnson, these sculptures will bring a whimsical feeling to Downtown Dayton and may be the first of many pieces of public art to come.

Partnership Names New President

Sandra K. Gudorf has been named the new president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. The announcement was made today by DDP co-chairs Michael Greitzer and Mayor Rhine McLin at the Partnership's 2007 annual meeting at the Old Court House.

"Sandy has the strong skills and strategic focus we need for this important role," said Michael Greitzer, president of Miller-Valentine Group and co-chair of the DDP. "We have been extremely pleased with her work as interim president. She has earned the respect of our downtown constituents, and we are confident that she will continue to be an excellent leader for downtown Dayton."

Gudorf served as interim president of the DDP since September 2006, and we previously vice president of public relations for the organization. Prior to serving as interim president, she managed all public relations and marketing programs for the Partnership and downtown Dayton since joining the DDP in 1992. Sandy also has served in a strategic role on key downtown projects, including minor league baseball, RiverScape and now in current downtown development projects.

"Sandy's passion for downtown is undeniable, and I know she will work hard for the community and the property owners the Partnership represents," said Mayor Rhine McLin, co-chair of the DDP. "With nearly 15 years experience at the DDP, Sandy is extremely knowledgeable about both the challenges and opportunities that exist downtown."

Prior to joining the DDP, Sandy worked at Penny/Ohlmann/Neiman, a Dayton advertising and public relations firm, for nearly eight years. At the agency she managed communications programs for numerous clients within the community. Sandy was president of Dayton's Public Relations Society of America chapter and held several positions in her five years on the board. She has also been active with several other community groups. Sandy is a graduate of Wright State University and resides in Clayton with her husband and two children.

"I am very excited to accept the permanent position of president," said Gudorf. "We have important work ahead of us, and I look forward to working with the DDP Board of Trustees, elected officials, and the downtown community to strengthen and grow our downtown."    

Downtown Dayton Partnership Committee Update

Committee work at the Downtown Dayton Partnership is in full swing and there is a lot for the various committees to accomplish this year.  Members of the DDP Board of Trustees and downtown business leaders serve on these various committees, and their time and dedication is key to helping the DDP achieve our 2007 strategic initiatives.

                                

Job recruitment and retention are the highest priorities for the DDP this year. The Jobs Committee primary charge will be to focus on the key barriers to recruiting and retaining jobs downtown. In conjunction with the economic study underway with the City, the committee will develop strategies to expand and strengthen the DDP’s existing retention program. The committee will also explore parking options as they relate to creating and retaining jobs in our downtown. 

The Amenities Committee will work in partnership with the City of Dayton and Five Rivers MetroParks to move the RiverScape Entertainment Plaza, Baseball Village and Deeds Point Housing forward. Individual subcommittees, as directed by the City, will be formed to guide these projects to fruition.

The Environment Committee will oversee, monitor and make recommendations as work is underway on numerous environmental issues that affect the vitality and health of Downtown Dayton. Critical issues of special interest this year include safety, implementation of a news box program in the central business district, and two-way street conversions.  The Environment Committee will also continue to oversee the Downtown Dayton Ambassador Program.

Updates on these initiatives and other news from the Downtown Dayton Partnership are available by signing up to receive our electronic newsletter, Your Downtown.  Visit www.downtowndayton.org to sign up for the newsletter and other electronic communications from the DDP.

the AIA and South Park

Yesterday, the second of three design "charrettes" was held at the Emerson School in the South Park neighborhood.  These design charrettes are the heart of the process that the American Institute of Architechts is using in helping South Park define its vision for the future.  We (the 75 or so neighborhood residents and other stakeholders, along with the 40 or so architects participating in the process) have divided up into five working groups:  residential rehab, new residential, commercial/public spaces, greenspaces and boundaries.  Each group has worked collaboratively to define a project.  At each design charrette, the architects present the members of the working group with the ideas they've developed to capture the discussions of the previous session.  Through three iterations, the knowledge of the architects combines with the imagination of the community members to create a vision that is broad and exciting, while remaining closely connected to how the community wishes to use and live in the neighborhood.

The ideas each group is coming up with are phenomenal.  From reconceptualizing Wayne Avenue as a "Craftsman District" with an enhanced traffic and pedestrian flow, to linking Woodland Cemetary, Blommel Park and South Park Green with a bike trail and significantly reconceptualizing and enhancing both parks, to developing templates for renovating homes with an eye toward universal design and combined-family units, the ideas are fresh, forward-thinking, and exciting.  The architects and the community clearly envision South Park as a place that young professionals, growing families, and empty-nesters will all find appealing. 

It was a little difficult for many of us in the neighborhood to understand the impact of winning this AIA grant before the process began.  Now that we are halfway through it, it has become clear that the "gift to the community" that the AIA has offered is its ability to translate the dreams, desires and needs of a community into actual pictures and plans.  Now that we know what our visions look like, we will be that much better able to find ways to make them a reality.

Latest Ballpark Village news - Part II

In a follow-up to our previous post (Latest Ballpark Village news - Part I) we discuss this development in more detail, including similar projects completed recently by the developers which may give us an idea of what to expect here in Dayton...