It has just been announced that the owners of the Fairway Inn Restaurant at Kitty Hawk Golf Course have plans to reopen the Breakfast Club - the very popular breakfast joint on South Main just south of Downtown Dayton. According to WDTN, the new owners plan to keep things close to the same, with some added signature items. Unfortunately because the previous owners still own the name (and another restaurant by the same name in Lebanon), this downtown staple will have a new name. Don't worry, Tanks - we won't be replacing you as our favorite spot for Sunday breakfast - there is room for more than one!
Many if not most people in the Dayton region consider the Oregon District as part of Downtown Dayton. Those of us that live downtown know that the OD and CBD (Central Business District) are actually two separate districts. Not to mention that if you are at a Dragons game, Canal Street Tavern show or Cannery Art Gallery event - you are in yet another district - Webster Station. While I believe these three distinct neighborhoods deserve their own identities, I along with many others have often wondered why these three downtown districts (along with Wright Dunbar, Grafton Hill and McPherson Town) aren't marketed together. One main reason: the downtown S.I.D., or Special Improvement District, and the boundaries that have dictated who pays the S.I.D. tax and gets included in the overall marketing that is provided by the Downtown Dayton Partnership. This organization was formed in the early 90's and is responsible for the bi-annual Urban Nights event, Holiday Festival, Street Ambassador program, First Bloom downtown beautification program (along with Wegerzyn Gardens), and various business retention programs, etc.
The following article indicates a major shift in thinking, as the DDP appears to have convinced the OD to join forces. I agree that this new partnership can be mutually beneficial (as long as they play nice together), and the potential for a longer-term consolidation means more bang for the marketing buck. And as the region struggles to consolidate even the simplest things like emergency dispatch, the urban core of Dayton is coming together to build the synergies necessary for growth - all while maintaining the individual neighborhood identities that define our city.
Link: Partnership to provide services in Oregon District - Dayton Business Journal:.
The Downtown Dayton Partnership will start providing services to the Oregon District Aug. 6.
Members of the Oregon District Business Association -- composed of businesses on Fifth Street and within the historic neighborhood -- entered into a one-year contract to receive services from the partnership, according to a release issued by the partnership Tuesday.
Here is an interesting website I came across while catching up on UrbanOhio.com - www.WalkScore.com. I tried it for where we live in Downtown Dayton and we scored a 94 out of 100. And yes, that is one of the reasons we enjoy living here - we can walk to places and leave the car in the garage!
What is YOUR score?
 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.
Continue reading "J. Seward Johnson comes to Dayton" »
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."
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.
As we continue to follow the new CareSource office building project, here are some photos from an hour ago of the demolition-in-progress of the old parking garage and old Avis building (now gone). Also, some pics of the new Avis building on First Street. We will continue to keep you updated on the progress - stay tuned...
Continue reading "CareSource Location Begins Demolition" »
For those of you who cringe when you look at the giant Mendelson's Liquidation Outlet building on the edge of Downtown/Webster Station, and for the rest of us that have always thought "wow, that is a neat old building - too bad it isn't being used for something cool" - we may see a huge change in downtown's landscape as Sandy Mendelson just announced that he is moving out! While news of yet another company announcing plans to leave downtown for the burbs would normally be another punch in the gut, this time the outcome could be a very positive thing...
Continue reading "Mendelson Leaving Downtown" »
When I first heard about Flying Pizza having to find another location while
a new parking garage was being built for CareSource, I was sad and mad at the same time. I understood the need for the garage and I support the fact that CareSource building a new building is a good thing (despite all the squelchers complaining that there are already too many empty buildings). But Flying Pizza is a Dayton icon - the very kind of restaurant that adds to our city's identity. They can't just make them leave! Besides, they are building a new building for Avis - why not Flying Pizza?
Well, if things pan out the way this article explains it - somebody used some CREATIVE thinking and figured out that they can build part of the garage with a new store space on the ground floor that Flying Pizza can move into before they tear down the existing restaurant. Then they will tear down the existing restaurant and build the rest of the parking garage around the new restaurant space.
It is obvious that this will make the project more difficult and expensive, so I give kudos to the powers that be. Hopefully this is just one of many examples of this kind of cooperation that will occur as several new developments begin in our downtown.
Link: CareSource project uprooting Avis, Flying Pizza.
Slowly but surely, it is coming down...
By Dave Larsen
Dayton Daily News
Link: Benbow demolition halfway done.
Demolition on the former 13-story hotel is 50 percent complete and ahead of schedule, said Dinh, the project manager. Vacant since 1986, the building is being torn down to make way for the RTA's new public transit pavilion, which will replace bus stops on Main Street within the central business district.
This month, the architects for the new Caresource office building being built in Downtown Dayton will be presenting their plans before the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Plan Board. Assuming all is approved, construction should start at the end of the year (after demolition of the current parking garage structure that exists on the property now)
Here are some more renderings of what the building should look like - enjoy!
Continue reading "Caresource Update" »
Those of you that have been reading this blog know how I feel about places like The Greene - a fake and sterile "downtown" in the middle of the proverbial "corn field" that offers none of the true character that can be found in a real downtown. After reading the following article, I came away with a slightly different perspective....
Continue reading "From shopping centers to lifestyle centers - Los Angeles Times" »
Downtowns across the country have many elements that let us know we are in a interesting and magical place: the city.
Continue reading "Be generous to our street musicians..." »
The Admiral Benbow Hotel on South Jefferson has started to come down. The building is being demolished in order to build the RTA hub at Wright Stop Plaza. Mark Donaghy, RTA executive Director, wants the hub to be finished and opened within two years. The Hotel has been built with an unusual construction process making the destruction process slightly more difficult. The demolition is just under way and Donaghy believes that by summer the building will be grounded.
Benbow Hotel's demise to make way for RTA pavilion
Joanne Huist Smith
Dayton Daily News
Black bricks from the Admiral Benbow Hotel tumbled to the ground Thursday in a ceremonial start to demolition of the 13-story downtown eyesore. The building, adjacent to the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority's hub at Wright Stop Plaza, has been vacant since 1986. It's being demolished to make way for RTA's new public transit pavilion, which will replace bus stops on Main Street within the central business district...
Robert and Nancy Shiffer, the couple who renovated the Kuhns Building, have closed the deal on the McCrory Building. They signed the papers with the last owners and now will start taking the steps to turn the building into office space. The restoration of the building will cost around $1.5 million and should be completed by the end of 2007. The ground floor will feature some retail space along Main Street but the rest of the building will be offices.
Couple plan to restore building that housed McCrory's store
By Joanne Huist Smith
There's little left in the McCrory's building downtown to remind folks of the once-popular five-and-dime. The display cases are gone, so is the lunch counter. Ornate stairwell mirrors are broken.
Still, local entrepreneurs Robert and Nancy Shiffler saw beauty in the building at 29 S. Main St...
The brick crosswalks located between Monument Avenue and Sixth Street are going to be replaced in by concrete. Concrete will be a more durable option because the bricks are very high maintenance and costly to the city. The concrete replacements are said to be stamped to look like bricks. The bricks were installed in 1989 as part as the Main Street renovation project. The project is scheduled to start in 2008.
Brick Crosswalks to be replaced by concrete
By Joanne Huist Smith
Dayton Daily News
Dayton plans to replace brick crosswalks in its Central Business District with more durable concrete.
Link: Kuhns Building
It is nice to see Hafenbrack Marketing moving to Downtown. The firm, once located in Miamisburg is now taking up residence in the newly renovated Kuhn's Building on Fourth and Main Streets. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also home to the Better Business Bureau, AIDS Resource Center and the Information Technology Department of Five Rivers MetroParks. The Kuhn's Building was salvaged by Bob and nancy Shiffler who have been renovating historic residences.
Link: Woman's Club prepares to move back to mansion.
Dale Huffman, Dayton Daily News, October 17, 2006
The historic mansion at 225 N. Ludlow St. was the home of the Dayton Women's Club since November 1, 1916. In May, the Club had to leave the mansion because of financial reasons. Recently, the Club voted to reopen the mansion by a ratio of 3-to-1. They hope to have the mansion fully functional again by the end of November. They are going to be making the mansion a destination for weddings, parties, meetings, or lunch. Many other groups would be allowed membershop. "We will court working men and women and will offer memberships on different levels that would fit the lifestyle of those interested," Carol Houck, president pro-tem of the Women's Club board of directors, said.
Grocery shopping – it is a chore that some adore and others abhor. The sprawling Kroger with the Starbucks stand, salad bar, sushi bar, wine department, and cereal isle is the quintessential example of suburban convenience. We want Dorothy Lane Market for the finest meat and wine for our dinner party, Kroger for the weekly specials, low prices and consistent experience. We want Meijer or Walmart for that late night dash when we need a printer cartridge and some grapes. We want the gas station for the gallon of milk on the way home from work.
But if you live downtown, don’t you suffer from not having those conveniences? How do you manage without having a grocery store a five minute drive away? Believe it or not, “Where do you grocery shop?” is usually the very first question a suburban visitor will ask a downtown resident. Usually the answer is not really heard, I have found, because nobody actually cares about the answer. But people always ask.
I love having a myriad of grocery choices too and do not feel deprived or inconvenienced in this regard – though it took me a year to figure out where I prefer to shop. I am partial to shopping at the Meijer on Harshman Rd for my general grocery needs. I either hop on route 4 (7 minutes) or I drive down Valley Street (10 minutes.) There is also a GFS across the street, and some of the cheapest gas in town is near there. If I want fine meats and wine, I drive 10 minutes to Dorothy Lane Market in Oakwood. If I forgot to pick up something and need it quickly, I go 5 minutes to the Kroger on Wayne or to Russ’ Market on Main Street. We are looking forward to the day they build the new Kroger on Wayne, since everyone loves having a brand new grocery store with a new layout so close to home.
Grocery shopping definitely falls into the “chore I abhor” category in my book. It means I need to be organized enough to know what we will be eating for dinner during the week. I try to make my list in an order that follows my meandering through produce section and down each of the aisles. I have to make sure I have enough room in the trunk to accommodate all the bags. I try to avoid going when there are a lot of people in the store – first day of the month, on Saturday mornings, etc. This experience is no different than any other person’s grocery shopping trip.
The only unique part of my grocery shopping experience is most likely the unloading of groceries. If you have an attached garage (that is organized enough for you to park in) then you are leading the ideal life for grocery unloading convenience.
I venture to guess that the majority of people in the U.S. do not fall into that category. Like most other bossy women, I call my husband 2 minutes before I drive into the garage and say “I need help unloading the groceries.” If I have forgotten to bring it, he comes down with a handy fold up cart. (See, now the story gets interesting.)
Virtually every resident in our condo has access to one of these (and if I forget to bring mine down, I can borrow one of the 10 carts that are usually propped up in our communal garage and return it later.)
We fill it up with all the little plastic bags and I happily wheel it up the ramp and into the condo lobby. My husband lugs the 12 pack of beer and the 20lb. bag of dog food, while negotiating the door for me (always the gentleman.) We then take the elevator to our unit and wheel our way to the kitchen where we begin the mad dash to put everything away.
So there you have it…all the details of the mundane chore of grocery shopping. Now that we have covered that in more detail than you would ever want, do you have any other questions?
As simple an issue as this appears, it has actually been a hot button issue in several cities across the country. Those that agree with the effort to remove individual newspaper boxes and implement uniform and modular newspaper kiosks point out the fact that it will make downtown streets look nicer. Those opposed often point to first amendment issues; publishers seem to be the most vocally opposed and are concerned with kiosk slot assignments and marketing ability.
Replacing individual newspaper boxes with uniform modular kisok systems has been proposed and/or implemented in cities such as Manhattan Beach, CA, Chicago, Nashville, Boston and other cities. Hopefully Dayton city officials did their homework on this and are working with the media that would be affected.
Link: City will limit clusters of streetcorner newsboxes.
The Dayton City Commission on Wednesday established a Downtown Newsrack District, where individual newspaper boxes will be banned. They'll be replaced with black, modular racks with up to 12 containers.
"The intent isn't to eliminate the publications, because we want to be sensitive to their First Amendment rights," said Greg Gaines, director of planning for the Downtown Dayton Partnership. "The idea is to have a consistent, uniform look on all streets."
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