A 2008 Wish List for Dayton

The week between Christmas and New Years is usually a time for reflection, goal setting, and dreaming. In that spirit, I've put together a 2008 "wish list" for Dayton. Granted, I don't expect many of these things to happen in 2008; but, hey, you gotta start somewhere. Feel free to add to the list.

Light Rail in Norfolk VA

Norfolk, Virginia (population approximately 234,000) is going light rail, and the attached article may  have some lessons for Dayton. Thanks to "noozer" at UrbanOhio for providing the info!

15-Storey Condo Height Variance Approved

The height variance for the 15-storey condominiums at 15 Central Avenue overlooking the Great Miami and downtown was approved by the Dayton Board of Zoning Appeals on December 11. The hearing was on November 27, but the meeting minutes didn't come online until either yesterday or today. I wonder when we'll hear more about this project?

Arcade Owner Says Bid Is Too Low

The DDN this morning is reporting that Brownfield Charities is not responding to Bob Schiffler's offer to buy the Arcade because the "offer is too low." Now, you've got to ask yourself what kind of "koolaid" is Tony Staub drinking? You would think that an offer, any offer, to get the tax lien off his back and to bring the Arcade back to life would be greeted with hats and horns. After all, Danis gave him the five buildings as a gift to get the "white elephant" off his back. I thought Tony had the best interests of the community at heart, but I guess greed once again rears its ugly head. Hopefully, Bob Schiffler will hang in there and help Tony see reason. What say you?

The Great Dayton Disconnect

I had been meaning to write about this for some time now, and this recent article from the Columbus Dispatch inspired me to do it now (insert the name Dayton wherever you see the word Columbus):

Poll: Some don't link 'burbs, city
Sunday,  December 9, 2007 3:28 AM
By Darrel Rowland, Alan Johnson and Mark Niquette
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

If the core of Columbus and other Ohio cities fail, the problems they're experiencing will spread to the surrounding suburbs, exurbs and townships, experts warn.

If the core of Columbus and other Ohio cities fail, the problems they're experiencing will spread to the surrounding suburbs, exurbs and townships, experts warn.

As many as 30,000 central Ohio residents might consider living Downtown, poll results showed. Such "urban pioneers" would help fuel a revival Downtown, attracting stores, restaurants and entertainment to the city's core, one expert says.

Only about a third of the people who live around Columbus agree that a "strong link" exists between the health of the city and the health of the rest of the central Ohio region, poll results show.

Experts say Ohio's big cities will never get turned around until people who live in the surrounding suburbs and exurbs realize their areas' fates are linked to the health of the core city.

Without that understanding, the "why-should-I-care" attitude will not only thwart the cities' comebacks, but will contribute to a spread of urban problems into the very areas people fled to escape them.

But only about a third of the people who live in the areas surrounding Columbus buy into this concept, judging from a poll by Saperstein Associates. That portion agrees a "strong link" exists between the health of the city and the health of the rest of central Ohio. Another 36 percent see "somewhat of a link."

More Complete Streets

Here are some more Complete Streets examples.  If city leadership is looking for something to get behind, this is it.  This is the kind of thinking that allows other cities to grow and succeed.  Is Dayton ready to do the same?

From the DECEMBER 2007 issue of New Urban News

Cities redo streets for pedestrians, cyclists, transit

“Complete Streets” movement presses a growing number of cities to plan for multimodal transportation.

In 2003, bicyclists intent on obtaining safer routes for cycling concluded that they needed a slogan — one that would communicate their goal to the public clearly and forcefully. Instead of continuing to appeal for “routine accommodation” — the bureaucratic phrase they’d been relying on up to that point — they started demanding “Complete Streets.”
This new catchphrase — and the coalition that united behind it — are helping to usher in benefits for cyclists and pedestrians alike. In the four years since the program was approved by the advocacy group American Bikes, “Complete Streets” has been endorsed or promoted by CNU, AARP, the American Planning Association, the Active Living by Design Program and others.
“A lot of cities have recognized the problem and are trying to create real change,” says Jeffrey Tumlin of Nelson\Nygaard, a transportation consulting firm based in San Francisco. The emphasis varies from one locale to another, but the central goal, as defined by Barbara Gray and Grace Crunican of the Seattle Department of Transportation, is “policies and actions aimed at producing streets that are safe, accessible, and convenient for all users.”