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Virtual Grand Opening Set For The Hub at Dayton Arcade

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The University of Dayton and the Entrepreneurs’ Center will host a public grand opening for The Hub Powered by PNC Bank at the Dayton Arcade. At 95,000 square feet, it is among the largest university-anchored innovation hubs in the country, including shared and private office spaces, meeting rooms, conference areas, pop-up retail opportunities, learning labs and classrooms. The virtual event will be at 5:30 pm on Thursday, March 4th.

 

“We could not be more excited for the Hub to become a reality,” said Eric F. Spina, president of the University of Dayton. “This is a ‘triple play’ for the University of Dayton in that it provides excellent learning opportunities for our students; facilitates greater collaboration and connection between our faculty, research staff and students and the greater Dayton entrepreneurial ecosystem; and will help reinvigorate a key part of our city’s downtown and the historic Arcade that was vacant for decades. This truly is a great day for UD and for Dayton.”

“The Hub is visible proof that Dayton’s long heritage of innovation remains vibrant, healthy and growing,” said Scott Koorndyk, president of the Entrepreneurs’ Center. “In one space, we’ve brought together the support, talent and energy that small businesses and entrepreneurs need to be successful. We are thrilled to join our partners at the University of Dayton and PNC Bank in making the Hub a catalyst for the future of our region’s innovation economy.”

“Our goal in supporting the Hub was to foster collaboration, which is the key to success,” said David Melin, PNC regional president for Dayton. “The Hub Powered by PNC Bank will serve as a catalyst that will merge creative ideas from students, entrepreneurs, businesses and the community to create a stronger future for the region.”

The virtual grand opening will include videos with entrepreneurs and UD faculty introducing Hub spaces, such as:

  • Innovation Hall, where the Entrepreneurs’ Center offers comprehensive business and commercialization support services, along with its Small Business Development Center; and the University has offices for the L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, a satellite office of the Greater West Dayton Incubator to drive equitable access and inclusion, as well as others;
  • UD’s studios for painting, printmaking, photo and graphic design for students and faculty;
  • UD’s The GEM, a non-traditional learning space that connects the University and city with a focus on community-centered approaches to social innovation;
  • A representative workspace that showcases the environment that entrepreneurs and small businesses can find at the Hub; and
  • A café with a menu that will be intentionally curated by the Greater West Dayton Incubator to feature underrepresented entrepreneurs.

The event also will feature a panel discussion with Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, City Manager Shelley Dickstein, PNC’s Melin, developer Cross Street Partners CEO Bill Struever, University of Dayton’s Spina and the Entrepreneurs’ Center’s Koorndyk. The grand opening will conclude with a blessing and a ribbon-tying ceremony to symbolize the coming together of all the partners and stakeholders that have made the project possible and will be involved in the Hub going forward.

Vince Lewis, president of The Hub

Local entrepreneurs and startups are currently working in the Hub or making plans to move in during the coming weeks. Additionally, university classes will begin in the space as public health conditions allow beginning in fall 2021.

“The Hub Powered by PNC Bank could fundamentally shift how universities and community partners collaborate in support of startup ecosystems,” said Vince Lewis, president of The Hub Powered by PNC Bank and director of UD’s Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. “I think the thing that I am most excited about is the opportunity for University of Dayton students to be down here, connected into the startup ecosystem in a space where they’re working with students from all over campus, working with local entrepreneurs and other local businesses. All that connection and opportunity is really what we envisioned years ago when we first started down this down this path. You can’t understate the impact that this project has on the city, especially right now. Since UD signed our letter of intent with The Entrepreneurs Center back in 2017, the Arcade has been a project that people say is never going to happen. And that’s been driven into the psyche of the community. The Hub opening and getting off the ground really resonates the feeling that Look, things are happening, things are moving forward! This will have a huge impact on the psyche of the city and how we feel about downtown.”

Additionally, UD and the Entrepreneurs’ Center will host community programming. This will include the University’s Flyer Pitch competition, one of the largest business plan competitions at the collegiate level; small business acceleration programs; the Dayton Arcade Entrepreneur Academy; summer internships; and opportunities to participate in other competitions and programs.

To join the grand opening, visit Youtube.

Celebrating the Revival of The Arcade

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With the first phase of the restoration of the Dayton Arcade nearing completion, ThinkTV, the Dayton Metro Library and Cross Street Partners have teamed up for a week-long celebration of the history and future of the iconic Dayton Arcade.

An exhibit of the Dayton Arcade’s rich history will be on display at the Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third Street. The exhibit, featuring memorabilia from the early history of the Arcade and the Save the Arcade campaign, will be on display through February in the Dayton Room on the Main Library’s second floor. The photographs, art and artifacts can be viewed in the windows of the Dayton Room. Visitors who wish to go inside the room should call the library at 937-463-2665 to schedule a time for their visit.

“We’re pleased to host this look at the Arcade’s grand past,” said Special Collections Manager Jamie McQuinn. “The Dayton Room is home to hundreds of vintage photos of the city of Dayton, and the Arcade has long been one of its greatest gems.”

To continue the week-long celebrating, ThinkTV will premiere the first of their three-part documentary – Dayton Arcade: Waking the Giant – at 9pm on Monday, November 16, on ThinkTV16. It will also be made available on the ThinkTV website and on the PBS Video App. The first part of this exclusive, local documentary gives a behind-the-scenes look at the beginning phases of the restoration of the Dayton Arcade with the remaining two-parts of the documentary expected to premiere later in the year of 2021.

“The Dayton Arcade documentary is a story that reflects the hope, resilience and future of the Dayton community. Capturing this story while this transformation has been happening behind historic walls has been nothing short of a privilege for our team to work on,” ThinkTV President and CEO Kitty Lensman said.

Excitement is stirring in anticipation of the reveal of the Dayton Arcade’s transformation. Cross Street Partners oversaw this massive project from the beginning and have worked to ensure that the historical beauty has been preserved while maximizing functionality.

“Cross Street Partners, Model Group and McCormack Baron Salazar are working to recast the building in much the same way it was initially developed in the first decade of the 20th century — with a mix of retail, offices, event space and apartment housing. The first phase of the project, the South Arcade, will consist of an innovation center with the University of Dayton as a higher education partner in addition to a 110-unit residential LIHTC and market rate development for artists and creative entrepreneurs. The second phase, the North Arcade, will include a shared commercial kitchen program, a marketplace retail and restaurant environment, and micro-lofts or hospitality user space,” said David Williams, senior director of development of Cross Street Partners.

To learn more about ThinkTV’s three-part documentary, visit www.thinktv.org/dayton-arcade. For additional information about the Library’s exhibit, visit www.DaytonMetroLibrary.org or call 937-463- 2665. Details about the renovation of the Dayton Arcade can be found at www.arcadedayton.com and @DaytonArcade on social media.

City Signs MOU to Begin Arcade Redevelopment

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The City of Dayton has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Cross Street Partners (Baltimore, MD) and Dayton-based Miller-Valentine Group to begin redevelopment efforts for the Dayton Arcade.

Cross Street Partners, in conjunction with Miller-Valentine, is in the early stages of seeking housing tax credits that, if successful, will provide 60 affordable housing units targeted for artistic and creative residents in downtown Dayton.

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photo courtesy of Tom Gilliam.

These units would be the first such opportunity in the Dayton region. The first phase of the project will focus on the historic Commercial Building (Fourth at Ludlow) and the Fourth Street apartment building.

“When I started the Arcade Task Force, my biggest concern was to ensure that our efforts would give us enough time to make the best decision for our taxpayers,” said Mayor Nan Whaley. “I am excited that we have partnered with a developer who has a long track record in successful adaptive reuse of historic buildings and urban mixed use development.”

“The state historic tax credit program, combined with federal historic tax incentives, will help develop the Arcade into something that is new, different and engaging,” said Steve Petitjean, Senior Vice President & Market Manager for Fifth Third Bank and Arcade Task Force co-chair.

An application to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency will be submitted in February of this year, with the hope that the project will receive an award later this year and begin development in 2017.

Last year, at the recommendation of the Arcade Task Force, the City Commission voted to award a contract valued at $700,000 to Miller-Valentine Group’s commercial construction division for emergency repairs to the multi-building complex.

David Bohardt, Arcade Task Force co-chair and Executive Director of St. Vincent de Paul said, “By making the necessary emergency repairs, we have given the developer team a chance to assemble a sound project and secure any financing they might need.”

The seven-building, 400,000-sq.-ft. property is a challenging project for any developer. However, the unique grouping of buildings and inspirational architecture represents a unique place-making opportunity for Dayton.

“The Arcade has a storied history and tremendous potential as a key anchor for downtown Dayton,” said, Bill Struever, Principal, Cross Street Partners. “We (Cross Street) take great joy in creating spaces that bring people and ideas together to create magical, high energy places in cities like Dayton.”

Capitalizing on the diverse pool of artistic and creative activities and functions in the Dayton area represents an opportunity to rethink the Arcade as a center for creativity. The upper floors of the buildings are well-suited for a mix of market-rate and affordable residential uses. The presence of creative residents and activities may inspire other investments.

Ed Blake, CEO Commercial, Miller-Valentine Group, said, “Dayton is not unlike many cities that basically have a stock of beautiful and historic buildings that are sitting empty and deteriorating. Once this project is completed, we hope the Arcade will serve as blueprint for other redevelopment ideas.”

Exploring Dayton’s Public History

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TAS

George Willeman was featured in the documentary THESE AMAZING SHADOWS.

Each year, the public history students at Wright State University hold a graduate symposium to enable them to present their research and capstone projects. If you love local history, you won’t want to miss some of the great stories these students have discovered.

PLUS: The featured speaker this year is George Willeman (pictured right), Library of Congress Film Vault curator and WSU film grad.

The symposium will be held on Friday, March 14, in the WSU Student Union. The Symposium is free, but please RSVP by March 7. RSVP by calling the Wright State University Archives at 937-775-2092 or register at http://www.libraries.wright.edu/calendar/events.php.  Free parking is available in the Visitor Lot of the Student Union. See map at www.wright.edu/university-maps/campus-maps.

It’s a full day of great local history compiled by the students. The schedule includes:

8:15-9:00 Registration and Refreshments

9:00-9:15 Welcome

9:15-10:00 Keynote Speaker, George Willeman, Library of Congress Nitrate Film Vault  Manager

10:00-10:15 Break – Snacks provided

10:15-11:15 Session I: The Legacy of World War I

  • Kaitlyn Goss: “Miami Valley African-American Communities During World  War I”
  •  Karis Raeburn: “The Amazing Adventures of Alice Carr”
  •  Kyle Yoho: “A Long Way from Home: The Story of Clark County Men Serving  with the 324th Field Artillery in the Great War”

11:15-12:45 Lunch – Enjoy a meal at the Student Union or one of the many area restaurants

12:45-1:00 Introduction to Wright State University’s Public History Program, Dawne Dewey, Head of Special Collections and Archives and Director of  Public History

1:00-2:00 Session II: Interpreting Local History 

  • Christopher Erb: “Dayton and Its Gem of an Arcade”
  •  Seth Marshall: “Interpreting the Battleship: USS Indiana”
  •  Rebekkah Mulholland: “A Forty-year old Legacy: The Unique History of  Wright State University”

2:00-2:30 Poster Session and Break- Snacks provided

2:30-3:10 Session III: Women with Nerve 

  • Sarah Aisenbrey: “Virginia Kettering: A Legacy in Dayton”
  •  Marcus Manchester: “The Legacy of Dorothy Stang”

3:10-3:15 Public History 40th Anniversary Preview

3:15-3:30 Closing Remarks

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Friends of the Dayton Arcade Claim There’s A New Deal and Restoration Will Start Soon

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Arco12

The following email was sent out yesterday, and promises more news will be revealed soon….

Dear Patient Friend of the Dayton Arcade,

It is with the greatest joy and excitement that we share with you the news from Dayton Arcade LLC-Gunther Berg which we received this morning.  This is truly an historic day for Dayton!

An agreement between Gunther and the newly formed Dayton Arcade Development Group (DADG) has been reached which will allow the Arcade plan to move forward.  The partners and members will be named in the next few days.

An additional agreement concerning the unpaid property taxes on the Arcade Complex has been reached between the Dayton Arcade LLC and Montgomery County.

A timeline for work on the Arcade complex has been developed and it is anticipated that the long awaited restoration will begin soon.

Because of your interest in the future of the Arcade, your past support and great patience, Gunther wanted you to be among the first to hear this important news!

We anticipate more activity for Friends and will keep you as aware as possible as the project develops.

With great appreciation for your loyalty,

Sincerely,

Joanne Granzow, Maribeth Graham, Susan Gruenberg and Leon Bey, Founder and President

 

Gem City Circle Walking Tours: Sharing the legacy of Downtown Dayton

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Historians Leon Bey and Nancy Roach of Gem City Circle Walking Tours

Some local historians are offering a unique look into the vibrancy of a city’s past, and the possibilities of an exciting, expansive future.

Leon Bey and Nancy Roach, of Gem City Circle Walking Tours, have recently begun their fifth season of walking tours for downtown Dayton, highlighting the famous and not-so-famous aspects of Dayton history.

Bey and Roach met five years ago in a manner that Roach characterized as “fate.”

“It was meant to be,” said Roach. “I was doing research in the local history room at the [Dayton Metro] library. I asked the librarian down there if he could help me with some of the information. It was Leon, who just happened to be working as a substitute that day.

“We starting talking about our interest in the community. So I asked him, ‘Would you like to research with me and do a walking tour of downtown?’  He looked at me and said, ‘I have a walk and I’m looking for someone to do it with me!'”

The walks were born on that day.

The duo’s excitement and enthusiasm for Dayton’s rich heritage is evident to anyone who goes “walkin’ and talkin'” with them on one of their leisurely downtown walking tours, which are given on the first and last weekends of the month.

Bey and Roach weave together historical accounts, personal recollections and photographic images to create a vivid experience.  That experience is often reciprocated when local residents share recollections of their own visits to downtown theaters, department stores and businesses long gone. “Some of the people on the tours, the older people, they have great memories,” said Bey.

The old Journal Herald building at 111 E. Fourth Street. Look familiar? It's currently occupied by the night club Hammerjax.

The tours, however, do more than simply highlight the city’s past – they also offer glimpses into possible strategic re-uses of some of downtown’s historic structures like the Dayton Arcade, which was purchased last year by two developers who are intent on restoring the beautiful, five-building complex to its former glory. (Leon Bey founded “Friends of the Dayton Arcade”, a non-profit group dedicated to raising awareness and money for the future development of the Dayton Arcade.)

Far from just revisiting the glories of days gone by, the walks also examine the cultural, social and economic contributions of various ethnic groups and nationalities in the area.  The tours provide a very street-level perspective of Dayton history. Many topics are discussed: The 1913 Dayton Flood, Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Dayton and the history of department stores founded in Dayton are explored.

Gem City Circle Walking Tours offers these programs (partial listing):

  • Oregon Arts District
  • Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders
  • Miami & Erie Canal Walk of Downtown Dayton
  • Historic Downtown Dayton’s Main Street
  • Ludlow Street

The fee for each walk is $10. Tours are approximately 3 hours long, with scheduled breaks, including an hour for lunch.  Advance reservations are required. Groups are welcome.

For walk reservations or additional information, contact Leon Bey at 937-274-4749 or grantsguru501c3@yahoo.com.