The Featured Articles

This nominee, over the past year, has saved a home at 1000 W. Grand. He has completely rebuilt a collapsing wrap-around porch and is now engaged in a full restoration of the interior of that property. His work and attention to detail has been exemplary and we consider him a true asset to our Dayton View Historic District.

Additionally, Mr. and Mrs. Rashaed have completed the restoration of a double home at 624-626 Superior Avenue Both the interior and the exterior have been completely restored, true to its period architecture and decorated in a more contemporary style making a striking design style. They currently use it for short term rentals.

Both properties are viewed by our District residents and our Neighborhood Association Board as assets that were recovered from the brink of loss and put back into productive use for the community. Earlier this summer, each of these properties were featured in the Dayton View 2024 Historic Home Tour and were well received by all of the tourists.

The Five Oaks Historic Districts is pleased to nominate the Our Lady of Grace Parish for their diligent work to maintain the historic Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Particularly, we celebrate the 2023 exterior renovations, and although the original tile roof could not be saved, the pressed metal replacement is a fitting replica that retains the historic aesthetic.

Designed by architect William Russ, and built in 1911, the Corpus Christi Church was described at its dedication as projecting “an Old World picture” that “when the sun shines on the red tiled roof and white stucco walls … is as pleasing as it is rare (Dayton Herald). All the distinctive features remain today and include arched casement windows with art glass inserts, painted stucco with gold and blue scrollwork accents, and red tile(like) roof.

For over 110 years, this church, and its impressive Mission style and red roof, has stood at the corner of Forest and Homewood Aves, and because of the parish’s continued care, it has been a constant centerpiece of the Five Oaks neighborhood.

After driving by the corner of Huffman and 5th street almost everyday for nearly ten years, Kathleen Tandy was beyond excited when she started to see some changes being made to the commercial buildings that had been long neglected. As the time grew near for her to find a permanent location for her new business, Pink Moon Goods, she started to ask herself if this was the future home of her little shop. It only took stopping one time and peeping through the windows and then driving around the Huffman Neighborhood to convince her that Huffman was the place to be.

As much of the renovation happened before Kathleen settled into the new space she was excited to make it her own and to help add some vibrancy to this corner. One of the first things she noticed was a triangle concrete block right inside the front door. Having been in many historic buildings throughout her life she had a hunch that at one time there was a tile entryway and she was excited to add a little historic touch to the beautifully restored building. Working with the owners to create a design that reflected their Greek heritage she set out to create a lovely simple piece using small one inch tiles.

Being an avid gardener Kathleen was also excited to create some excitement at the corner by adding a garden on the park strip right at the corner. It’s a small but mighty garden where Kathleen is excited to change up a little each year. It features native plants and annual flowers as well as food. Last year there were butternut squash and this year she tried her hand at growing corn!

Being in this neighborhood is important to Kathleen as she sees her business as being pivotal to the overall transformation of the neighborhood and Dayton as whole. Interacting with the folks who live in Huffman continues to remind her each day of how impactful the presence of her business has been in stabilizing the area. Some of her favorite moments in the shop are when folks run in real quick to get laundry detergent, when a neighbor walks over barefoot for a card before they set out to a wedding, or when a kid comes in to play at the kitchen or spend their allowance on some stationery for their penpal.

During the over thirty years that he lived in McPherson Town (beginning in 1990), Bob Ruzinsky was instrumental in protecting, renovating, and revitalizing this historic neighborhood. He was directly responsible for renovating six homes (28 McDaniels, 21, 26, 27, 30, 225 McPherson). He was a member of the Neighborhood Development Corporation for many years, including at least 15 years as president. During that time, his leadership was instrumental in the renovation of 225 Riverview and the effort to build four “infill” houses (120 Floral, 120 Babbitt, 201 McPherson, 115 McDaniel). Bob represented NDC in the joint venture that renovated the Hawthorne School into apartments in 1997. He was also involved in acquiring the land that is now the McPherson Town Neighborhood Park, and the early improvements that made it a park. These things would not have been accomplished without Bob’s investment, leadership, and dedication.

An essential character of our neighborhood was defined when the access from Main Street was closed. Bob was instrumental in the installation of the protective barriers that stop automobile traffic, but not pedestrians, at the ends of McPherson and Babbitt streets. These barriers are planters and trees, which enhance the “leafy” character of our streets.

Bob was an early force in developing our biennial Holiday Home Tours, which began in 1993. He helped establish the format of guided tours to about 10 homes in the neighborhood, including a stop for refreshments. Much of the process and planning that we follow every other year were developed by Bob. This event showcases the best aspects of historic neighborhoods for our visitors, displaying the way that renovation can preserve historic character and also blend in updates that make these homes eminently livable. A later innovation instituted by Bob, and an example of his creativity, was to include a house that was in the process of renovation. The incomplete portions of the house reveal the way that structural and design considerations must be resolved together. This event does even more for us residents by pulling the neighborhood together in a large effort shared by nearly everyone.

If it weren’t for creative visionaries and dedicated community-builders like Tim and Sharon Patterson, the area known as Burns-Jackson would have never become the Oregon Historic District—the thriving historic neighborhood that sparked the historic preservation movement in Dayton.

In 1973, the Patterson’s purchased the Eastlake mansion built by John H. Balsley, the inventor of the step ladder, and began a forty-year journey of inspiring many of their friends, neighbors, and city leaders to transform the blighted area near East Fifth and Wayne Avenue that many dubbed “Filth and Wine.”

The Pattersons lovingly restored the Balsley Mansion as their family home, retaining its remarkable millwork, hardwood floors, marble mantels, ornate windows, and 14-foot ceilings that are still marked with height of 1913 flood waters. In the meantime, Tim shared his remarkable carpentry and renovation talents by working on almost every house in the district. It’s easier for Tim to walk through the neighborhood to point out the few houses he did not work on rather than many that benefited from his passion for historic preservation and quality craftsmanship.

The Pattersons were also instrumental in saving the 1888 Romanesque Revival church that had stood vacant for nearly 15 years at the corner of Cass and Clay streets. When many thought the church was beyond saving, the Pattersons were stewards of this irreplaceable neighborhood landmark. Tim then helped Karl Williams gain support and navigate City Hall to turn the church into a world-class rock-climbing center, The Urban Krag, which opened in 1996 and is celebrating its 28 th year in business.

The Pattersons then undertook the renovation of the Central Baptist Church into four breathtaking, market-rate condominiums—including one as their residence. The Romanesque Revival church was built between 1888 and 1882 is one of the finest examples of a historic church reuse in the nation and is an inspiration for saving the many Dayton churches that are facing closure and vacancy.

Along the way, the Pattersons opened two successful businesses on East Fifth Street, the Nite Owl Coffee Shop (which served the best peanut butter milkshakes on the planet), now the location of Blind Bob’s; and the 5 th Street Gallery gift shop, now the location of the Culture restaurant and doing business as Zig Zag in Centerville. But even more remarkable than their commitment to historic preservation are the Pattersons’ generous commitment to creating a caring and fun community in the Oregon District. They have opened their home for countless holiday and autumn home tours, hosted neighborhood New Year’s Eve parties, housed visiting artists and students, pulled up asphalt to expose historic brick streets, volunteered for neighborhood clean- ups and improving Newcom Park, worked on the historic street light maintenance team, served on the Oregon Historic District Society board, and been generous and kind friends to all who have lived in the Oregon District.

Marjorie Harrell transformed a group of vacant homes, connected by a past owner into a homeless shelter, into seven stunning apartments in Historic South Park. This labor of love came from the desire to upgrade the community and tackle a project that was daunting and complicated in a way that kept others from taking it on.

The former Daybreak runaway shelter was transfigured in a dormitory, institution style that was so far from the original historic single-family homes that no other use could be imagined by other investors. Marjorie and her partner Hans Wollenberg bravely moved forward with the goal of making something out of the property that their neighbors would be proud of with the assistance of architect Matt Sauer, a former South Park resident himself. The result, Slidertown Apartments (815-819 Wayne Ave.), opened to new residents this year for the first time after being vacant since 2015. The 8,500 square foot property was originally built in the 1920’s as two separate single-family homes.

The apartments range from 650-1,300 square feet with unique layouts and beautiful finishes, with historic elements and large windows complimenting modern conveniences. The transformation took several years and, sadly, Hans passed away before its completion. The exterior of the property has been restored and is a bright spot along Wayne Avenue.

Marjorie, who moved into South Park in 2018, continues to take on difficult neighborhood projects and has multiple other vacant distressed properties in various stages of renovations. She is returning a duplex to its original single-family status on Perrine St. and has renovated a former bookstore into an artist studio space for the Mosaic Institute. Marjorie stepped forward and acquired a significant neighborhood eyesore and problem on Alberta St. and has secured the property for future renovations, much to the gratitude of the neighborhood.

The restoration and improvement of Historic South Park property is the most visual of Marjorie’s contribution to the fabric of the neighborhood. Her desire to help others behind the scenes has had an equal impact. She is the first to help neighbors in need, offering help with animals, yardwork, transportation, and responding to any cry for help. Marjorie’s preservation work by bringing vacant properties back to productive use has indeed made South Park proud and grateful to call her neighbor.

In May of 2008, Joe Dierkers received a call from a neighbor, Brian Young. Joe and his wife, Barb, had just bought a house in St. Anne’s Hill. They had not met, but Brian had heard that Joe was a real estate broker. He told Joe of his idea to purchase a run-down, grungy old bar on E. 5th Street, in the middle of the neighborhood. The building had been a bar since the 1930s, originally known as Jo-Jo’s but since renamed as The American Saloon. Brian’s idea was to operate it as a neighborhood gathering spot and, in the process, improve what was a major eyesore. He asked for my help to get this project off the ground. That began a 4-year project that is now the 5th St. Brew-Pub. Their research started with a visit to the American Saloon to have a beer. It was dark, dirty, smelly and almost devoid of customers. They contacted the owner who offered to sell for $85,000. What he didn’t tell them was the property was in default on its land contract and behind in taxes. They then contacted the actual owner of the building in Tennessee, who offered to sell the buildings for $15,000. They wouldn’t get the liquor license, but it was loaded with unpaid fees, so they didn’t want it anyway. Next, Brain and Joe visited several other neighborhood bars (ordering beers at each place was, of course, a research necessity) and found that many were viable businesses. In 2008, the economic climate was cloudy, but after talking to neighbors and friends, they were able to raise over $50,000 by forming an LLC and selling shares. The pair negotiated the purchase, and soon after taking ownership on October 10th, 2010, began the rehab process. At this point, they had a company, they had shareholders, and a building, but they still had no idea of how to move forward. The primary issue was with the deteriorated conditions of the two-building property they just bought. The main building is a 2-story commercial structure built in 1856 as a grocery store and living quarters for the grocer’s family. The outside stairway to that apartment was rotted and missing several steps. The bar room windows had been covered and the ceiling dropped making the inside dark and dingy, and potentially adding to the musty and unpleasant smell. The wood bar (circa 1933) was the only fixture of value. The mechanical systems were old and of questionable serviceability. The roof leaked, and the whole building was ugly. It had been spray painted with an industrial gray color, or anyway, that’s what could be told from what little paint remained. The 900 SF house next door, which had been the manager’s home was in even worse condition. Several people suggested that it be demolished, which was not a bad idea. Daunting as it seemed, the neighborhood got behind the project, not only financially, but with sweat equity. The demolition day had about 30 people getting really dirty, but the interior was opened up. A new roof and new windows were installed, and the exterior was painted “Deeds Barn Green”. Even with all these renovations, the duo was struggling with what to do next. That was when Brian received a call from a friend who was passing through Austin, Texas. He stopped at a bar that had recently opened under “Co-Op” ownership. It was the first such enterprise in the US. Brian flew to Austin over Memorial Day weekend, and talked to the board members. He flew back with a plan already in his head. Brain and Joe quickly formed an LLC and offered shares at $100 each to anyone who would listen in order to judge the viability of the idea. In three weeks, we had 850 members, $85,000 new investment capital, and more enthusiasm than could be measured. The Fifth Street Brew Pub was opened later that year as the first Co-Op Brew Pub in Ohio. The Brew Pub is now in its second decade, and two historic structures that could easily have been demolished have been renovated and maintained, serving as a real focal point for the commercial corridor of E. 5th Street. Brew Pub membership is now over 3,500. It survived Covid and the explosive growth in the number of competitive brew pubs since 2012. Another benefit accruing to St. Anne’s Hill is that in 2010 there were eight vacant commercial buildings on our two blocks of E. 5th, and now there is only one. A co-op brew pub was not the initial idea, but it’s become so much more. It would not have happened without the vision and motivational skills of Brain Young and Joe Dierkers.

Carli and Hamilton Dixon purchased three abandoned commercial buildings (811, 817, and 905 E. Third St.) in 2009 and began years of work breathing life back into the buildings. The 18,000 square foot building, now housing the Brightside, was filled with abandoned clothes, trash, and debris. The couple cleaned out the building, restored all its services, and renovated in into what has become a beautiful, sought-after event venue and home to live music and entertainment. The once-abandoned coal depot, homeless shelter, and more now boasts a ballroom, a sunny loft space, a bar, and a beautiful patio and grounds.

The Dixons never intended to own a music and event venue, but it suits them well. Their mission is to bring people together to celebrate love, enjoy art, and build stronger community bonds…and have a good time while doing it!

When they first acquired the property, they hoped to create the community in which we wanted to live. Both Dixon’s have been business owners Downtown for decades. Carli is the co-owner of Bloombeads by freezeframe (bloombeads.com), a local company that has specialized in preserving meaningful flowers as jewelry and art since 1996. Hamilton is a local metal sculptor (hamiltondixon.com) whose work can be seen at the Dayton Art Institute, The University of Dayton, and Hospice of Dayton, along with many other public and private installations. Both businesses are housed in their compound of buildings on E. Third St.

The renovation and activation of the Dixon properties on E. Third St. has galvanized the clean-up and restoration of the many other properties along the street, making a once blighted empty corridor a destination for food, entertainment, weddings, and other events. The live music programming has filled a void in Dayton and has drawn fun and quality music to the City’s core.

The impact of the Dixon’s dream and its fruition is far-reaching and has contributed greatly to Downtown Dayton’s renaissance. The Dixon’s had the vision, courage, and creativity to lead the charge and make a personal and financial investment in Downtown before many others did.

In 2017, Sandy Mendelson, the former owner of Mendelson’s Surplus, passionate promoter of downtown Dayton, and custodian of the historic Delco manufacturing buildings, told the Dayton Daily News that he brought Crawford Hoying from Columbus in 2014 to look at his buildings. Mendelson went on to tell the reporter, “I wanted to sell to someone who would do the right thing for Dayton, because Dayton has meant a lot to me…I just think Crawford Hoying is a group we can depend on. If they say it’s raining outside, put a raincoat on. They don’t play games…and Jason Woodard, he’s a shaker and a baker.”

Indeed, Crawford Hoying and Woodard Development have “shaked and baked” and done the right thing for Dayton. Beginning in 2013, the developers have transformed the area surrounding the Dayton Dragon’s Stadium into the vibrant Water Street District. Their monumental and high-quality investments include five new apartment communities, the Moeller Brew Barn, two new hotels, two additional restaurants, plus the massive eight-story building that is now The Delco, home to 160 new market-rate apartments.

Far exceeding the standards of many other real estate developers, the partners have combined sensitive, place-based new construction and historic preservation to create a truly unique work, play, and live environment in southwest Ohio. While many other midwestern cities have lost the architecture of their industrial past, Crawford Hoying and Woodard have preserved the unique history of Charles F. Kettering and Dayton’s legacy of manufacturing and technical innovation for generations to come.

The massive Delco manufacturing complex is actually larger than the Dayton Arcade and was especially daunting to other potential developers—but not Crawford Hoying and Woodard. Just clearing Mendelsons, which was packed with hundreds of thousands of items, possibly millions, was a major effort. The partners also carefully maintained the industrial character of both the Delco Lofts and The Delco apartments by matching the original large-scale industrial windows, retaining the concrete mushroom columns and floors, and preserving the high ceilings. Delco Lofts also retained “Boss Kettering”’s office space as a community room for residents. And many Dayton residents were especially thrilled when Crawford Hoying and Woodard preserved The Delco’s iconic black water tower, a symbol of Dayton’s history of innovation and the dynamic future that the partners have created for our city.

Many preservationists talk about standing in front of the “bulldozer” to save a historic building, but very few have actually done it —unless you are Ben Sutherly, the President of the Troy Historic Preservation Alliance.

Stopping the bulldozers poised for an unlawful demolition at 4 a.m. were just a few of the many cliff-hangers that the Troy Historic Preservation Alliance (THPA) overcame in their four-year journey to save the IOOF Building/old Miami County Courthouse, an irreplaceable landmark in Troy’s historic downtown.

The remarkable Greek Revival Miami County Courthouse was built in 1840-41 and is one of the oldest standing courthouses in Ohio. In 1846, Ohio’s Black Laws required nearly 400 formerly enslaved people to register with the Clerk of Courts. These citizens, the Randolph Freedpeople from Virginia, were the largest single migration of African-Americans to a free state prior to the Civil War. In 1902, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows removed the Greek Revival façade and added a three-story brick Richardsonian Romanesque Revival building to the front. The new building became a historic anchor in a block of century-old storefronts.

The historic structure was snatched from the jaws of demolition multiple times beginning in 2020, when the owner refused to repair tornado damage to the façade. After nearly three years of legal appeals, contradictory structural assessments, and staving off demolition orders, the THPA took on the daunting challenge of buying the building – at full asking price, sight unseen. They pledged to raise $850,000 to stabilize the historic structure in just four short months from January to April 2024 or allow its demolition. Thanks to the THPA’s tenacity and leadership, the organization rallied adjacent property owners, many generous individuals, businesses, and nonprofits to meet the challenge.

As the new owner, the THPA is preparing the building for its next chapter. Displays to tell the story of the building’s remarkable history—including the Randolph Freedpeople, the era of the IOOF lodge, popular Troy restaurants and businesses through the 1980s, and the recent struggles and successes to save it. The THPA is also working on nominating the building to the National Register of Historic Places and protecting it with a conservation easement to ensure that the building is sold to an owner who will protect the building’s place in Ohio’s history for generations to come.

After a tornado hit Troy in January 2020, damaging more than a dozen commercial structures, the owner of the historic building refused to make repairs. The Troy Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals narrowly approved the demolition in October and November, 2021. With growing grassroots support, the Troy Historic Preservation Alliance (THPA) worked with adjacent property owners to appeal the City’s decision to the Miami County Common Pleas Court. The Court overturned the City’s demolition decision in October, 2022 and the Second District Court of Appeals upheld that decision in March 2023. The owner, under the cover of darkness, then attempted to demolish the building before Sutherly’s standoff and a court order stopped him. The THPA’s efforts spared the historic landmark from demolition—but only temporarily.

Several engineering assessments commissioned by neighboring property owners, the City of Troy, the owner, and Miami County varied in their conclusions about the building’s stability. In June 2023, Miami County Building officials asked the court to order the building demolished due to safety risks. The judge refused. The next day, the City closed West Main Street, Troy’s busiest thoroughfare. For eight months, the closed street caused difficult conditions for downtown businesses. In December 2023, through a court-mediated settlement, the THPA agreed to buy the building and settle all legal disputes with a commitment to stabilize the IOOF Building/old Miami County Courthouse by the end of April 2024, or the building would be demolished.

The result was a remarkably successful fundraising effort by the Troy Historic Preservation Alliance and numerous, generous supports who invested more than $950,000 into the building to stabilize it and restore its place as a key downtown asset.

This nomination was excerpted from:
–“The Last Courthouse War” by Ben Sutherly, Spring 2024, Revitalize Ohio, a Heritage Ohio Publication pp. 25-26
— The THPA’s presentation after purchasing the building https://www.thpatroy.org/support
— Read more about the THPA’s effort to save the IOOF Building/old Miami Court House and numerous articles in the Dayton Daily News which covered the unfolding story.

A life-long Daytonian, urban designer & planner, community-builder, and historic preservationist, John Gower’s creativity, dedication, and perseverance inspires us all to make Dayton a better place to live.

Like his place-making soulmates and fellow “Dayton Walk of Fame” recipients, Jean Woodhull and Alice Woodward, John has never sought credit or recognition for his ideas, sweat equity, and devotion to our city.

John received his “Placemaking Engineering” degree at the University of Cincinnati’s School of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. As Dayton’s population moved to the suburbs, John and his classmate Jeff Wray drove back to Dayton throughout the week to board up abandoned houses in the Dayton View neighborhood where John grew up and still lives. With a background in architecture and planning, John devoted his career as Dayton’s Downtown Urban Design & Planner and the Director of Community Development and is now the Urban Design Director for CityWide Development Corporation.

In addition to his day job, John created and led the non-profit Living City Project, at Ludlow and East Fifth Street from 1988–1995. But the Living City Project was much more than a location. John’s vision ignited the future potential of downtown Dayton when few had hope for our declining city. Here’s just a few ways John’s creativity and resourcefulness and the Living City Project engaged our community to believe in a better future. Traveling side-walk cafes popped up when there was absolutely no outdoor dining in the city and “pop-ups” weren’t even a thing. Historic photographs appeared magically at their original locations to inspire a more livable, greener, and welcoming city, like Metroparks’ beautiful cascading water features inspired by the Miami-Erie Canal locks and the historic fountains and gardens that once lined Patterson Boulevard. “Talking Building Tours” made our architectural treasures come alive to tell us what they had to say about our past and our future And an inspiring speaker and movie series at the Neon and Dayton Art Institute (CityShape/City Scape 1986–1990) featured internationally recognized urbanists like William (Holly) Whyte, Jane Jacobs, and others to educate us on why place-making is essential to the heart beat of a city. Without a doubt, John’s Living City Project was a catalyst for the downtown Renaissance we are experiencing today.

But there’s more. Because of John’s vision and collaboration:
—two National Register historic facades were saved and integrated into the RTA center and now grace the corner of Third and Main
—the RTA also renovated the Romanesque church at West Third and Edwin C. Moses as the RTA Community Center
—the “Decoding Dayton” youtube series of more than 15 videos uncovers fascinating and beautiful historic buildings and areas of our city
—and Private Fair, the Civil War Union soldier’s statue, was moved from the north bank of the Miami River back to its original location at Main Street and Monument Avenue. John hopes the Civil War-era statue is a daily reminder of the healing and “fairness”; still needed in the greater Dayton community. The relocation of Private Fair back to Main Street triggered the Main Street streetscape overhaul of 1992/93, which resulted in the removal of two traffic lanes being replaced with streetscape.

And then there’s John undying faith and devotion to seeing the Arcade brought back to life. He, along with fellow PDI Life-time Achievement recipient, Dave Williams, worked diligently to attract viable developers and investors to revitalize this irreplaceable landmark. And again behind the scenes, Johnworked diligently and mostly single-handedly to clean gutters and stop the water damage in the massive nine-building complex—until Cross Street Partners, the Model Group, and McCormack Baron Salazar renovated and opened the landmark in 2019 after it was shuttered for 30 years.

John also led efforts to preserve Dayton’s historic residential neighborhoods and the architectural heritage of our city. John’s work as a city planner, under the direction of Paul Woodie, and as Director of Community Development, helped to create and support Dayton’s Historic District Zoning. Today, 13 locally designated historic districts and 70 local landmarks are protected from demolition without review and approval from the Landmarks Commission. And our city’s thriving historic districts have seen a 122 percent increase in property values compared to .07 percent in non-historic districts from 1996-2022.

As the Director of Planning from 2001 to 2011, John advanced and oversaw the overhaul and replacement of the auto/suburban zoning code that was adopted in the 1960’s. From 2003 to 2006 (under the steady hand of Aaron Sorrell), a new place and form-based code was shaped and adopted. It is was/is a key pivot in that the Code embedded place-based urban design principles and policies to ensure that – going forward – Dayton would have institutionalized place-based principles and context-sensitive in the form of a code that carried forward the Urban Design Guidelines that were adopted in the 1990’s (and are still in place as planning policy today).

On a personal level, John also “walks-the-talk” of place-making and saving Dayton’s unique historic neighborhoods. John continues to live in the Dayton View Historic District where he was raised. His home is a stellar example of a beautifully restored Classic Queen Anne. Don’t miss John as he shares his historic home repair advice in Preservation Dayton’s “How to Renovate Right” video series.

John Gower’s place-making ethic and creative vision have truly made our community and our region a better place. John definitely deserves to be honored with Preservation Dayton’s Life-time Achievement Award.