These awards recognize and celebrate historic preservation leaders in the following categories:
- Dayton historic neighborhoods—Each neighborhood board recognizes an outstanding preservationist in each of their officially designated historic neighborhoods
- At-large—Outstanding preservationist(s) for the greater Dayton region
- Lifetime achievement—A major contributor to preservation causes over multiple decades
Criteria: Each award recognizes creative, inspirational leaders whose efforts have contributed to the protection, renovation, and revitalization of historic neighborhoods, individual structures, or strengthened the historic preservation movement or the quality of life in Dayton’s historic communities. Awards may celebrate neighborhood and community leaders, business owners and businesses, nonprofit organizations, government leaders, journalists and other dedicated individuals who have succeeded in protecting Dayton’s historic architecture and built environment.
Lifetime achievement award - 2024
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.
Dayton View Historic DistrictElijah and Michelle Rashaed
Several Properties
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. |
Five Oaks Historic DistrictsOur Lady of Grace Parish
Corpus Christi Catholic Church
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. |
Huffman Historic DistrictKathleen Hotmer
Pink Moon Goods
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. Watching these buildings be lovingly restored by MacPherson Town residents Evan and Stacy Bambakidis and their team of local contractors was so exciting. 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. It was clear to her that the hardwork and dedication of people like Evan and Stacy was making a huge impact on the neighborhood and she was excited by the potential to be a part of activating this prominent corner in Dayton's HIstoric Inner East.
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MCPHERSON TOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT Bob Ruzinsky
Multiple Properties
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. |
OREGON HISTORIC DISTRICTTim & Sharon Patterson
Multiple Properties
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. |
South Park Historic District
Marjorie Harrell
Slidertown Apartments
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. |
ST. ANNE'S HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT
Joe Dierkers & Brian Young
Fifth Street Brew Pub 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. |
At-Large Award
Carli & Hamilton Dixon
The Brightside
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. |
At-Large Award
Crawford Hoying & Woodard Development
The Delco and Delco Lofts
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.” |
At-Large AwardTroy Historic Preservation Alliance
IOOF Building/Old Miami County Courthouse
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. |