A Brief History of Historic Preservation in Dayton
The purposes of the Preservation Dayton, Inc. 501(c)(3) corporation are to:
Preservation Dayton, Inc. has been incorporated since 1983 when it was originally founded as the Dayton Area Coalition of Historic Neighborhoods. For nearly 40 years, Preservation Dayton, has been the champion and advocate for the Dayton region’s historic communities and built environment.
Four volunteer committees work to achieve PDI's strategies and goals:
Learn more about PDI, including a list of trustees and our Years in Review on our About page
- promote historic preservation
- promote the restoration, renovation and rehabilitation of historic structures and settings as economically viable activities and enhancements to the public welfare
- participate in and advocate urban planning as it affects historic areas, sites, buildings and structures
- facilitate the stabilization and growth of historic districts and their contiguous neighborhoods
- facilitate communication and create a cohesive network among historic districts, societies, and preservationists and local governments and the community at large.
Preservation Dayton, Inc. has been incorporated since 1983 when it was originally founded as the Dayton Area Coalition of Historic Neighborhoods. For nearly 40 years, Preservation Dayton, has been the champion and advocate for the Dayton region’s historic communities and built environment.
Four volunteer committees work to achieve PDI's strategies and goals:
- Events, Fundraising, and Membership
- Policy and Advocacy
- Marketing and Media
- Dayton's Top 10 Most Endangered Properties.
Learn more about PDI, including a list of trustees and our Years in Review on our About page
Past and Ongoing Initiatives
- Advocating for creating and expanding the number of Dayton’s landmarks and district protected by local district zoning
- Increasing awareness of resources to finance renovation projects—historic tax credits, easements, and 203K loans
- Launching a new initiative to identify and stabilize Dayton's Top 10 Most Endangered Historic Propertie
- Creating walking tours to promote recreating, working, and living in Dayton's historic districts
- Awarding "Excellence in Historic Preservation" awards to recognize outstanding preservation leaders and projects
- Nominating several Dayton structures for statewide recognition on Preservation Ohio’s Annual Endangered Property list
- Developing a profitable plan to revitalize the historic Gem City Ice Cream Building
- Saving two historic facades of the RTA Transportation Center at 3rd and Main Streets
- Facilitating a 501C title transfer for the former 1907 Dayton Power and Light Steam Plant (now a renovated event space)
- Advocating for Montgomery County to maintain Memorial Hall
- Advocating Montgomery County to restore the terra cotta façade of the Riebold Building at 4th and Main
- Saving a few of the historic Shawen Acres' unique English cottage buildings
- Saving and moving two historic homes in Grafton preventing a proposed demolition plan
- Hosting Urban Living Expos in Huffman, Grafton, and Wright-Dunbar
- Hosting several “Art about Town” juried art exhibits
- Sharing best practices, having fun, and supporting the efforts of all of Dayton’s irreplaceable historic districts