Preservation Dayton Incorporated (PDI), a tax exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, appreciates the opportunity to request an appropriation of $500,000 to rehabilitate five vacant historic homes and develop a sustainable revolving fund to renovate additional vacant homes in Dayton, Ohio’s 10th Congressional District.
Dayton is the nation’s 15th most racially segregated city with
one of the highest per capita poverty rates in the United States.
Dayton is the nation’s 15th most racially segregated city with one of the highest per capita poverty rates in the United States. Many of Dayton’s once vibrant historic neighborhoods have seen a continual decline in property values and generational wealth due to decades of redlining, predatory lending, the 2008 foreclosure crisis, and ongoing challenges to access home maintenance loans and mortgages. Despite these challenges, PDI leaders have been at the forefront in preserving the architectural and cultural heritage of Dayton historic neighborhoods. With our advocacy for pro-preservation policies and track records for funding our own successful historic property renovations, PDI leaders have helped to transform several “slums” into safe, vibrant, and thriving communities. However, much work needs to be done to revitalize neighborhoods that were redlined from 1934-1968 as “D-Hazardous” or “C-Definitely Declining” (https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/#loc=12/39.75/-84.304&city=dayton-oh)
With 11,000 vacant properties, Dayton has the highest
per unit vacancy rate among Ohio’s major cities.
With 11,000 vacant properties, Dayton has the highest per unit vacancy rate among Ohio’s major cities. The Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank found that properties within 500-feet of vacant structures lose 9.4% of their value, thus impacting the home equity and generational wealth of responsible homeowners who maintain their homes and pay their property taxes. Developing a sustainable revolving fund to renovate strategic vacant homes can improve home values and inspire confidence in blighted neighborhoods—without displacing current homeowners (See the successful example of Wright-Dunbar Village
www.preservationdayton.com/wright-dunbar )
www.preservationdayton.com/wright-dunbar )
in 2021, nearly half the building fires in Dayton were set in vacant properties
Data from The Dayton-Montgomery County Public Health's "Assessment of Social Determinants of Health,” the University of Pennsylvania's Urban Health Lab, and The Urban Institute show that blight causes negative mental and physical health outcomes and higher rates of crime, first responder calls, ER visits and government costs. For example, in 2021, nearly half the building fires in Dayton were set in vacant properties, endangering nearby residents and first-responders. In 2023, five people in a vacant house died in Dayton's most tragic fire in recent history. Additionally, the iconic properties like the Wright Brothers’ Factory (the first airplane factory in the world), and the Traxler Mansion, a National Register residential property, are now two of the approximately 113 abandoned fire piles facing residents across the city.
Empirical research and successful case studies show that even small-scale investments to mitigate blight have a positive impact on entire neighborhoods Many local governments and nonprofit groups have concentrated housing revitalization efforts on “tipping point” neighborhoods to attract additional private sector investment and prevent further decline.
Empirical research and successful case studies show that even small-scale investments to mitigate blight have a positive impact on entire neighborhoods Many local governments and nonprofit groups have concentrated housing revitalization efforts on “tipping point” neighborhoods to attract additional private sector investment and prevent further decline.
- "Montgomery County, Ohio: Community Health Assessment" by Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County
- "Pay for Success and Blighted Properties: Insights and Opportunities for Funding Vacant Property Reclamation and Neighborhood Stabilization" by Brian Bieretz and Joseph Schilling
- "Mitigating Neighborhood Blight" by the HUD Office of Policy Development and Research
- "A Conservative Analysis of Costs Imposed by Vacant and Blighted Properties in Toledo" by Center for Community Progress
- "Citywide cluster randomized trial to restore blighted vacant land and its effects on violence, crime, and fear" by Charles C. Branasa, Eugenia South, Michelle C. Kondo, Bernadette C. Hohl, Philippe Bourgois, Douglas J. Wiebe, and John M. MacDonald
- "Vacant Properties: The True Cost to Communities" by National Vacant Properties Campaign
For every dollar invested in mitigating blight and vacant properties,
$79-$333 dollars are saved in other public costs
Cleaning up blight lowers government costs. For example, random controlled trials by the University of Pennsylvania’s Urban Health Lab show that for every dollar invested in mitigating blight and vacant properties, $79-$333 dollars are saved in costs in lower first responder calls, crime and mental health incidences, and emergency room visits. Source: “To Stop Gun Violence, Clean Up the Neighborhood” by Eugenia South Smith
Medicine confirms the Urban Health Lab’s earlier research. Source: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2799226
Question Do structural interventions to abandoned houses lead to improvements in health and safety in low-income, Black neighborhoods?
Findings In this citywide cluster randomized controlled trial of 63 clusters containing 258 abandoned houses and 172 participants, abandoned houses that were remediated showed substantial drops in nearby weapons violations (−8.43%), gun assaults (−13.12%), and to a lesser extent shootings (−6.96%). Substance-related outcomes were not reliably affected by the interventions, and no effect of either intervention was found for perceptions of safety or time outside for nearby residents.
Both the City of Dayton and the Montgomery County Land Bank have decided not to invest ARPA or COVID Relief Funds housing funds in Dayton’s historic neighborhoods. Therefore, Preservation Dayton, Inc. nonprofit initiative will not duplicate local government efforts to mitigate blight or expand Dayton’s housing options. You can read the city's ARPA Strategy here: https://www.daytonohio.gov/1109/Dayton-Recovery-Plan-Demolition-Strategy
We truly appreciate Senator Brown’s consideration to develop a sustainable historic property development fund to attract private sector investment and revitalize vacant homes in Dayton, Ohio’s high-potential historic neighborhoods. The proposed budget and supporting documentation are attached.
Medicine confirms the Urban Health Lab’s earlier research. Source: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2799226
Question Do structural interventions to abandoned houses lead to improvements in health and safety in low-income, Black neighborhoods?
Findings In this citywide cluster randomized controlled trial of 63 clusters containing 258 abandoned houses and 172 participants, abandoned houses that were remediated showed substantial drops in nearby weapons violations (−8.43%), gun assaults (−13.12%), and to a lesser extent shootings (−6.96%). Substance-related outcomes were not reliably affected by the interventions, and no effect of either intervention was found for perceptions of safety or time outside for nearby residents.
Both the City of Dayton and the Montgomery County Land Bank have decided not to invest ARPA or COVID Relief Funds housing funds in Dayton’s historic neighborhoods. Therefore, Preservation Dayton, Inc. nonprofit initiative will not duplicate local government efforts to mitigate blight or expand Dayton’s housing options. You can read the city's ARPA Strategy here: https://www.daytonohio.gov/1109/Dayton-Recovery-Plan-Demolition-Strategy
We truly appreciate Senator Brown’s consideration to develop a sustainable historic property development fund to attract private sector investment and revitalize vacant homes in Dayton, Ohio’s high-potential historic neighborhoods. The proposed budget and supporting documentation are attached.
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Help PDI bring Dayton's endangered historic properties back to life!
Our Endangered Properties Committee provides resources and raises funds to proactively stabilize and/or obtain control of these irreplaceable properties. Preservation Dayton maintains an annual list of the Ten Most Endangered properties for intervention, as nominated by you and selected by the Endangered Properties Committee. If you have an urgent request for an at-risk historic property, please contact us at [email protected].
Please donate today! Your contribution, large or small, will save Dayton's historic structures before they are lost forever.
Your contributions are 100 percent tax deductible and are dedicated solely to preserving Dayton's rich history. The Dayton Foundation processes all gifts and donations to the Preservation Dayton, Inc. Fund #8630, a component fund of The Foundation. You can contribute by clicking the ‘Donate’ button below which takes you to the Dayton Foundation secure website. Or mail your check to payable to "Preservation Dayton, Inc. Fund #8630" Preservation Dayton, P.O. Box 3614, Dayton, OH 45401.
Thank you for your support!
Our Endangered Properties Committee provides resources and raises funds to proactively stabilize and/or obtain control of these irreplaceable properties. Preservation Dayton maintains an annual list of the Ten Most Endangered properties for intervention, as nominated by you and selected by the Endangered Properties Committee. If you have an urgent request for an at-risk historic property, please contact us at [email protected].
Please donate today! Your contribution, large or small, will save Dayton's historic structures before they are lost forever.
Your contributions are 100 percent tax deductible and are dedicated solely to preserving Dayton's rich history. The Dayton Foundation processes all gifts and donations to the Preservation Dayton, Inc. Fund #8630, a component fund of The Foundation. You can contribute by clicking the ‘Donate’ button below which takes you to the Dayton Foundation secure website. Or mail your check to payable to "Preservation Dayton, Inc. Fund #8630" Preservation Dayton, P.O. Box 3614, Dayton, OH 45401.
Thank you for your support!
Advocacy and Recognition for endangered properties
PDI works with Preservation Ohio to help save Ohio’s irreplaceable sites. The following local properties have been nominated for Ohio’s “Most Endangered Historic Sites”. Those with an asterisk have been selected for state-wide recognition.
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2023 PDI Nominations
Santa Clara Business District John R. Reynolds Mansion Ohmer Garage* 2022 PDI Nominations Traxler Mansion* - demolished Santa Clara Business District* 2020 PDI Nominations Gem City Ice Cream Building - demolished Dayton Daily News Building St. Joseph Technical High School for Girls - demolished Alfred H. Iddings House - demolished John R. Reynolds Mansion |
2019 PDI Nominations
Louis Traxler Mansion* - demolished Dayton Daily News Building* Longfellow School 2017 PDI Nominations Gem City Ice Cream Building* - demolished Dayton Arcade* - restored Dayton Daily News Building* 2009 PDI Nominations Julienne School* - demolished |
Dayton's Most endangered Properties
vAN DEMAN APARTMENTSBuilt in 1908 for John N. Van Deman, a Dayton Lawyer, this Jacobethan style building stands out in the Dayton View Historic District. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Click here to Learn More. |
Leopold Rauh HouseBuilt in 1910 for Leopold Rauh, President of the Egry Register Company and a founding member of Dayton's Manager/Commissioner Committee, this Jacobethan style building stands out in the Dayton View Historic District. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Click here to Learn More. |
MIchael Neil HouseBuilt in c. 1900 for Michael Neil, who platted the Wolf Creek Area, it was sold shortly after it was built to Charles M. Seybold, President of the Seybold Machine Co. This brick Queen Anne style building stands out in the Grafton Hill Historic District. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and again in 1986. Click here to Learn More. |
dAYTON dAILY nEWS bUILDINGBuilt between 1908 and 1910 by Albert Pretzinger for James M. Cox to house the Dayton Daily News, it is modeled after the Knickerbocker Trust building in New York City, this Beaux-Arts style building stands out in Downtown Dayton. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places individually in 1978 and again in 2019 as part of the Downtown Dayton Historic District. Click here to Learn More. |
John R. Reynolds MansionBuilt c.1867 for John R. Reynolds, a prominent Dayton Businessman, this Second Empire Victorian style building stands out in East Dayton. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Click here to Learn More. |
sANTA cLARA Business DistrictBuilt between the late 1800s and the 1920s, the Santa Clara Business District represents some of early suburbanization in Dayton. The Flatiron Building, Smith Building, and Riverdale Theatre represent some major buildings at risk in this district. Click here to Learn More. |