The historic Dayton Arcade is a collection of nine buildings in downtown Dayton, Ohio’s central business district. It is currently being redeveloped to return the site to its first use—a mix of retail, offices, public space, and housing. The project has also become a vehicle for leveraging alignment in the city’s social programming in one location, making it a notable example of how real estate development can spur equitable outcomes strategically.

When complete, the redevelopment project will consist of an innovation hub, with the University of Dayton (UD) and The Entrepreneurs Center (TEC) as partners; 102-affordable units for artists and creative entrepreneurs; an additional 24 market-rate units available to anyone, including artists; a culinary and kitchen incubator program with retail and restaurant space for incubator participants; and creative co-working space (The Arcade, 2019). In addition to the significant mission-driven anchors, the Arcade will also house private commercial space tenants. Anchor tenants, UD and TEC, will bring “hundreds of UD faculty, staff, and students; comprehensive entrepreneurial support services; and thousands of square feet of working space for local startups.” (University of Dayton, 2019).

The Arcade is part of the City of Dayton’s broader plan to bring residents, jobs, and visitors back to downtown. Restoration of the Arcade is the city’s highest priority. To learn more about the Dayton Arcade and other good ideas taking place in Ohio, visit: https://www.greaterohio.org/good-ideas-initiative

Image/Picture: Image Source: Dayton Business Journal, 2019