This new, local fund provided small grants to help cover operating expenses and provide bridge/gap assistance to downtown's locally-owned consumer businesses.

The CareSource Foundation provided a $500,000 lead donation to help fund this program. In addition, the Downtown Dayton Partnership invested $200,000 in the fund.

For this initiative, the DDP set up an online ordering system allowing customers to purchase a $25 gift card to a participating business, and receive an additional $15 gift card to another downtown business. Each round sold out in just a few hours. Through the sale of 6,700 total cards, the program made a total impact of approximately $150,000 for downtown small businesses.

The DDP worked with the City of Dayton to establish new guidelines for restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and other food and beverage small businesses to expand their outdoor dining areas. The Pop-Up Patio pilot program provides explicit guidelines and directions to increase capacity for outdoor seating.

We also continue to maintain our OPEN* Downtown online resources that we began in March. Lists of downtown restaurants and bars, retail and service businesses, and things to do are kept up to date with the latest ways these businesses have adapted to remain OPEN* in some fashion during the COVID-19 crisis.

In another effort to expand business space, the DDP organized a pilot program which closed Fifth Street in the Oregon District to vehicular traffic on weekends. Out on 5th allowed restaurants, retailers, and other businesses to spill out into the street, increasing their capacity for outdoor seating, retail space, and other uses.

The pilot program brought customers back downtown in numbers we haven’t seen since before the pandemic, and many businesses reported sales on par with pre-pandemic times, giving them a much needed financial boost.

Out on 5th launched in conjunction with the debut of the Oregon District’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), which allowed customers to take alcoholic beverages outside within the DORA zone.

Building on the success of the gift card bonus buy program, the DDP recently launched a new initiative called Downtown Dollars.

Downtown Dollars is a new e-gift card program that provides an easy way for our community to support downtown businesses with quick, convenient, cashless currency you keep on your phone. The program offers more flexibility to support your favorite local businesses, as the cards are redeemable at nearly 70 participating downtown businesses. More info can be found here.

The DDP worked with several organizations to support the unique needs of downtown's consumer-driven workforce. A local restaurant consultant helped downtown eateries and retailers pivot to better facilitate online sales. Downtown legal and accounting professionals also helped businesses navigate federal relief programs.

The Downtown Dayton Partnership and the City of Dayton announced a new strategy aimed at increasing potential for sales of downtown's collection of local restaurants, retailers, pubs, and other downtown businesses. Customers can now access Pick-up Zones: free, temporary parking spaces specifically for carry-out, curbside pickup, and delivery drivers retrieving orders.

The Pick-up Zones are located in on-street spaces currently designated as loading zones or metered parking. The Zones are marked with highly visible, green-branded signage. Vehicles with their flashers on are permitted to park at no cost for up to 10 minutes within the zone. More info on the Pick-up Zones can be found here.

Special Thanks

These relief efforts have been possible thanks to the generosity and partnership of countless people and organizations: CareSource, DP&L, City of Dayton, Montgomery County, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Education and Public Improvement Foundation, CityWide Development, CODE Credit Union, Charles Simms Development, Don's Pawn Shop, Dayton's The Rubi Girls, Miller Valentine Group, Cross Street Partners, Requarth Lumber, MLA Companies, RSM, Coolidge Wall, Faruki, BCVA Law, Miami Valley SBDC, and many more.

The Greater Downtown Dayton Plan has provided the framework for many investments both in the core and throughout the surrounding area. These investments continue to accumulate, fostering a more connected and vibrant city center.

Office Towers on the Rise

A new class of office tower owners have continued to make major investments and improvements, including lobby upgrades, new murals, remodeled office spaces, new amenities, and more.

Dayton's tallest building, STRATACACHE Tower, notably shines brighter than ever after the addition of new signage and an expansive restoration of the building's exterior. At Talbott Tower, a newly renovated lobby welcomes tenants and visitors. These are just a few of the many historic buildings being transformed into modern, urban workspaces that inspire creativity and collaboration.

The Downtown Dayton Partnership has continued to capture and share these stories through ELEVATE, a video series highlighting investment, energy, and transformation inside downtown Dayton’s office buildings. View the series at DowntownDayton.org/elevate and keep an eye out for more episodes in 2021.

Development Progress

Several of the downtown’s most anticipated development projects have continued working toward completion.

Crawford Hoying and Woodard Development announced their next collaboration, a 125-unit building on Monument Ave. These developers continue attract new businesses and residents as they build on their successful investments in downtown's northeast quadrant.

Cross Street Partners, Model Group, and McCormack Baron Salazar have pushed to keep the highly complex restoration and reconstruction work moving forward at the Arcade. They're on track to open the doors to Phase I early in 2021.

Windsor is bringing the Fire Blocks District vision to life. They opened two major residential buildings this year and announced multiple new first floor and office tenants in the FBD. Windsor's investments now also expand well beyond the Fire Blocks District.

Lindy Communities continues to make substantial upgrades at St. Clair Lofts, The Flats on Jefferson, and The View at Dayton Towers. Their investments are key ingredients to the continued strength of downtown's residential market, and their retail spaces have been vital launchpads for downtown entrepreneurs.

Weyland Ventures and Gosiger are moving forward on a long-term vision for the area extending east from the Oregon District. They completed the Dayton Motor Car building this year and announced The 503, a new apartment building at the corner of Fourth St. and Wayne Ave.

Housing

Despite the pandemic, downtown housing continues to grow in popularity, and in the number of units. There are now 1,807 market-rate housing units in our urban core – a 77% increase since 2010, with another 308 in the pipeline (30 already under construction).