Dayton, OH
Redevelopment Vision

Premier Health and the University of Dayton are anchor institutions in the region with strong traditions of service and advancing the Dayton community. Planning NEXT was selected by the two institutions to develop a vision for 38 acres on Dayton’s South Main Street, the former home of the Montgomery County fairgrounds. This project was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish a vision that would serve the missions of the two anchors, align development of the 38 acres with downtown revitalization, and serve the broader interests of the Dayton community.

  • Jan 2018 FF-56
  • Jan 2018 FF-29
  • Jan 2018 FF-26

Interactive Engagement

The planning process kicked off in the fall of 2017. Planning NEXT facilitated engagement workshops that included smartphone polling, paper surveys, and interactive stations where community members could talk with consultant team members. Online engagement opportunities were offered following each workshop. Over 850 people were engaged offering ideas, feedback and comments during the process.

Turning vision into action

During the process, a technical analysis was completed to translate development opportunities into realistic and financeable implementation initiatives. This included physical design, economic analysis, and an engineering assessment focused on infrastructure needs. In October 2018, Premier Health and the University of Dayton unveiled the final vision and a new name for the initiative—onMain: Dayton’s Imagination District, which embodied the vision for the site as a place where Dayton’s history of innovation takes off into the future. In January of 2019 a development non-profit organization was established to guide this complex, multi-year development effort. Outreach to potential funding sources has begun and so far, a $3.5 million JobsOhio grant for infrastrcuture improvements has been secured. Planning NEXT is continuing to work as the implementation manager on efforts such as rezoning, site design, engineering, and financing.

Creating quality places

onMain is a place that prioritizes high-quality public realm and buildings designed in an intentional way. The district is not just a development, but a neighborhood that will promote principles such as sustainable values, advanced technology, and healthy living choices in an integrated way that respects the site’s history and environmental context.

Related News

Final Plan Document

onMain Master Plan

Tags

Project Type: vision report
Community Type: city
Client: Premier Health and University of Dayton
Services: visioning, public engagement, social media and online engagement