Development plan being considered

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - On Monday, February 20, 2 NEWS Today shared a development plan from local retail expert David McDonald that he says can stop the exodus of downtown businesses.

"It's getting more like the snowball going down hill is getting bigger and bigger and we've got to stop it, " said David McDonald.

He's proposing a bold new plan that he says could be revive downtown Dayton.
   
"The only way to do that is to give all these businesses that are still downtown some belief that somebody is doing something that really might save the city," said McDonald. "They aren't dumb."

McDonald's plan focuses first on the downtown core, tearing-down several, under-utilized office buildings, then converting them into shovel ready lots, for free parking to compete with suburban  malls.

"They moved out because of all the shopping centers that's all but done across the country so now the interest is moving back towards the city," McDonald adds. "I believe demolition could cut the 35 percent office vacancy rate in half while increasing the value of existing office space which would get national attention."

Phase two of his plan would take advantage of downtown Dayton's scenic riverfront. McDonald envisions building a 250 unit condo-office building on seldom used Deeds Point.
   
He said,  "That puts it right across the river from the proposed Mendelson's condo project, next to 5/3 Field."

To pay for the $30 million project, McDonald is forming a private development group made up of 100 of the regions top CEO's called the DCCDC, or the Dayton Center City Development Corporation.

McDonald says he already has 37 CEO's on board and anticipates having half the number needed  to go forward in two to three weeks.

McDonald said of the CEO's  "They know that bike paths, parks and monuments won't save the city, they just don't know what they can get involved in that's worthwhile."

Dave Dickerson, a veteran developer said the plan is worthwhile.

 "I think it has merit, again they're buildings that have reached their end of economic life and therefore if you provide some of these located in the core, maybe there is some strategic parking there that could be some green space created from some of this, and just having the site ready for development."

"In this market it is extremely difficult to raise private sector money," said Steve Budd, President of City Wide Development, who in conjunction with the City of Dayton, plays a key role in the development of the city's economic strategy.

"My guess it would be very difficult to do that but if David can do that it would be a real plus for the region."

McDonald said his extensive research indicates that Dayton will be in a position of no return in 3-5 years, unless they do something drastic to reduce the number of empty offices.

But Dayton Mayor Gary Leitzell remains positive. He told me he is seeing more outside businesses interested in downtown Dayton properties, which, he said, could be the spark needed to turn things around.

"I'm a transplant from another city, so I see things differently than people who have lived here all of their lives. I noticed when I was campaigning for Mayor that it seemed, at times, that a lot of people were depressed. There was this dark cloud over the city and people didn't see there was hope, they wanted it, now we've got to make that happen."

McDonald is convinced his plan can make it happen. "You get a serious project going here and a serious project going at Mendelson's and all of a sudden we begin to have national attention and you have turned the city."