New apartments bring hope in place of blight

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - A construction site in a neighborhood that needs a little TLC will soon be home to an apartment complex that officials hope will be more than just housing.

Known as Germantown Village, the 60 unit apartment complex at the corner of Germantown Street and Broadway is aimed at helping low income families.

“It is going to be affordable but it's going to be market rate as well. It's going to attract a combination of individuals that will be able to live here in this community,” said Bootsie Neal, president of Wright Dunbar, Inc.

The complex is being built in a part of town identified by the city as an area ready for improvement.

“Why this neighborhood? Because this would have a big impact,” Dayton Mayor Gary Leitzell said, “I mean if you'd been through here a couple of years ago it was a pretty blighted section of the city. And what we've done is identified areas around the city where we would have the greater impact by recreating housing.”

This part of town stands to benefit more than the new, affordable homes. Housing creates a demand for businesses and businesses trigger the need for more housing.

Neal knows the struggle. She’s been working to revitalize the Third Street corridor not far from the construction site. But, she says both areas are on the verge of taking off.

“I remember when we first started working in this area and I would approach businesses about coming and they would ask me, Bootsie, why? Now people are asking how,” she said.

Germantown Village will be complete sometime in 2014. If you’re interested in learning more about how to live there, contact Greater Dayton Premier Management.