The City of Dayton completed 19 demolitions in July, city staff told the City Commission, and said work is shifting from emergency and other funding back into ARPA-funded demolition contracts.

“Last month we had 19 demolitions completed,” presenter Steve Gondo said during the update, adding that the demolitions reported for July were “all of which are in the RP funding category” and that the department is “now moving back into those ARPA contract[s].”

The report said 160 demolitions have been completed so far in 2025. Gondo said that figure represents “77% of last year's demolition rate” at roughly “58% of the way through the year,” language the department used to describe progress toward annual pacing goals. Staff showed neighborhood maps and before-and-after photos highlighting work in southern Dayton View, Edgemont, Miami Chapel, McFarland and Twin Towers.

City staff said crews removed eight of 59 existing debris “piles” that remained at the end of June and added three in July, leaving 54 piles at month’s end. The department reported three emergency demolitions in July across northwest, north-central and northeast Dayton and said 12 properties were entered into the structural nuisance process for the month—five because of fire and seven for blight. Of that group, eight were houses, three were garages and one was a commercial structure.

Gondo described the demolition pipeline as moving through title work, surveys and asbestos remediation, reporting 17 properties entered into the asbestos-abatement/pre-demolition stage in July and “totaling up 149 to date.” He said some properties reflected in that rolling pipeline may already have been demolished because the city pays for preliminary services (title, survey, remediation) in advance of demolition and the running totals include those earlier months.

Commissioners raised site-specific concerns during Q&A. Commissioner Charles asked for a definitive count of nuisance-structure properties slated for demolition; Gondo said staff would coordinate with the city manager and provide a consolidated number. Charles also asked staff to check conditions at 203 Grove, where a back field had pooled water after demolition, and at 300 Fernwood and 33816 Neko Avenue—sites residents have repeatedly flagged for debris and slow progress. Gondo and other staff said they would follow up and identify the contract status for each location.

Commissioners also asked about site security and efforts to prevent people experiencing homelessness from entering vacant structures as temperatures fall. Gondo said Planning, Neighborhoods and Development staff coordinate with human services, fire and police so those first responders can report occupied or unsecured structures to the demolition team for follow-up; he described that coordination as an active, two-way channel to keep track of populations and boarded properties.

Commissioners commended crews for clearing overgrowth and for visible neighborhood improvements at specific addresses shown in the presentation. The commission did not take a formal vote on policy during the update; staff said they would return with the additional counts and site follow-ups requested by commissioners.

For follow-up, staff committed to provide: (1) a consolidated count of nuisance-structure properties assigned to demolition contracts; (2) contract-status updates and timelines for 203 Grove, 300 Fernwood and 33816 Neko Avenue; and (3) a memo summarizing practices the city uses to secure vacant properties and coordinate with outreach and first responders before and after encampment removals.