City reports demolition pace steady; East End NDC receives $1.2M housing grant as neighborhood revitalization plan advances

City planning staff told the Dayton City Commission that demolition activity is proceeding on schedule in most neighborhoods. Planning, Neighborhoods and Development Director Steve Gondol reported 28 structures were demolished in May — six funded with American Rescue Plan Act dollars, 20 through the Ohio Department of Development, and two via Community Development Block Grant funding — bringing the year-to-date total to 97 of the City's annual goal of 334 demolitions. Gondol said 28 emergency demolition debris piles remained at the end of May and four new sites were added during the month. He said cleanup has begun at the former Tasty Bird property on West Third Street and that the cleanup is being funded by the property owner's insurance, not City funds.

Gondol told commissioners that demolition work has occurred in 21 neighborhoods, with Southern Dayton View and Santa Clara leading in completed demolitions. He also reported that 15 additional structures were declared structural nuisances in May and that 39 properties completed asbestos remediation during the month, bringing the YTD remediation total to 108. He said CDBG-funded demolitions were expedited to support the Conscious Connect Park project on Lawrence Avenue in Westwood.

In a subsequent work session, the East End Neighborhood Development Corporation presented a data-driven revitalization plan for the Twin Towers neighborhood. Jan Lepore, Executive Director, reported homeownership in the neighborhood is about 30 percent and that roughly 100 vacant lots remain. The organization said it received a $1.2 million Welcome Home Ohio grant to support construction of seven new homes, partnering with County Corp, the Montgomery County Land Bank, and UniBuilt. Lepore said concentrated new construction can produce housing at scale despite higher subsidy needs and emphasized coordinated code enforcement, infrastructure investment, and resident engagement as critical to long-term stabilization.

Commissioners thanked presenters and asked City staff how the municipality could support the work, including aligning public infrastructure and exploring joint outreach to absentee owners. Gondol and Lepore agreed staff would coordinate on remediation, code enforcement, and outreach to support redevelopment.

Next steps: staff will continue demolition and cleanup coordination and work with neighborhood partners to align City services with the Twin Towers revitalization strategy.