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CEO Addresses Sold-Out Dayton Chamber Audience

By News

Buddy LaChance, CEO of onMain, recently updated a sold-out crowd at the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Breakfast Briefing. The group got a chance to see the vision of onMain and imagine the possibilities for the entire 38-acre Innovation District as well as the first few planned buildings, including the Think Dayton Building. onMain is currently working with interested tenants.

Zoning and Planned Development Approved

By News

Dayton City Commissioners unanimously approved the zoning change for the former Montgomery County fairgrounds from Park/Open Space (OS) to Urban Business District (UBD). Dr. Eric Spina, president of the University of Dayton, Mary Boosalis, president and CEO of Premier Health, and Rick Omlor, chairman of the onMain board of directors spoke on behalf of onMain, emphasizing the uniqueness of this opportunity and development’s importance to the Dayton community.

onMain’s application for this zoning change is the culmination two years of planning by the University of Dayton and Premier Health to develop a long-term vision and master plan for the property that reflects the mission and values of the two institutions, while at the same time striving to create an authentic sense of place.

During the two-year planning process, four community meetings have been held and over 1,000 people have had the opportunity to shape the aspirations for reimagining the property and provide input to the design.

The Planned Development design standards will help translate the long-term aspirational vision into reality. These standards incorporate a variety of planning principles including; land use and urban design principles, a pedestrian and transit friendly internal street network and the integration of a diverse set of open/recreational spaces.

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Read more about onMain in the news:

Dayton Daily News

Dayton 24/7 Now

Dayton Business Journal

New Neighborhood Getting Started

By News

If you’ve driven by the former fairgrounds lately, you’ve no doubt noticed that we’ve made a lot of progress on preparing the site for new development. Many of the buildings have come down to make way for our vision of Dayton’s new imagination district, although the iconic roundhouse still stands proudly at the center of the property.

With so much change and progress happening at the site, we wanted to share a different kind of update, one that tells the demolition story “by the numbers.”

To download the infographic in PDF, click here.

Great Conversations at the Progress Workshop

By News

On August 1st the conversation continued about the onMain redevelopment, this time centered around how the private development might take shape.  After a presentation from the project team on what was learned from the last community workshop that has informed the public spaces and streets, the conversation shifted to the quality and design of the private development. People divided into small groups and participated in facilitated conversations on design concepts for the how the private development could occur. Conversation and feedback centered around how the development can create a setting that connects people, and creates a density of ideas, activity and collaboration. The Planning Team will use the feedback and ideas shared to further develop the overall site plan and development standards.

To view more:
2News WDTN – Development plans for old county fairgrounds revealed to public
Dayton 24/7 Now – Old fairground buildings to be saved
Dayton 24/7 Now – ‘OnMain’ wants to hear from you!

Join us at the onMain Progress Workshop!

By News

On August 1, 2019 from 6-8pm, join the onMain team for the Progress Workshop at the Kennedy’s Union Ballroom on UD’s main campus.

Participants should expect to review refinements to the open spaces ideas proposed in June and contribute to the direction for how private development might take shape.

Let us know you will be here by filling out the RSVP form below. We look forward to seeing you there!

RSVP Public Meeting 2

Progress Workshop

August 1, 2019
6:00-8:00pm
Kennedy Union, Ballroom
University of Dayton

300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469
Parking will be available, see map below for directions to park and enter the building.

The onMain Community Workshop was a success!

By News

On June 27th those interested in the progress of onMain redevelopment gathered at Dan Curran Place to hear an update on the project. After a brief presentation from the project team on the work to date, participants were able to view and interact with a variety of input stations focused on the public realm of the development (streets, open spaces, plazas and parks). Participants were able to indicate their preference for certain kinds of spaces and specific types of designs using red and green sticker dots and provide any general comments about the design and plans for these community spaces. The next community meeting is scheduled for August 1st with a focus on the architecture and buildings of the development.

To view more:
Dayton Daily News
Dayton Business Journal

Details on onMain Community Workshop

By News

The onMain team is excited to announce it will be hosting a community workshop where we will share the latest plans for the former fairgrounds. Join us and share your insight and ideas on June 27, 2019 from 6-8pm.

Whether you were among the hundreds who helped shape the vision for the former fairgrounds at previous workshops in 2017 and 2018 or you are new to the process, we invite you to have your voice heard. Participants can expect to see an introduction to the site design and engineering work needed to realize the vision as well as provide feedback on design potential through visual preferences. This workshop will give you the opportunity to provide input on the detailed design approach to creating a new unique neighborhood for Dayton.

Community Workshop

June 27, 2019
6:00-8:00pm
Daniel J. Curran Place, N1650 Meyer Room (first floor)

1700 S Patterson Blvd, Dayton, OH 45409
Parking will be available, see map below for directions to park and enter the building.

OnMain Begins Redevelopment of Former Fairgrounds Site with Historic Preservation

By News

OnMain, a joint venture of Premier Health and the University of Dayton, is taking the next step in redevelopment of the former Montgomery County fairgrounds by preserving pieces of the site’s history.

In coordination with onMain, in May Dayton History will relocate horse barn No. 17 to Carillon Historical Park. Barn No. 17 is a stable built in the late 19th century and thought to be the oldest remaining structure at the former fairgrounds other than the Roundhouse.

“Once moved to Carillon Historical Park, horse barn No. 17 will be used to tell the history of the Montgomery County Fairgrounds and the significant events that occurred on that site,” said Dayton History President and CEO Brady Kress. “The acquisition of this barn presents an opportunity to aid in Carillon Park’s fulfillment of its masterplan, and will bridge three themes…early Dayton, transportation, and agriculture.”

Additional historical artifacts from the onMain property were previously moved to the new Montgomery County fairgrounds in Jefferson Township, including the cast aluminum reliefs depicting agricultural life that were part of the main gate.

Other work on the site in the coming months will include the removal of 22 barns and buildings, site grading and clearing of undergrowth. Traffic on nearby streets will not be affected. This work is expected to be completed by fall 2019.

“We have a unique opportunity to create the next chapter in Dayton’s long history of innovation and entrepreneurialism. Our partnership with Dayton History will allow us to connect Dayton’s rich history and its promising future,” said onMain CEO Buddy LaChance. “This is the first step in a thoughtful process to establish a setting to connect people, neighborhoods, businesses and institutions.”

The vision for onMain is that the historic Roundhouse will remain on the property and become an integral feature of the Imagination District. OnMain continues to explore future options for the Roundhouse.

OnMain is widely anticipated to become a signature neighborhood that will bring jobs and opportunities to the area and create a sustainable and inclusive living environment with an emphasis on wellness.

Premier Health and the University of Dayton purchased the 38-acre former site of the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in 2017 and have been working on a long-range vision for the near-downtown property that builds upon their institutional missions and values, promotes economic development, and fosters a unique sense of place that serves broad community interests.

Visit the links below to see more:

Dayton Business Journal 
Dayton Daily News
WHIO 7

onMain Names Buddy LaChance as CEO

By News

LaChance to head joint venture of Premier Health and the University of Dayton to transform Dayton’s Imagination District south of downtown

DAYTON, Ohio, April 12, 2019 —onMain, a joint venture of Premier Health and the University of Dayton, has tapped Buddy LaChance, a seasoned local executive, to lead the transformation of 38 acres south of downtown into Dayton’s Imagination District. onMain is widely anticipated to become a signature neighborhood of high-tech employers, mixed-price housing, and supportive retail.

LaChance, who has deep roots and experience in the neighborhood, community and economic development of the Dayton area, will take the reins as the first CEO of the nonprofit development, effective May 6, 2019. As system vice president of real estate at Premier Health and previously as director of neighborhood development for CityWide Development Corp., LaChance has a strong track record with a wide range of complex redevelopment projects in downtown Dayton and many of Dayton’s surrounding neighborhoods.

“We were seeking an experienced professional who could manage a complex, innovative project like this and leverage local relationships to make onMain something truly special that will add to Dayton’s momentum,” said Mary Boosalis, president and CEO of Premier Health. “It quickly became evident that Buddy offered that unique skill set.”

Eric F. Spina, president of the University of Dayton, said the breadth and depth of LaChance’s development experience, coupled with his passion and commitment to Dayton’s growth and redevelopment, made him the natural choice.

“It has been clear from the early days of this project that Buddy understands what the success of this project will mean, not just to the two partners, but to the entire Dayton region,” Spina said. “With his development experience, he also knows what it will take to achieve that success and is excited to take on the challenge of making this ambitious vision a reality.”

“The tremendous potential of this property and the opportunity to guide it really appealed to me from the start,” LaChance said. “Opportunities to create a vibrant neighborhood from the ground up on the doorstep of downtown Dayton just don’t come along very often. I’m looking forward to working with the onMain board and other community stakeholders to harness the excitement around this property and transform it into a community asset.”

LaChance has held positions of progressively greater responsibility at Premier Health since joining the health system in 2007. While at CityWide, he was involved in signature redevelopment partnerships including the Genesis Project, which transformed the Fairgrounds neighborhood.  He is a 35-year resident of the McPherson Town Historic District just north of downtown Dayton. LaChance holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Cincinnati.

Premier Health and the University of Dayton purchased the 38-acre former site of the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in 2017 and have been working on a long-range vision for the property that builds upon their institutional missions and values, promotes economic development, and fosters a unique sense of place that serves broad community interests.

In October 2018, the partners unveiled the new name for the site — an identity that represents Dayton’s history and future as an innovation center. onMain is envisioned as a place to attract businesses and entrepreneurs that will bring jobs and opportunities to the area as well as a sustainable and inclusive living environment with an emphasis on wellness.

Meet the onMain Advisory Committee

By News

The onMain Advisory Committee is an ad-hoc committee of the Board of Directors intended to be a sounding board and provide feedback on the implementation of the onMain vision and specific projects.

Their responsibilities will be to, 1) Represent community organizations, partners and topical interest areas, 2) Serve as liaisons to their respective organizations and networks, 3) Provide guidance and insight to the staff and Board of Directors of onMain. They will meet quarterly starting in the first quarter of 2019. The committee members are listed below.

Ted Bucaro, Executive Director, Government and Regional Relations, University of Dayton
Gwen Buchanan, President of Carillon Civic Council
Mikki Clancy, Chief Operating Officer, Miami Valley Hospital
Ken Clarkston, Rubicon Park Business Association
Shelley Dickstein, City Manager, City of Dayton
Hunter Goodman, Executive Director, Fitz Center for Leadership, University of Dayton
Sandy Gudorf, President, Downtown Dayton Partnership
Reggie Henderson, MPA Student, McIntosh Scholar, University of Dayton
Jeff Hoagland, President and CEO, Dayton Development Coalition
Brady Kress, President and CEO, Dayton History
Nikol Miller, Community Relations Manager, Greater Dayton RTA
Mike Parks President, The Dayton Foundation
Belinda Stenson Director, Minority Business Development, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce

What’s New onMain

By News

Premier Health, University of Dayton Forming Nonprofit Corporation, Launching CEO Search for onMain Redevelopment

 

DAYTON, Ohio, January 15, 2019 — Premier Health and the University of Dayton are taking big steps early this year to position the former Montgomery County fairgrounds for redevelopment. The transformed property will be known as onMain: Dayton’s Imagination District, a signature neighborhood to attract jobs, economic development and innovation.

The two anchor institutions, which purchased the 38-acre site at South Main and Stewart Streets in 2017, are forming onMain Inc., a new nonprofit corporation to guide development and oversee day-to-day management of the property. onMain’s inaugural board of directors recently held its first meeting.

A community advisory committee, comprised of representatives from key community stakeholders, also will be convened this spring.

“We’re making great progress in putting in place the organizational and operational pieces needed to start realizing our vision for onMain,” said University of Dayton President Eric F. Spina. “While we know that fulfilling the complete vision will take many years and many partners, we’re pleased with the accelerated pace we’ve kept since purchasing the property.”

“I’m pleased that we’ve brought together a strong governance structure and a group of highly regarded, community-minded individuals to help guide the onMain development into the future,” said Mary Boosalis, president and CEO of Premier Health. “This opportunity to reshape the southern doorstep to downtown Dayton is both inspiring and complex, and it merits considerable deliberation and oversight. This governance structure will provide both.”

In addition to forming the corporation and holding the first meeting of onMain’s board of directors, these activities are underway:

  • A national search will be launched soon for a CEO for onMain. The partners are seeking a seasoned professional with experience in managing development of a complex, innovative project involving many partners;
  • Engineering and design work for the overall site will start this spring, with a plan for the site and infrastructure completed later this year;
  • Demolition is scheduled to begin this spring;
  • Conversations continue with potential developers and funding partners.

The onMain Inc. board includes institutional representatives and three community directors with strong ties to the two institutions.

The board includes: Richard Omlor, retired president/CEO of YSI Inc., and UD trustee; Anita J. Moore, retired vice president of human resources for the Berry Company, and Premier Health trustee; Helen E. Jones-Kelley, director of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services for Montgomery County; Andrew Horner, executive vice president for business and administrative services for UD; Barbara Johnson, system vice president and chief human resource officer for Premier Health; Mary Ann Recker, vice president and general counsel for UD; and Buddy LaChance, system vice president for real estate for Premier Health. Omlor serves as board chair.

The two institutions purchased the 38-acre site in 2017 and have been working on a long-range vision for the property that builds upon their institutional missions and values, promotes economic development, and fosters a unique sense of place that serves broad community interests.

In October, the partners unveiled the new name and identity for the site — an identity that represents Dayton’s history and future as an innovation center.

onMain is envisioned as a place to attract businesses and entrepreneurs that will bring jobs and opportunities to the area as well as a sustainable and inclusive living environment with an emphasis on wellness.

Contact:

Cilla Shindell | University of Dayton | pshindell1@udayton.edu | 937-367-2889

Ben Sutherly | Premier Health | bwsutherly@premierhealth.com | 937-524-3264

Students from Sinclair Community College civil engineering technologies program, Zachary Osterday, left, and Christopher Hess, talk about surveying work they completed at onMain - Dayton’s Imagination District during a two-semester lab project. TY GREENLEES / STAFF Photo: Ty Greenlees, Dayton Daily News

Local Students Get Chance to Pitch Fairground Redevelopment Plans

By News
Dec 03, 2018
By Holly Shively, Staff Writer
Dayton Daily News

Local engineering students will pitch designs that could be used in the former Montgomery County Fairgrounds redevelopment.

Six University of Dayton and eight Sinclair Community College students are working on a two-semester capstone project that uses the 38-acre site on South Main Street as a lab. This semester, the students spent several days a week collecting data at the property. In January, the student teams will begin drawings and plans for residential and commercial buildings, waste and stormwater management, traffic, landscaping, lighting and parking.

“What we believe our contribution would be is offering some ideas and visions and a perspective that is different than a consulting firm,” said Don Chase, the University of Dayton director of undergraduate studies for civil and environmental engineering and faculty adviser for the project.

The students aren’t licensed yet, meaning the planning firm overseeing the redevelopment — planning NEXT — won’t be able to take the plans as is, Chase said, but he hopes some of the elements the students propose will be built into the ultimate plans.

“One of the things that’s proposed is residence halls. They are students and they’re connected right now with some of the needs students have with regards to housing,” Chase said.

The students are also environmentally aware and conscious, helping to add insight on an aesthetically pleasing and sustainable site, he added, fitting the standards the onMain partners have set.

Premier Health and the University of Dayton bought the former fairgrounds in April 2017, for $15 million. Each institution spent $5.25 million and Montgomery County and the Dayton-Montgomery County Port Authority contributed the rest.

In early October, the partners announced plans to rename the site onMain: Dayton’s Imagination District. Plans for redevelopment, which could take 10 to 15 years to complete in phases, include retail space, housing and buildings for employment.

Other elements of the redevelopment include a walkable urban neighborhood, retail geared toward those who work and live onMain, environmentally sustainable buildings, urban agriculture and restoration of the property’s historic Roundhouse.

Second-year Sinclair civil engineering students Zachary Osterday and Christopher Hess said they understand the appeal of the environment onMain aims for — to be able to live, work and play all in one urban community. The lifestyle has become popular among Millennials and Baby Boomers who want everything within walking distance.

“Restaurants, movie, theaters, stores, retail, all in the same area, kind of like The Greene is what I’m thinking,” Hess said.

The partnership between Sinclair and University of Dayton students also will teach the students how to communicate with surveyors, architects, civil engineers and construction managers as each group of students works on a different aspect of the project.

“Design scenarios such as this produce high-quality learning experiences that no classroom lecture could ever produce,” said Eric Dunn, chair of Sinclair’s engineering technology department. “This project will give students a taste of how to follow and maintain a client’s architectural and overall site vision while also conforming to federal, state and local design standards.”

Premier and UD are searching for redevelopment funding sources, which could take at least one to two years before any new construction could occur, according to a statement.

“This was real world experience … Obviously the professor supervised, but we were kind of left to our own devices. So we had to come up with our own system for collecting data, and it was really cool because that’s what you’d actually be doing out in the real world.”


Photo credit: Students from Sinclair Community College civil engineering technologies program, Zachary Osterday, left, and Christopher Hess, talk about surveying work they completed at onMain – Dayton’s Imagination District during a two-semester lab project. TY GREENLEES / STAFF Photo: Ty Greenlees, Dayton Daily News

UD Announces Plan To Redevelop Fairgrounds

By News

Project partners UD and Premier Health announced on Oct. 2 that what was known as Montgomery County Fairgrounds will become a mixed-use, walkable neighborhood containing residential spaces, offices and gathering places. Its new name is onMain.

UD and Premier Health purchased Fairgrounds, an area adjacent to campus, on April 14, 2017. The land was sold to them for $15 million. UD and Premier each paid $5.25 million; the remaining cost was supplemented by Montgomery County and a state grant.

You can find what will be onMain by going to Fitz Hall, crossing the street to Flanagan’s Pub and walking a block toward the river. It will be boxed in by Patterson, Apple, Stewart and Main streets.

According to Cilla Shindell, the UD contact for information about onMain, the residential spaces will not be available as student housing; this is not another student neighborhood. Instead, there will be mix-income apartments available for rent by Dayton residents. These apartments especially will be intended for those who work at any of the businesses at onMain. Anyone living there with UD ties would be a graduate or UD faculty.

Provost Paul Benson confirmed there is no plan for classes to be held on the site.

Being next to the river and a mile from downtown Dayton, onMain will increase access to different parts of the city. The intention is for onMain to be pedestrian friendly.

“onMain should bridge UD’s campus with the downtown Dayton core, filling a geographical gap that has long separated Stewart Street from the heart of Dayton’s downtown,” Benson said.

The neighborhood will include urban agriculture on the western end of the site (along Patterson Street), as well as on the building rooftops. The structures will be designed in an environmentally-sustainable way.

Shindell said “to fully build out the project could take up to 15 to 20 years, hundreds of millions of dollars and involve numerous partners.”

What students will see crop up in the initial phase of construction (in about 3 or 4 years, according to Shindell) is the catalytic building.

“We envision the early catalytic building as having a research focus, both for enterprises that might be directly affiliated with UD and/or with Premier Health, but also for research-focused companies in Dayton looking for additional office space with access to flexible high-bay laboratory spaces,” Benson said. “This sort of environment will need student talent during UD students’ educations and after they graduate.”

Construction will begin at the corner of Stewart and Main, with the catalytic building, and will progress along the edges. The projects with longer timelines will be in the center of the site.

They also “have started outreach to potential funding sources to help fund initial phases of the redevelopment, including roadways, utilities, water and sewer and removal of some structures,” Shindell said.

The 38-acre site has the potential to increase the number of and diversify the types of businesses in Dayton, as well as create more jobs.

“It will be a platform to attract businesses and entrepreneurs to bring jobs and opportunities to the area as well as a sustainable and inclusive living environment with an emphasis on wellness,” said UD President Eric Spina.

Fairgrounds, now onMain, is not the only site UD is involved in redeveloping. The university also in investing money in the Dayton Arcade, which is in downtown Dayton.

Because it’s estimated to take 15 to 20 years to complete, current students won’t reap the benefits from onMain. But maybe we’ll get to see how it turns out when we visit our kids for family weekend.


Alexandra Scherb
Contributing Writer
Flyer News
November 5, 2018

Premier Health, University of Dayton Unveil New Name, Vision for Former Montgomery County Fairgrounds

By News

DAYTON, Ohio, October 2, 2018 — The former Montgomery County fairgrounds has a new name and a new direction as a place that fosters imagination, innovation and inclusivity.

Premier Health and the University of Dayton today announced a new name for the 38 acres at the northwest corner of Main and Stewart streets — onMain: Dayton’s Imagination District — embodying a vision for the site as a place where Dayton’s history of innovation takes off into the future.

“The name represents the best of Dayton’s future as well as its history of innovation,” said University President Eric F. Spina. “It will be a platform to attract businesses and entrepreneurs to bring jobs and opportunities to the area as well as a sustainable and inclusive living environment with an emphasis on wellness.”

Appropriately, the name — onMain — emerged from focus groups and conversations with members of the Dayton community who helped brainstorm ways a new name might express the community’s aspirations for this important development, said Mary Boosalis, president and CEO of Premier Health.

“The name marks the district’s location on Main Street, and is an invitation to live onMain, work onMain, learn onMain and meet onMain,” Boosalis said. “We envision a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use development with a distinct identity and personality that is open, welcoming and creative and complements the rebirth and momentum of downtown Dayton.”

Boosalis and Spina said the long-term vision for the district will take up to 15 to 20 years to fully realize, with the partners committed to developing the 38 acres as a sustainable neighborhood for economic development. As anchor institutions, UD and Premier don’t have the profit and time pressures that typical developers do.

The two institutions’ long-term vision for the property allows for flexibility but reflects the input of more than 850 members of the community through the broad-based Fairgrounds to Future planning process. Key elements of the vision include:

  • A truly walkable urban neighborhood with places to work, live and gather.
  • A focus on creative, innovation and entrepreneurial activities and jobs — retail will be geared to serve those who live and work onMain. The district is not intended to be a retail and shopping destination.
  • Mixed-income housing that offers opportunities for residents to live close to where they work.
  • Design standards for buildings that integrate environmental sustainability and wellness, reflecting the mission and values of the two institutions.
  • onMain’s employers, entertainment venues and housing will draw a diverse mix of people who are representative of the broader Dayton community and its vibrant neighborhoods.
  • onMain’s initial phase will focus on creating a critical mass of employment, housing, retail, and other uses at the south end of the site along Main Street.
  • Urban agriculture would be located on land at the western end of the site and on building rooftops.
  • Restoration of the property’s historic Roundhouse.
  • A “catalytic” building would be built at the northwest corner of Stewart and Main streets to spur development.

 

“The vision for onMain is transformative for Dayton,” said Jamie Greene, principal of planning NEXT, the planning firm hired to lead the process that culminated in the vision. “It is unlike any place in the region or the state, for that matter, with the integration of innovation-oriented employment opportunities, unique housing choices, active community gathering spaces and easy access to the river, bike trails and the core of downtown.

 

“Many communities — larger and smaller than Dayton — have significant anchor institutions, but few are providing this type of commitment and leadership. The University of Dayton and Premier Health leaned into the planning process over the past year and are now leaning into deliberate and thoughtful implementation actions,” he said.

As is typical with large, complex development projects that involve many community partners, a complete transformation of the property will occur in phases.

Premier Health and the University are taking steps to create a nonprofit development organization to manage the development process and provide day-to-day oversight of the property.

The two institutions purchased the 38-acre site in 2017 and have been working on a long-range vision for the property that builds upon their institutional missions and values, promotes economic development, and fosters a unique sense of place that serves broad community interests.

Outreach to potential funding sources has begun, a process that is likely to take at least 12 to 24 months before any new construction might occur on the property. Such partnerships could fund initial phases of the redevelopment, including roadways, utilities, water and sewer, and removal of some structures.

*****

Contact:

Cilla Shindell | University of Dayton | pshindell1@udayton.edu | 937-367-2889

Ben Sutherly | Premier Health | bwsutherly@premierhealth.com | 937-524-3264

Fairgrounds to Future Enters New Phase

By News

Financing, Making Site Development Ready Will Be Key Focus in Coming Months

The planning process for the redevelopment of the former Montgomery County fairgrounds has entered a new phase.

The property’s owners, Premier Health and the University of Dayton, are taking the steps necessary to make the 38 acres ready for development and to complete a long-term vision for the property’s transformation.

Outreach to potential funding sources has begun, a process that is likely to take at least 12 to 24 months before any new construction might occur on the property. Such partnerships could fund initial phases of the property’s redevelopment, including roadways, utilities, water and sewer, and selective demolition of existing structures.
In addition, as they finalize the preliminary vision unveiled in January, Premier Health and the University are creating the governance structure needed for day-to-day oversight as the project unfolds.

As is typical with large, complex development projects that involve many community partners, a complete transformation of the property will occur in phases and could take 15 to 20 years to achieve the full vision across all of the developable land. Premier Health and the University purchased the 38-acre site in 2017 and have been working on a long-range vision for the property that builds upon their institutional missions and values, promotes economic development, and fosters a unique sense of place that serves broad community interests.

The intermediate steps toward financing and implementation follow a broad-based planning process through which more than 850 people offered ideas, feedback and comments. Input came from meetings with the public and key stakeholders and was carefully considered in developing a preliminary vision for the property’s redevelopment.

“This is not your typical capital development,” said Mary Boosalis, CEO and president of Premier Health. “We have an ambitious vision that will take considerable public and private support to realize. As we said from the beginning, we want to do this right versus fast, and that will take time.”

“As is standard in any new development, our early emphasis is putting in place the resources and partnerships to support and ensure the success of the vision we introduced in January,” said University President Eric F. Spina. “The vision remains the same: to create a vibrant, mixed-use development that builds on Dayton’s history of innovation and entrepreneurship and can propel our next wave of jobs and opportunity.”

While Premier Health and Encompass Health construct a freestanding rehabilitation hospital north of the former fairgrounds near Miami Valley Hospital, hospital employees will temporarily utilize a portion of the north end of the property for parking.

Following the recent transfer of possession of the 38 acres this spring to Premier Health and UD from the Montgomery County Agricultural Society, passersby are seeing some changes to the property, including the installation of landscaping and iron gates.

Other activities also will be occurring on the property as necessary to prepare it for redevelopment. Selective demolition of some structures may occur during the second half of 2018, but will not include the historic Roundhouse, which will be preserved. A property management firm has been hired to maintain the grounds and keep buildings secure.

Vision for Former Fairgrounds Begins to Take Shape

By News

The University of Dayton and Premier Health have sketched out a preliminary vision for the former Montgomery County fairgrounds for a new kind of neighborhood that builds on Dayton’s history of innovation and entrepreneurship and can propel the region’s next wave of jobs and opportunity.

A 24-hour place where people live, work, learn and play, it should be a walkable neighborhood that integrates sustainability, advanced technology and unique amenities. Most of all, it should act as an innovation platform, where creative ideas for health care, energy, education, housing, business creation and thriving neighborhoods can be demonstrated and tested.

That’s the preliminary shape of a vision for the 38-acre site on South Main Street shared with community members at the fairgrounds on Jan. 25 by planning NEXT, the urban design firm working to develop a master plan for the area. Mary Boosalis, Premier Health president and CEO, and Eric F. Spina, University of Dayton president, were on hand to hear directly from community members.

“There is a great deal of excitement about where we are,” Spina said. “The overall direction and thrust identified by planning NEXT feel authentic and right for the site and for Dayton. We’re beginning to see the shape of a place that’s unique and like no other in the region.”

Boosalis said: “We know the proper development of the site for long-term regional impact will require support and investment from a variety of sources that see opportunities in the involvement of a leading health system and leading university on a site across the street from Miami Valley Hospital, a block from UD and less than a mile from downtown.”

They thanked all who participated in the planning process through which 42 groups and more than 600 people generated more than 1,300 ideas. The input was carefully considered and very valuable, they said.

Jamie Greene, principal of planning NEXT, said the input and research to date were distilled into 12 principles — or value statements — for the overall development of the site and asked participants to indicate how strongly the principles reflected their thoughts.

“We found there’s a development type missing from the region and the region risks losing certain kinds of jobs in emerging, creative, tech-based companies because we don’t have the kind of setting they’re looking for,” Greene said. “There is a demand for places where people can live closer to where there are jobs in research, technology and innovation.”

Historically known for innovation and entrepreneurship, the Stewart and Main area sits between UD and Miami Valley Hospital — two significant sources of innovation and advanced technology — and could be a place where the research interests of the University connect with Premier Health’s interest in applied technology. As a result, research, development, testing and evaluation could be enhanced in ways that benefit both institutions, Greene said.

Greene also shared a preliminary vision for the physical appearance and layout of the development that includes mixed-income housing; streets in a grid pattern; high quality public spaces such as plazas and green space; retention of the Roundhouse as a focal point; active sidewalks and places for people; institutional and office uses; retail aimed at serving the neighborhood; and creative urban agriculture.

Beyond the physical structure, Greene suggested the buildings and infrastructure of the development can exemplify the core values of the vision.

“This is not just another real estate project; this will be much more meaningful than that,” Greene said. “The buildings themselves should incorporate advanced technology and should represent an advanced approach to energy and applied technology such as sensors and autonomous vehicles.”

Spina and Boosalis emphasized much work remains to be done on the master plan. With the distinctive opportunities presented by the likely shape of the vision, the institutions will take time to analyze the next steps. Once the planning process is completed, UD and Premier Health expect to begin working with development and community partners to put together the pieces necessary to begin the first phase, including financing, for a multiyear, phased development.

Premier Health and UD see their role as helping to set the stage for the development of this one-of-a-kind neighborhood and platform for the future in a way that attracts partners and investors who want to be a part of the unique opportunity it presents and who bring an adventurous mindset and complementary assets.

With the vision, Boosalis and Spina said the two institutions intend to create a neighborhood that evokes Dayton’s history of innovation and serves as a platform that once again puts the community’s creativity and ingenuity to work in creating the future.

To learn more about the preliminary vision for the development, including the 12 principles and other material presented at the workshop, visit FairgroundstoFuture.org.

Public Invited to Jan. 25 Workshop on Fairgrounds Vision

By News

The Dayton community is invited to attend an interactive workshop detailing progress toward creating a community-minded vision for the former Montgomery County fairgrounds from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 at the fairgrounds Coliseum. The workshop is free and open to the public.

Premier Health and the University of Dayton purchased the 38-acre property on Dayton’s South Main Street last year, and launched a planning process to create a vision for its development to serve both anchor institutions’ missions, contribute to the region’s economic growth and address community needs.

At the Jan. 25 event, planning NEXT, the Columbus, Ohio, firm managing the planning process for the two institutions will share more about the shape of the overall vision and key principles for the overall development of the site distilled from ideas contributed by community members last fall.

Premier Health President and CEO Mary Boosalis and University of Dayton President Eric F. Spina said they look forward to checking in with the community and hearing how well those principles capture what was heard from the community through the planning process. They said they are pleased with the process so far and the spirit of collaboration with community partners.

During the planning process, more than 42 community groups and more than 600 people generated more than 1,300 distinct ideas. Upon completion of the planning process the partners expect to begin working with development and community partners to put together the pieces necessary to begin the first phase, including financing, for a multiyear, phased development.

To RSVP for the workshop and learn more about the project, including input from community members, visit www.FairgroundstoFuture.org. 

Get to know Premier Health and the University of Dayton

By News

Premier Health and the University of Dayton, the two institutions behind the Fairgrounds to Future process, have strong traditions of service and giving back to the Dayton community. Get to know their missions, visions and values.

Premier Health

Mission

We will improve the health of the communities we serve with others who share our commitment to provide high quality, cost-competitive health services.

Vision

People will choose Premier Health over any health system in southwest Ohio. We will earn their choice, and grow our market leadership, by anticipating their needs and exceeding their expectations.

Values
  • RESPECT each person’s dignity.
  • Act with INTEGRITY to do the right thing in all aspects of our responsibilities.
  • Serve with COMPASSION that embraces each individual’s concerns and hopes.
  • Commit to EXCELLENCE as measured to the highest level of performance.

Our mission, vision and values drive our dedicated service to the community.

The University of Dayton

Mission

Our mission is simple, yet profound.

The University of Dayton is a top-tier Catholic research university with academic offerings from the undergraduate to the doctoral levels. We are a diverse community committed, in the Marianist tradition, to educating the whole person and linking learning and scholarship with leadership and service.

Core Beliefs
  • The University of Dayton is a comprehensive university.
  • The University of Dayton is a Catholic university.
  • The University of Dayton is committed to the Marianist tradition.

You’re Invited to the Fairgrounds to Future Progress Workshop

By News

Come to the Coliseum at the Fairgrounds on January 25th at 6:00pm to hear a status update on the Fairgrounds to Future planning process. Participants will get to hear and see the progress being made on the plan for the site and offer input. Please RSVP below so we can plan accordingly. See you at the Fairgrounds on January 25th!

Fairgrounds to Future Progress Workshop

January 25, 2018

6:00-7:30pm at the Fairgrounds site (in the Coliseum)

RSVP

Please let us know if you plan to attend using the form below. By pre-registering you will also receive important updates on the planning process.

Please select a valid form

Impressive Start to the Fairgrounds to Future Planning Process!

By News

More than 200 people came to the Coliseum at the Fairgrounds on November 2 to learn more about the Fairgrounds to Future planning process and offer their ideas for the future of the site. “What happens with this project could have an impact on the future of our communities,” said one workshop attendee. At the workshop, participants worked in small groups to share their ideas for the site and brainstorm additional possibilities. Then they voted on their top three priority ideas and discussed why they thought those were the most important. “Lots of great ideas,” said another participant. “[There are] people with a lot of emotional investment in this project who want this to succeed.”

Since the start of the Fairgrounds to Future process, nearly 500 people have shared their ideas at a workshop or online. In addition, 30 stakeholder groups have been interviewed. To date, more than 1,000 thoughts about the future of the fairgrounds have been collected. These ideas will help inform the vision for the site.

If you haven’t had a chance to participate yet, we still want to hear from you. Just visit the input page to contribute your ideas today.

You can check out some of the local media coverage of the event and process at the links below. Thanks to everyone for their participation!

Fairgrounds to Future Goals

By News

The University of Dayton and Premier Health have drafted a set of overarching goals for the fairgrounds planning process and redevelopment. These goals will serve as a touchstone for more specific work. For the purpose of this work, a goal is defined as a “desired outcome expressed in simple terms.” The goals represent the highest aspirations of the University of Dayton and Premier Health for the planning process and redevelopment.

Process. The desired outcomes…

  1. Interested parties feel they have been heard through the various engagement opportunities.
  2. Facilitation aligns with the values of each institution (mission and identity).
  3. The larger community views the planning effort as a success.
  4. The two institutions—as well as other like-minded organizations—deepen their partnerships through implementation opportunities.

Place. The desired outcomes…

  1. Improvements to the site contribute to and are consistent with the values and missions of the institutions.
  2. Improvements to the site also advance the economic strength of the city and the health of the surrounding neighborhoods.
  3. The site—in its transformation—is authentic and remains a landmark and destination for Dayton.
  4. Businesses and a younger demographic (talent retention) are attracted to this place.
  5. The site is a safe, walkable place (foot traffic), with a mix of uses that is physically connected to adjacent places, including the river, and promotes healthy living.
  6. There is a long-term, forward-oriented approach to development that addresses emerging technology and land needs.

Economics. The desired outcomes…

  1. Development on the site will be supportive and complementary of other community planning and development initiatives.
  2. Residents in the city and surrounding neighborhoods have employment opportunities associated with the construction and final development.
  3. The redevelopment will leverage private and public investments for both this site and the surrounding community.
  4. A long-term leadership and ownership role is of interest to the institutions.

Premier Health and UD Invite Imaginative Ideas

By News

Mary Boosalis, President and CEO of Premier Health

Eric Spina, President of the University of Dayton

As we shape a vision for the revitalization of the former Montgomery County fairgrounds, we invite the community to join with us Thursday, Nov. 2, to imagine the possibilities.

Positive change in our community does not happen in a vacuum, nor does it happen overnight. We will kick off the multi-year revitalization effort by inviting ideas — and listening carefully. No decisions have been made about any particular redevelopment projects on the 38-acre parcel.  We are starting with a blank canvas, are open to imaginative ideas, and want to foster a healthy, robust dialogue about what could be.

Imagine a vibrant pedestrian-friendly mixed-use development on the doorstep of downtown Dayton. Envision a place where inventive minds — faculty and staff, doctors and researchers, neighborhood residents and community leaders — can work, live and play. Visualize a place that sparks creativity, that echoes Dayton’s inventive spirit throughout the ages.

Let’s dream big — together. It’s time to breathe new life into what’s arguably the most desirable developable tract of land in the city, building on the momentum of downtown revitalization.

Our two institutions have a long history of collaboration, with an eye on revitalizing the southern edge of the city. In partnership with the City of Dayton, CityWide Development Corp. and County Corp., we worked together to rebuild housing in the Fairgrounds neighborhood, enabling home ownership to grow to 75 percent. In concert with community leaders and private developers, we helped attract new businesses, graduate student housing, bike lanes and decorative street lighting on Brown Street, which has emerged as one of the city’s most successful redevelopments.

We also co-sponsor a healthcare symposium on community health and UD students gain experience in Premier’s hospitals and clinics. It’s a mutually beneficial partnership that speaks of the power of collaborative leadership in our community.

That’s why community leaders are looking to us, as strong anchor institutions, to be good stewards of this land, to transform it for future generations.

That’s a responsibility we take seriously and thoughtfully. We have partnered with planning NEXT, a master planning and urban design firm based in Columbus, Ohio, to help us develop an inclusive process that invites genuine participation and leads to a master plan.  While our decisions will reflect the needs and values of our institutions, we want to create a vision that honors our commitment to the Dayton community that we serve.

What will success look like? We want to create a vibe — a sense of place that capitalizes on the innovative and entrepreneurial ethos of the city, university and health system. We will work collaboratively with planning NEXT and community stakeholders to design a vision for the property that advances the missions of Premier Health and UD, boosts the economic vitality of the city and adds to the stability and health of the surrounding neighborhoods.

Please join us at 6 p.m. Nov. 2, for a “Fairgrounds to Future” community conversation — an interactive workshop at the former fairgrounds that’s open to the public. Please RSVP for the workshop here. If you cannot attend, you may also share your ideas for the property, here.

We’re committed to transforming this land for the future. Our shared future. It starts with imagining the possibilities.

You’re Invited to the Fairgrounds to Future Workshop!

By News

As part of the planning process, the partnership will provide a variety of opportunities this fall for meaningful input from community groups and other stakeholders as the vision for the development takes shape. The first opportunity will be the Fairgrounds to Future Workshop on November 2, 2017.

Participants will get to learn about the planning process and work together in small groups to discuss opportunities for the neighborhood, institutions, city and region.

Fairgrounds to Future Workshop

November 2, 2017

6:00-7:30pm at the Fairgrounds site (in the Coliseum)

RSVP

Please let us know if you plan to attend using the form below. By pre-registering you will also receive important updates on the planning process.

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What They’re Saying

By News

“This is such an exciting opportunity for the city of Dayton. As anchor institutions, the University and Premier Health have excellent track records whenever they do development. We know this project will be done with care and attention to the community’s wants and input.” – Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley

“We could not be happier with the thoughtful way in which UD and Premier are approaching the redevelopment of the Fairgrounds property. It took about five years of work by many community partners to get to this point, and we’re very confident that UD and Premier, as the new owners of the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, will redevelop the property to the benefit of the entire region for the next 100 years.” – Montgomery County Commission President Dan Foley

“University of Dayton and Premier Health continue their leadership in our community with today’s step forward in developing the former Montgomery County fairgrounds. With their leadership and investment, the former fairgrounds will reach its full potential and spur job creation and economic growth in the city.” – U.S. Rep. Mike Turner

“This historic parcel of land is important to so many in our region. I am grateful to Premier Health and the University of Dayton for welcoming public input on its future, and excited to begin the process of re-imagining its use.” – Sen. Bill Beagle

“Carillon Park is excited to learn more about the future of the former fairgrounds property, and is delighted to take part in the community discussion that will help guide the new beginning for the historic and strategically located acreage. The property is situated at the center of so many good things happening in Dayton.” – Dayton History President & CEO Brady Kress

Firm Selected to Develop Master Plan for Former Fairgrounds Property

By News

In coming months, the planning process for transforming the property – “Fairgrounds to Future: Transforming for Tomorrow” – will yield opportunities for meaningful input from individuals, community groups and other stakeholders. One opportunity for public input will be an interactive workshop, to be held from 6:00-7:30pm on November 2 at the former fairgrounds. The workshop also will be an occasion for representatives of both institutions and planning NEXT to share details of the five-month planning process.