Dayton does have momentum, there is transformation happening.

My experience as a Realtor, working with home buyers in Dayton Ohio is that they want to live in Dayton, they want housing alternatives like modern homes at a variety of price points. They want alternatives to cars as transportation. They want to live close to work, and to play. As a lifelong Daytonian, I’m excited about this plan as it addresses many of the issues that keep people from moving to Dayton, and adds more of what brings people into Dayton.

4 Responses to “What’s happening with Downtown Dayton?”

1. Thomas Johnson Says:
   May 21st, 2010 at 8:05 am

   The school system that serves Downtown must be first rate, otherwise young families will flee Downtown as they raise their families. When they hit peak earning years, those incomes will be well entrenched in the ‘burbs.

   I hope Dayton doesn’t fall into the light rail trap. Beware the multi-billion toy train consultants! The toy trains are too slow and run empty. Eventually servicing the debt sucks cash from the bus system that serves the folks who really need public transportation and leaves everyone else in their cars.

2. Teri Lussier Says:
   May 21st, 2010 at 12:28 pm

   Thomas-

   Don’t come into my home and rain on my parade!

   Here’s what you don’t understand- we need momentum. We have to have something to reverse the downward trend that has gripped Dayton for decades. Is all of this a good idea? No. Is it enough? No. Is it a plan? Yes. Thomas I know you don’t understand this because Houston is booming. Or maybe you do understand this because Houston busted once upon a time, but we are in need of forward momentum. Just having a plan, believe or not, we’ve not had one for a few years, can possibly generate momentum.

   I believe that people have to create the actual push, but a little nudge is important.

   You are dead on about schools. We’ve moved back to neighborhood schools and that’s good. It gives families in the neighborhood a sense of ownership and without that. schools struggle mightily without parental support.

3. Thomas Johnson Says:
   May 22nd, 2010 at 3:01 pm

   Teri: Yes, I am a veteran of the 15 year energy bust in Houston. There are places where prices have still not seen their 1980′s highs. Education, more than anything else drives not only neighborhood livability, but home values. The places where education happens attracts involved parents who will pay extra for a home where their kids can learn and that is the jump start for favorable momentum. If the schools are poor, the neighborhood will have a demographic blackout where families stay away sequestered in the ‘burbs for the schools. Houston has sprawled in no small part because of parents fleeing to better schools. I like to say that Houston Independent School District built the Houston suburbs. As energy costs continue to rise, I fear that we in Houston will end up with a Sophie’s choice of long expensive sprawling commutes or affordable commutes with poor schools.

   I saw no mention of light rail in the plan video, but these toy trains are very expensive boondoggles which ultimately squeeze the bus budgets. This happened in Houston. We got a multi $ billion train line from downtown to the football field. Nobody actually lives at either end. But oh, were the contracts juicy. Debt service has squeezed the bus budget for the folks who actually use the bus system for daily transportation.

   I am pulling for Dayton’s recovery – any place that has kayaking downtown is OK by me.

4. Teri Lussier Says:
   May 22nd, 2010 at 3:30 pm

   The light rail… sigh.
   We’ve got plans to bring high-speed from Cleveland through C-bus into Dayton then onto Cincy. I don’t want to discuss it, Thomas.

   Schools have faltered here as they have in most inner core cities across the country. We both know that families go where the schools are. Now, having said that, we have several very excellent schools in the Dayton Public School system. We considered a move to the City of Dayton to get our daughter into Stivers- their high performing arts magnet; our daughter’s interests changed before we had to make that decision. I believe the end to busing here, the return to neighborhood schools will help create local and immediate ownership, concern, involvement of parents. Not all parents, of course, but more than are currently participating. It’s baby steps, but I’ll take it.

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