“The David Building — or Huffman Block building — represents the heart and soul of the project, and it’s the foundation on which everything else will be built upon,” said Winfield Scott Gibson, co-owner of the Fire Blocks properties.
The Fire Blocks project was one of two locally awarded state historic tax credits. The official award announcement was made today.
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The second award, for $106,000, will support converting two historic homes into institutional housing to benefit Grandview Hospital.
“Preserving these historic buildings will help revitalize neighborhoods and downtowns,” said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency. “Historic rehabilitation transforms underutilized properties into assets for communities.”
On Tuesday, the state announced it has awarded $27.8 million in state historic tax credits to rehabilitate 39 historic buildings across Ohio. Two local projects won awards.
The Ellway Group is developing the Fire Blocks District.
The group proposes utilizing historic tax credits to turn the David Building at 111-129 E. Third St. into 84 market-rate units. The plan is for interior parking in the basement and commercial space on the ground floor storefronts facing Third Street.
Developers propose using tax credits to help rehabilitate the Elks Building, located across the street at 100 E. Third St. The Ellway Group plans to convert the second and third floors into 10 apartments.
The first-floor commercial spaces and the lobby at the corner of Jefferson Street will be renovated, according to the developer’s plans.
“This allows us to give Dayton the best possible product we can give it,” said Gibson, with the Ellway Group.
Plans submitted to the state indicate that Centerville CrossFit and Wells & Co. Custom Tattoo will occupy the first-floor space in the David Building. In the Elks Building, the existing tenant, Century Bar, plans to expand and a taco and tequila bar called El Sueno plans to open in the northwest corner.
“There is a whole lot of energy downtown that is reinforcing itself,” Gibson said.
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