Nearly $90M in residential development planned for Centerville

Most of the proposed new homes are in multi-family developments.

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Centerville hasn’t had any major multi-family developments in several decades, but that streak is likely coming to an end as at least five projects — costing at least a combined $89 million — are under development or in preliminary stages of design, with the potential to bring in several hundred new residents to the area.

“We haven’t had a new multi-family development within the city limits in probably over 20 years,” Centerville planning and zoning director Andrew Rodney said. “It would potentially introduce new residents to our community who would hopefully invest in single-family homes.”

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Awaiting approval from Centerville city council is the Allure development, a $25 million multi-family project at the site of the recently demolished Showcase Cinemas Theater. That project, which proposes over 300 one- and two-bedroom units, would also potentially provide an easement to Cross Pointe Shopping Center.

“The feeling is that it might have some benefit, long term, for the Cross Pointe Center and help create some additional synergies there for development purposes,” Centerville City Manager Greg Horn said.

Centerville officials are discussing the addition of a near 300-unit complex at the northern end of the Cornerstone of Centerville property, by the Indiana-based Fortus Group. Preliminary plans were presented to Centerville in February but Rodney says the discussions with the city are still “on-going.”

Most recently presented to Centerville are development plans for a 444-unit, multi-family development along Chardonnay Drive called The Lofts.

Nearly 70 percent of the units would be one-bedroom, with the remaining units being two-bedroom units, including 12 two-bedroom townhouses. Other plans for the Loft include their own retention pond, walking trails as well as surface and garage parking. The complex would also be within a mile of Cross Pointe Shopping Center and the proposed Allure project.

Randall Residence is building a new assisted living community in Centerville. It will be one of five potential new residential developments in the area. Dec. 1, 2016. TREMAYNE HOGUE/STAFF

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Centerville mayor Brooks Compton said the interest in so many multi-family developments stems from younger families wanting to gauge the community before they commit to buying a home.

“There’s a trend across the country that indicates that a portion of the population doesn’t necessarily want to start out in a home,” Compton said. “We think there’s an advantage in having really nice multi-family development available for people who’d like to live here and once they find out what a great city it is, they’ll stay.”

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While multi-family developments are gaining the most steam in Centerville, single-family homes are in development as well, proving more options for potential residents of the city.

A 27-unit single-family housing development called The Grove at Yankee Trace is under development between Paragon Road and Yankee Trace Drive. It is developed by Atlanta-based Yankee Trace Woods LLC. Brian Barnard, CEO of Yankee Trace LLC, said the cost of the project would be around $2 million in infrastructure, while the builder, Ryan Homes, said the costs for each home is between $350,000 and $500,000.

Barnard, a graduate of Chaminade-Julienne in Dayton, has vested interest in the area.

“My in laws and my family live in Dayton and I’m from Dayton originally,” said Barnard, who has owned the property for 10 years. “I was trying to bring some economic prosperity back home.”

While most of the developments are in stages too early to have seen shovels put to dirt, one project is finally underway in Centerville at Paragon and Social Row. South of the Groves development will sit a 164-unit senior/assisted living community Randall Residence at Social Row.

The $32 million project broke ground earlier this year after being first proposed in 2014 and is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2017.

New residential developments in Centerville

The Allure: $25M, 300-plus units

The Lofts: Cost unavailable, 400-plus units

The Grove at Yankee Trace: $2 million, 27 homes

Fortus Group (unnamed project): $30, million, 298 units


Randall Residence at Social Row: $32M, 164 units

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