“This (is) an extraordinary opportunity that’s over 100 years in the making,” said Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein.
Two future phases of the project are expected to be completed over the next 20 years.
When finished, the project could create 3,000 jobs, 1,600 housing units, 900,000 square feet of work spaces and offices and some retail and community spaces, developers have said.
The Dayton City Commission this week approved contributing $5.8 million toward the first phase of infrastructure improvements for the onMain project, which is in partnership between the University of Dayton and Premier Health.
The site is currently vacant and needs utilities, roads, sidewalks and park spaces for development.
The first phase of transforming the vacant fairgrounds property will require $23.5 million of new infrastructure, including four “pedestrian friendly streets,” two new community spaces and more than 460 parking spaces, according to plans.
Phase 1 is expected to get underway this upcoming spring and last through 2030. onMain says it will invest about $40 million to create about 170 new rental housing units and $70 million to build a 120,000-square-foot Digital Transformation Center.
“The vision is to create a walkable and connected neighborhood, one designed with five community spaces and a street grid tying in the current fairground neighborhood,” said Brian Heitkamp, CEO of onMain.
The five-story research and innovation facility is expected to focus on assisting the U.S. Air Force with its ongoing digital transformation work — digital management of materials and equipment.
The state of Ohio will contribute $35 million to pay for the first building and the future development of the onMain Innovation Hub.
The transformation center will be located at the corner of South Main and West Stewart streets.
Heitkamp said phase 1 will create new community spaces — a plaza and a trail and park-like area around a new retention pond on a southwestern section of the site. Heitkamp also said at least 15% of the new rental units will be affordable or workforce housing.
A diagram of the proposed project shows Phase 1 (2025-30) going from Stewart Street north to roughly across from Fairground Avenue, then Phase 2 (2031-37) from Fairground Avenue north to across from Wyoming Street, and Phase 3 (2038-45) across from Miami Valley Hospital, from Wyoming Street north to Apple Street.
Officials say 15 to 20 new buildings could be built on the property in the next 20 to 30 years.
The Dayton City Commission this week approved a development agreement, a master community reinvestment area agreement and a tax increment financing compensation agreement to support the project.
The city also is expected to chip in an additional $2 million for infrastructure costs in 2026.
“It’s been a long time coming and a lot of work by all parties here,” said Dayton City Commissioner Matt Joseph. “I’m looking forward to this getting started.”
About the Author
