Dayton gives $5.8M for $133M onMain fairgrounds redevelopment project

A rendering of the onMain project. The project seeks to redevelop the 37-acre former Montgomery County Fairgrounds property on South Main Street in Dayton. CONTRIBUTED

A rendering of the onMain project. The project seeks to redevelop the 37-acre former Montgomery County Fairgrounds property on South Main Street in Dayton. CONTRIBUTED
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Dayton’s elected leaders on Wednesday night approved contributing $5.8 million toward the first phase of infrastructure improvements for the massive onMain project that is expected to transform the former Montgomery County Fairground property.

The first phase of the project to redevelop the 37-acre fairgrounds property could cost more than $133 million.

This includes the construction of 170 new rental housing units ($40 million), a large building containing research and innovation spaces ($70 million) and new infrastructure ($23.5 million). onMain is a partnership between University of Dayton and Premier Health.

The city is expected to chip in an additional $2 million for infrastructure costs in 2026.

The onMain project that seeks to redevelop the 37-acre former Montgomery County Fairgrounds could create 3,000 jobs, 1,600 housing units and lots of commercial, office, innovation and retail spaces. CONTRIBUTED

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The vacant fairgrounds site is going to get four “pedestrian friendly streets,” two new community spaces and more than 460 parking spaces.

“This (is) an extraordinary opportunity that’s over a 100 years in the making,” said Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein.

The city commission on Wednesday approved a development agreement, a master community reinvestment area agreement and a tax increment financing compensation agreement to support the project.

“onMain is grateful for the city of Dayton and Dayton City Commission approval of legislation that will continue to build momentum for this transformational project,” said Brian Heitkamp, CEO of onMain. “We look forward to continued collaboration with our community partners to make onMain’s innovative vision a reality.”

This story will be updated.

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