Preservation Dayton Inc. said in a recent email that members received official notice from the State Historic Preservation Office that the district is officially part of the roster of noteworthy historic locales considered worthy of preservation.
Inclusion opens the door to tax credits that can lower renovation and redevelopment costs.
Inclusion has been a longstanding goal of Dayton advocates and preservationists who believe the area’s best days need not be in the past. Preservation Dayton Inc. received a $12,000 Ohio Department of Development grant late last year to research and nominate the area for the register, said Monica Snow, vice president of the local organization.
“If the nomination is approved, this will pave the way for property owners to apply for state and federal historic tax credits,” she told the Dayton Daily News in September.
The neighborhood has long been on Preservation Dayton’s radar. Now, members hope to stoke development interest.
Matt Gwin — an Oakwood resident, a University of Dayton School of Law graduate and a retired Air Force aviator — owns several commercial and residential properties and a storage company (Herk’s Hangar Self-Storage as well as Herk’s Moving).
He said he plans to develop the district or position it for another developer. “We still have plenty of work to do.”
Gwin owns 1910, 1930-38 and 1924-26 Main St. He’s also in the process of buying 1931-45 Main. He estimated he has invested about $600,000 into the properties so far.
Jokes and Tokes Comedy Store is renovating 1910 Main. A local soul food restaurant may move into 1934 this spring, Gwin said, although he declined to name the restaurant.
Gwin said he met Wednesday with a local developer he also declined to name. “I have a path forward after meeting with him,” Gwin said, but he added that this developer said he didn’t plan to invest in the area personally, at least not at this point.
The core of the area is one city block. Gwin said he intends to craft a financial plan, bring fellow investors and city government on board and renovate the district.
“It’s a passion for me up there, and for my wife, too,” said Gwin, a former C-17 pilot.
He said he is confident good things can happen in Santa Clara. “Absolutely, or I wouldn’t be there.”
“I see something in there,” he added. “I really do ... It’s going to blossom.”
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