The city intends to sell the Linden complex so it can be used in a non-recreational capacity.
David Pigford, an architect who worked to get the property a historic designation, said he would like to redevelop the site, but declined to share specific plans.
His organization’s website says the redevelopment project will be a “multi-million dollar infusion” of new investment.
“This first step really is the removal of a barrier that allows us to proceed or pursue development,” said Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein.
Dayton city commissioners on Wednesday had the first reading of legislation that will remove the Linden center from the city’s public commons plan and parks master plan.
The Linden center was one of 14 properties the city declared as surplus in 2011 to support their redevelopment, said Aaron Sorrell, Dayton’s director of planning and community development.
About seven of the properties have active leases, were transferred or are being used in some fashion, Sorrell said.
Pigford’s nonprofit, the Gem City-Hilltop Community Development and Housing Inc., helped get the Linden center on the National Register of Historic Places, which makes the building eligible for state and federal historic tax credits, Sorrell said.
The city entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Gem City-Hilltop community development group that allowed it to do predevelopment work on the site without having to worry about it being sold to another party, Sorrell said.
Pigford, who has offices across from the Linden site, declined to share his group’s plans for the property.
“Obviously, the most important thing is for us to have the highest and best use that benefits the community,” said Dayton Commissioner Joey Williams.
The city closed the Linden Center in 2006.
Two years earlier, a consultant hired by the city recommended eliminating the city’s existing pools and neighborhood centers and replacing them with two large recreation complexes and an outdoor waterpark.
Over time, the city closed its six outdoor pools and smaller community centers including: Stuart Patterson Center on Baltimore Street; the Westwood Center on Leland Avenue; the Burkhardt Teen Center on Burkhardt Avenue; the Ellison Center on West Third Street; and the Arlington Center on McCall Street.
The city spent about $3 million renovating the Northwest Recreation Center and Lohrey Recreation Center.
The city also constructed the $8.5 million Greater Dayton Recreation Center on West Third Street, which opened in late 2010.
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