Greater Old North Dayton on rebound
What’s old is new again. That’s what more and more people are saying about Dayton neighborhoods, and Greater Old North Dayton may be leading the way, thanks to ongoing collaborative efforts.
Comprising Old North Dayton and McCook Field, Greater Old North Dayton is a diverse area of small- to mid-size homes and a variety of commercial properties, from small, family-owned businesses to large industrial plants.
Its rich history includes settlement by German and Central/Eastern European immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and, in the early 21st century, Ahiska Turkish immigrants from Russia and other regions of the former Soviet Union. The area’s churches, social clubs and restaurants have for decades reflected the culture of the immigrant communities.
Greater Old North Dayton is undergoing a transformation driven by residents, businesses and organizations participating in the DaVinci Collaborative, a comprehensive community development plan. The plan includes transportation system improvements such as reconstructed roadways, wayfinding signage and gateway landscaping, plus targeted demolition and rehabilitation of properties.
The DaVinci Collaborative is administered by CityWide Development Corporation, the City of Dayton’s development partner (for more information, go to citywidedev.com).
Community activities include the popular Taste of Old North Dayton/National Night Out, held annually in August. Active groups include the Greater Old North Dayton Business Association, the McCook Neighborhood Association and the Old North Dayton Neighborhood Association.
Major institutional investments since 2005 include the Salvation Army Kroc Community Center and, more recently, CARE House and the Dayton Children’s patient tower. MAHLE Behr has completed expansion and upgrades at its sprawling plant at Stanley Avenue and Webster Street and is just one of many manufacturing or service firms to invest in facilities, equipment and employees in recent years.
Through the DaVinci Collaborative, public funds have been directed to demolition of blighted or obsolete commercial, industrial and residential structures. More than 40 residential properties have been demolished since 2014, with more to come.
In early October, the community and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base celebrated the unveiling of a new marker for McCook Field, the historic airfield site lending its name to the nearby neighborhood.
The Kroc Center recently announced a plan to expand its campus across Webster Street, adding a soccer field, amphitheater and other amenities.