DAYTON — The University of Dayton is hitting “pause” on capital investment for the former Montgomery County Fairgrounds redevelopment project called “On Main,” university President Eric Spina told News Center 7′s John Bedell on Wednesday.
UD is a capital partner in the redevelopment with Premier Health. Spina said the demolition and site design have been completed there – so they are in a holding pattern right now.
Spina said US is looking for any federal stimulus money available to provide support for infrastructure projects – like On Main – but said until then, “On Main will sit until really everyone is in a better situation and we can come out of this.”
The Dayton Arcade redevelopment is not a capital project for UD. Spina said the university is leasing space for that project.
“My understanding is the developers continue to make big progress,” Spina said.
UD’s role in the Arcade project won’t be changed by the pandemic. If that space still comes online in January as planned by the developers, the university would be ready to occupy the space, he said.
Spina said the university is sad right now because of the layoffs and furloughs.
“We understand it’s much harder news to receive. So for those affected have been in our thoughts and prayers and that’s true for everyone across campus,” he said.
Still unclear is whether there will be students on campus this fall.
Spina said he could not guarantee in-person classes as planned in August.
“We are working toward having students on campus in the fall," he said. "So we’re working closely with our Montgomery County health commissioner and closely with individuals with state higher education and state public health to understand what are the expectations and what are the requirements in order for us to have students on campus.
"And we need to figure out what we need to do as a university to ensure safety. And what do we expect of our faculty, staff and students. Quite frankly, until there is a vaccine, thinking that it’s going to be just like it was is it foolhardy. We’re going to require everyone to think a little bit differently and probably act a little bit differently.”
Spina said UD came into the pandemic strong in terms of its finances, faculty, staff and students The decisions that are being made now, while painful, will make sure UD come out of this strong.
“This is not a time when people should say, ‘Oh I’m worried about the future of the Univrsity of Dayton,’ Spina said. "We should be worried about the health of our people, make certain we do this right, but UD is doing the things it needs to do to make certain we’re here for a long, long time.”
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