Local

City to spend $1.5M to stabilize crumbling downtown building

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DAYTON — A local city is spending $1.5 million to stabilize a building.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 6, Dayton and the Montgomery County Land Bank own the building on North Main Street next to Stratacache.

While emergency repairs have already been completed, much more work has to be done to protect the building and make their investment worthwhile.

“We expect from our vendor that the full-on roof replacement will be about six to eight weeks,” Planning, Neighborhoods & Development Director Steven Gondol said.

An aerial view shows all the facades that the storm ripped away and the emergency stabilization that has been completed.

The building will need a new roof to be put on the market.

City contractors are going to start work right away.

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“I think the thought that the public can have is we are going to put a building on the market, eventually, that is safe and sound,” Gondol said.

Storm damage dropped dangerous debris from the top of the building.

The damage is still obvious to the Stratacache and garage next door, estimated at $1 million by the building’s owner and CEO, Chris Riegel.

Riegel owns two other buildings downtown.

He said vacant, older buildings in the city’s business district pose a danger to the city’s future.

City leaders believe the building is a great candidate for redevelopment.

“We know it’s beneficial for the city, and whether that becomes places of work, housing, or lodging, whatever, we are pretty wide open,” Gondol said.

There is no timeline for the city being able to put this building up for sale.

Riegel estimates it’s one of 24 large, empty buildings downtown.

We will continue to follow this story.

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