It may not look like much now, soon the historic Elks building in Dayton will transform into a retail and residential facility, which neighbors say will help revitalize the area.
“I like going downtown anyway,” said Mark Woodard of Dayton. “I feel like it would be awesome if there were more to do down there.”
The planned transformation is part of the Dayton Fire Blocks District, which is a new residential housing and entertainment businesses complex using historic East Third Street buildings.
Renovations for the Huffman building are already scheduled to begin in March, and the developer said there are plans to buy more buildings near East Third and Jefferson streets.
Key to the project, which has a $100 million price tag, is to use resources already in place to bring tax dollars to the city, said project developer Elway Group CEO Winfield “Scott” Gibson.
“Take buildings that are already pre-existing, roads that are pre-existing and use them to make money,” he said.
“Our actual contribution with respect to the $100 million is closer to $70 (million),” Gibson said.
Tenants who set up business in the buildings and tax credits will shore up the remaining $30 million, he said.
