Dayton City Commission Meeting – July 2, 2026: Twin Towers Neighborhood Revitalization Presentation

The Dayton City Commission heard a presentation from the East Dayton Neighborhood Development Corporation (NDC) and partners on a comprehensive revitalization plan for the Twin Towers and Ruskin West neighborhoods. The presentation highlighted two housing projects, an analysis of neighborhood challenges, and a call for a coordinated, data-driven approach blending physical improvements, code enforcement, and social services.

Discussion Items

• Housing Projects Announced:
  • 43 George Street Rehab: A 140-year-old house was fully renovated (new porch, insulation, hardwood floors, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths) at a cost of $160,000, expected to sell for $170,000 as affordable homeownership. The NDC funded this with its own reserves.
  • Twin Towers Healthy Homes Project: The NDC, in partnership with County Corp, the Land Bank, and the city, secured a $1.2 million Welcome Home grant from the State of Ohio, with $810,000 allocated to Twin Towers. This will fund approximately 7 new homes (down from 9 planned) on basements, costing about $270,000 each to build, with a sale price of roughly $170,000, creating a $100,000 gap per unit. County Corp will manage production, and Unibilt will build the homes. The project targets four blocks in Ruskin West, including new construction on Hawk Street and a second rehab on Hawk Street.
• Neighborhood Conditions:
  • Homeownership rates: The NDC reported the focus area has about 3% homeownership (though later stated Twin Towers is at 30%, down from a citywide 48%). The area has roughly 100 vacant lots, with more demolitions expected.
  • Incivilities: The NDC defined incivilities as physical signs of disorder, neglect, and anti-social behaviors that drive disinvestment. Examples included a deteriorated alley behind George Street, a burned-out house on Hawk Street that sat for over 3.5 years, and absentee landlords. A letter will be sent to all absentee owners in Ruskin West demanding property maintenance, with code enforcement backup.
• Partnerships & Call to Action: The NDC has convened 15 local organizations (including East End Community Services, County Corp, police, fire, and social service agencies) into three work groups: public safety and property standards, physical improvements, and social connectedness. The goal is a collective impact plan with measurable goals, reversing the spiral of disinvestment, restoring physical attractiveness, and rebuilding community fabric.
• Commissioner Questions & Feedback:
  • Commissioner Beckham asked about cost-effectiveness of rehab vs. new construction. The NDC responded that rehab can be comparable in cost but is less efficient for volume; new construction is better for scalability but requires critical mass.
  • Commissioner Beckham also asked how the city can help. The NDC identified public infrastructure (sidewalks, curbs, alleys) as the city’s primary role, along with code enforcement. The city manager noted code enforcement has only 29 inspectors, a capacity challenge.
  • Commissioner Shaw inquired about collaboration among organizations. The NDC explained the work group structure is still forming, and the city will come alongside to support a unified plan.
  • Commissioner Joseph praised the NDC’s fearlessness and noted the city hopes to replicate the model elsewhere.
  • Commissioner Fairchild suggested the city formally co-sign the absentee owner letter to add weight, and recommended involving police and fire chiefs. The city manager agreed to explore this. Commissioner Fairchild also urged city staff to report issues they see (e.g., from trash trucks, police) via Dayton Delivers, and encouraged a collective reporting culture.

Key Outcomes

• The NDC announced the completion of the 43 George Street rehab (sale pending) and the award of $810,000 for 7 new homes in Ruskin West, with construction expected to begin soon.
• The city and NDC committed to a coordinated approach: the NDC will lead community engagement and work groups, while the city will provide infrastructure, enforcement, and support for the absentee owner letter.
• The Commission directed staff to explore co-signing the absentee owner letter and to reinforce internal reporting of code violations.
• Next steps include a mayor’s walk in the neighborhood the following week, continued work group meetings, and development of a formal plan with measurable goals.