Dayton is begging proposals to build new homes in the Wolf Creek neighborhood, which is already expected to benefit from millions of dollars in new residential investments nearby by County Corp and Charles Simms Development.
Dayton has identified vacant lots it wants to see converted into detached single-family homes, townhomes, apartments or condominiums and higher-density development.
The Wolf Creek and Wright Dunbar areas already have 54 new rental homes and townhomes, and many people believe this section of town is the next housing hotspot.
“Wolf Creek is rich in natural, built and community assets,” said Dayton City Planner Susan Vincent.
Dayton last week issued one notice of financing opportunities for new homes in Wolf Creek neighborhood, which is located near the confluence of the Great Miami River and the Wolf Creek tributary.
The city wants single-family homes scattered on vacant lots that generally range from 0.09 to 0.13 acres.
The city is looking for infill housing at various price points that could be between 1,200 and 1,800 square feet.
Creative architecture and modern design is encouraged for homes that still fit into the context of surrounding properties, the funding opportunity notice says.
The sites are primarily between West First and West Second Streets, east of North Broadway Street.
The city is also interested in denser housing at the southeast corner of North Broadway and West First streets and the northwest corner of Edison and Broadway streets.
The sites are very close to the property where County Corp. plans to build single-family rental homes.
The sites are about 0.4 and 0.9 acres, and the city would like to see three- or four-story buildings with attached single-family homes, multi-family apartments or condominiums built there.
The city says additional consideration will be given to creative designs or housing products such as “bungalow patios” or live-work units.
Eventually, the city wants to turn about five acres of property along the Wolf Creek tributary into a mix of two- and three-story residential buildings.
Dayton says proposals can be a mix of single-family homes, apartments or condos, and housing should be designed to take advantage of views of the waterway and downtown.
As part of this redevelopment project, the city hopes to vacate and remove a section of Dakota Street that runs parallel to Wolf Creek to create new housing and new ways to access the waterfront and a multi-use recreational trail that runs through the his side
The Wolf Creek area is in a great location across from downtown, close to community assets and adjacent to the Wolf Creek Waterway and Wolf Creek Recreational Trail, said Vincent, the city planner.
“In addition to providing direct access to the regional trail network, these waterways offer beautiful views and clear views of the downtown skyline,” he said.
Additionally, County Corp plans to build about 28 new single-family homes in the Wolf Creek neighborhood, while Charles Simms Development wants to build 26 new homes north of West Third Street in the nearby Wright Dunbar Business District.
County Corp is very close to closing financing for its project and a groundbreaking is expected by the end of the year, said Adam Blake, the group’s vice president of housing.
Blake said rental units should be available next spring and the project will help “jump start” market-rate investment in the neighborhood.
Wolf Creek is located north of the Wright Dunbar Business District, which is home to the city’s first food hall and a variety of shops, businesses and historic sites.
Charles Simms Development hopes to begin construction on new townhomes on the former Gem City Ice Cream Co. property. in the next 30 days and will take about two years to build, said Charlie Simms, the company’s president.
“The whole city needs new housing where they can get that,” Simms said.
