West Dayton residents upset over lack of development

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Some West Dayton residents are upset their neighborhood isn’t seeing as much development as downtown.

Zakiya Sankara-Jabar has lived in the north-west part of Dayton for about 20 years. She and her husband are raising a 9-and 2-year-old in the area.

“We have to drive long ways to go to a decent restaurant for dinner. It’s not in the Dayton, usually in another township or Vandalia,” said Sankara-Jabar.

2 NEWS reporter Maytal Levi sat down with Shelley Dickstein, Dayton City Manager who says she understands the concerns, but the city doesn’t have control over developers.

“We do not drive investment to downtown. We don’t tell developers where to invest. They go where they have an opportunity to get a return on their investment,” said Dickstein.

Sankara-Jabar says she disagrees.

“I do think they absolutely can control where developers want to develop by making a community and a city desirable to develop and they have done a great job of making downtown attractive for developers we can’t say the same for west Dayton,” said Sankara-Jabar.

“We know because of the demographics of west Dayton we are going to have to drive development differently because people aren’t knocking down our doors to develop,” said Dickstein.

A West Dayton Development Fund (WDDF) was established in 1996 to provide services to the community. 2 NEWS requested a detailed report of how much money has been spent. To date, $10,351,837 has been spent in areas including youth, retail and housing developments.

“I’ve heard that figure and it’s really tough to see when you drive down Gettysburg or West Third Street. There are dilapidated homes or boarded up homes,” said Sankara-Jabar.

Overall, there have been 105 projects funded. Since 2005, $2.5 million was invested and leveraged $36 million in private investment, according to city officials.

Dickstein says development downtown doesn’t only benefit the city center, but the entire metro area.

“Downtown provides 40-percent of our total income tax revenue. The better downtown does, the more funding the city has to provide services and other investments across the city,” she said.

The city says it is putting together an aggressive plan to help boost the west-side. Dickstein says she’s personally leading it. “People don’t believe it if they can’t see it, or touch it and so I’m looking for something that brings that hope back,” she said.

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UPDATE:

Weeks after 2 NEWS reported about the West Dayton Development Fund, Sankara-Jabar says she met with Mayor Nan Whaley to discuss her concerns.

She says no promises were made, but the mayor said she would continue to work on ways to improve Sankara-Jabar’s neighborhood.

We reached out to the city for comment, we were told the best way to make your voice heard is by coming to city commission meeting on Wednesday mornings.

As of June 1, there was $510, 576 in the fund. Below is a detailed report of where money has been spent since the fund’s inception:

Project Year WDDF Amount Total Investment Type of Project Use of Funds
1997
Arlington Community Center $ 1,762.00 $ 1,762.00 Comm Dev Youth
Dayton Urban League $ 325,000.00 $ 464,285.00 Comm Dev Youth
*Delta Sigma Theta $ 2,500.00 $ 2,500.00 Comm Dev Youth
*Ecumenical CDC $ 100,000.00 $ 200,000.00 Comm Dev Housing
Edgemont Neighborhood Coaltion $ 100,000.00 $ 100,000.00 Comm Dev Neigh. Devel.
West Area YMCA $ 100,000.00 $ 100,000.00 Comm Dev Neigh. Devel.
Just for You Laundromat $ 80,000.00 $ 50,000.00 Econ Dev New Cons
Your Place Night Club $ 1,600.00 $ 1,600.00 Econ Dev Retail
1998
*Alpha Kappa Alpha $ 37,500.00 $ 37,500.00 Comm Dev Youth
*Campfire Boys and Girls $ 67,000.00 $ 67,000.00 Comm Dev Youth
*Concerned Christian Men $ 75,000.00 $ 75,000.00 Comm Dev Youth
DMHA/Melissa Bess $ 61,000.00 $ 141,860.00 Comm Dev Housing/Educ Prog
Domestic Action Program $ 6,000.00 $ 6,000.00 Comm Dev Youth
Links: Mercy Manor $ 112,450.00 $ 300,000.00 Comm Dev Neigh. Devel.
Midnight Basketball $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00 Comm Dev Youth
*Nehemiah NDC $ 100,000.00 $ 243,902.00 Comm Dev Housing
New Choices $ 100,000.00 Comm Dev Youth
*Zion Church $ 350,000.00 $ 350,000.00 Comm Dev Neigh. Devel.
Advanced Assembly $ 400,000.00 $ 2,300,000.00 Econ Dev Manufac.
*First Step Infant and Childhood $ 58,500.00 $ 200,000.00 Econ Dev Service
National Minority Business League $ 300,000.00 $ 417,064.00 Econ Dev Business Dev.
*The Beauty Clinic $ 14,458.00 $ 57,832.00 Econ Dev Retail
*Vinique Beauty and Nail $ 27,500.00 $ 68,000.00 Econ Dev Retail
*WDAO Radio Station $ 75,000.00 $ 225,000.00 Econ Dev Service
*Your Bakery $ 50,000.00 $ 50,000.00 Econ Dev Retail
1999
Bella Vista Estates $ 180,000.00 $ 1,800,000.00 Comm Dev Housing
Dakota Center $ 50,000.00 $ 50,000.00 Comm Dev Youth/Educ Prog
Dayton Airmen $ 35,000.00 $ 35,000.00 Comm Dev Youth
MultiCultural Supporters $ 154,434.00 $ 250,000.00 Comm Dev Neigh. Devel.
*Urban League/MLK Development $ 270,000.00 $ 386,800.00 Comm Dev Job Training/Childcare
West Dayton Neighbors for Education $ 180,000.00 $ 180,000.00 Comm Dev Youth
*Westwood Boxing $ 1,400.00 $ 1,400.00 Comm Dev Youth
*Heard Management $ 5,500.00 $ 5,500.00 Econ Dev Service
*Wright Technology Network $ 35,000.00 $ 100,000.00 Econ Dev Service
*Your Ideas Corp. $ 50,000.00 $ 103,487.00 Econ Dev Retail
*Hot Daddy’s Vending and Mobil $ 18,275.00 $ 78,215.00 Econ Dev Retail
Innerwest CDC/Duncan Oil $ 110,000.00 $ 1,685,323.00 Econ Dev Retail
*Mr. Hero Restaurant $ 210,000.00 $ 600,000.00 Econ Dev Retail
*Scor-Mor-Lanes $ 127,065.00 $ 300,000.00 Econ Dev Retail
*Small World Daycare $ 116,239.00 $ 400,000.00 Econ Dev Service
*S.W. Distinguished $ 60,000.00 Econ Dev Service
2000
*DCDC $ 20,000.00 $ 60,000.00 Comm Dev Youth
Ecumenical Neighborhood CDC $ 230,000.00 $ 547,619.00 Comm Dev Housing
BBP Communications $ 50,000.00 $ 116,625.00 Econ Dev Service – Marketing
*Papa John’s Pizza $ 150,000.00 $ 750,000.00 Econ Dev Retail
Dura-Crete, Incorporated $ 32,942.00 $ 80,000.00 Econ Dev Manufac.
*Heard Management $ 16,200.00 $ 16,200.00 Econ Dev Service
*Guardian Angel Adult Daycare $ 95,000.00 $ 187,000.00 Econ Dev Adult/Senior Day Care
Labor Solutions $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00 Econ Dev Workforce Dev
*RUT’s, Incorporated $ 150,000.00 $ 500,000.00 Econ Dev Property Improvements
*Unique 7 Yard Greetings, Inc. $ 14,000.00 $ 56,000.00 Econ Dev Retail
*Willis “Bing” Davis Studio and Gallery $ 46,300.00 $ 77,166.00 Econ Dev Bldg Upgrades
*Wright Technology Network $ 20,000.00 $ 160,000.00 Econ Dev Service
2001
AIDS Foundation Miami Valley $ 150,000.00 $ 150,000.00 Comm Dev AIDS Educ/Awareness
ISUS $ 500,000.00 $ 1,359,227.00 Comm Dev Housing
Edgemont Neighborhood Coaltion $ 25,000.00 $ 25,000.00 Comm Dev Youth Dev
Habitat for Humanity $ 69,000.00 $ 138,000.00 Comm Dev Emer. Housing Repairs
MLK Development Coalition $ 85,000.00 $ 85,000.00 Comm Dev Neigh. Devel.
*McClendon Institute for Learning $ 35,000.00 $ 35,000.00 Comm Dev Youth/Summer Prog
Mercy Manor $ 75,300.00 $ 163,000.00 Comm Dev Neigh. Devel.
*Huffie’s Bar-B-Que $ 143,750.00 $ 240,217.00 Econ Dev Retail
CityWide/W. Third St. $ 515,000.00 $ 1,250,000.00 Econ Dev Retail
*Willis “Bing” Davis Studio and Gallery $ 85,550.00 $ 183,253.00 Econ Dev Bldg Upgr/Marketing
2002
Miami Valley Fair Housing $ 100,000.00 $ 225,000.00 Comm Dev Neigh. Devel.
Rebuild Together Dayton $ 10,000.00 $ 100,000.00 Comm Dev Housing
Wright- Dunbar Ph. 3 $ 350,000.00 $ 857,000.00 Comm Dev Housing
West Dayton Education $ 45,000.00 $ 59,200.00 Comm Dev Youth
CityWide/W. Third St. $ 585,000.00 $ 2,500,000.00 Econ Dev Retail/Service
Grandview/Hopeland Clinic $ 100,000.00 $ 300,000.00 Econ Dev Admin – Clinic
2003
Grandview/Hopeland Clinic $ 100,000.00 $ 300,000.00 Comm Dev Admin – Clinic
2005
Reynolds & Reyolds $ 55,900.00 $ 218,000.00 Comm Dev Absestos Remediation
*Ware Banquet Center $ 80,000.00 $ 763,000.00 Econ Dev Acquistion/Bldg Upgr
2006
Dayton Fund for Home Rehabilitation $ 50,000.00 $ 450,000.00 Comm Dev Low Inc Housing Repairs
2007
Rebuilding Together Dayton $ 120,000.00 $ 480,000.00 Comm Dev Sr. Housing Repair
*First Dayton Little League $ 5,000.00 $ 10,000.00 Comm Dev Repairs to Ballpark
*Street Soujahz $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00 Comm Dev Community Engagement
Madden Hills Housing $ 45,000.00 $ 200,000.00 Comm Dev Housing Dev
*Urban League $ 50,000.00 $ 200,000.00 Comm Dev Youth Workforce Training
2008
Dayton Foundation $ 25,000.00 $ 25,000.00 Comm Dev Mkt – Police & Fire Recruit
Dayton Fund for Home Rehab $ 100,000.00 $ 325,000.00 Comm Dev Low Inc Housing Repairs
City of Dayton – Water Dept $ 63,400.00 $ 63,400.00 Comm Dev Water Infras Upgr
Mercy Manor $ 92,092.00 $ 400,000.00 Comm Dev Bldg Upgr
Wright Dunbar, Inc. $ 70,000.00 $ 850,000.00 Comm Dev Bldg Upgr
2009
Miami Valley Construction $ 66,625.00 $ 199,875.00 Comm Dev Workforce Dev/Training
Mary Scott Nursing Home $ 150,000.00 $ 600,000.00 Econ Dev Bldg Updr/M&E
University of Dayton $ 3,000.00 $ 3,000.00 Econ Dev Mkt Analysis Study
2010
*Harrison Township Cemetery $ 5,378.00 $ 5,378.00 Commission M&E
Rebuilding Together Dayton $ 35,000.00 $ 106,060.00 Comm Dev Sr. Housing Repair
Wright Dunbar, Inc. $ 50,000.00 $ 151,515.00 Comm Dev Bldg Upgr
*Small World Daycare $ 100,000.00 $ 1,200,000.00 Econ Dev New Const
2011
*Boys & Girls Club $ 14,960.00 $ 14,960.00 Comm Dev Youth Dev
American Heat Treating $ 35,000.00 $ 1,100,000.00 Econ Dev Acquistion/Bldg Upgr
Germantown Produce $ 18,857.00 $ 73,200.00 Econ Dev Bldg Upgr
*Loritts-Neilson $ 100,000.00 $ 300,000.00 Econ Dev Façade/Bldg Upgr
*Renee’s Gourmet Creations $ 20,400.00 $ 81,600.00 Econ Dev Bldg Upgr/Fixtures
2012
RW Armstrong, Inc. (West Dayton Study) $ 105,000.00 $ 105,000.00 Comm Dev Area Wide Assessment
2013
Sugar Creek Packing Company $ 150,000.00 $ 1,200,000.00 Econ Dev Property Upgr
*Sweet Dots Bakery & Café $ 25,000.00 $ 50,000.00 Econ Dev Bldg Upgr/M&E
2014
CItyWide (WDI) $ 180,000.00 $ 180,000.00 Comm Dev Professional Services
*Emmie’s Place $ 40,000.00 $ 80,000.00 Econ Dev Bldg Upgr/M&E/Inv
Malt Products $ 50,000.00 $ 23,000,000.00 Econ Dev New Constr
2015
Rebuilding Together Dayton $ 50,000.00 $ 200,000.00 Comm Dev Sr. Housing Repairs
Home Avenue Redevelopment $ 300,000.00 $ 4,200,000.00 Comm Dev Brownfield Redev
*DCDC $ 80,000.00 $ 435,461.00 Comm Dev Bldg Upgr
2016
*Mirrah Image Beauty & Wellness Salon $ 25,000.00 $ 110,000.00 Econ Dev Bldg Upgr
TOTAL WDDF PROJECT AWARDS $ 10,351,837.00
LEVERAGED PRIVATE INVESTMENT $ 59,380,986.00
*minority businesses/organizations
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