City of Dayton spending $138M to improve neighborhoods
News Center 7 has uncovered the city of Dayton’s plan for spending $138 million in American Rescue Plan money.
There’s money for parks, sidewalks, and more neighborhood improvements. We first reported that $15 million was being used for home demolitions.
The city plans to spend $40 million more of the same money to improve city neighborhoods and city leaders believe strong neighborhoods make for a strong city.
Walker Gene of Dayton said, “That’s a good plan, a very good plan.”
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Gene said spending the largest part of the federal money on neighborhoods and housing improvements is much needed.
“There’s a lot of them that can be rehabbed and there’s a lot them – just need to be taken down,” Gene said.
Gene has lived in the Dayton View neighborhood for 52 years. He points out a home that someone across the street is working to restore.
The city is devoting $55 million in all to improve neighborhoods with the biggest chunk of spending with other categories listed between $7 and $21 million. Plus, the city will devote $36 million to cover losses from the pandemic and pay for city services through 2024.
Taking down homes is a big part of it, hopefully 1,000 or more in the next three years.
Steven Gondol, Deputy Director of Planning, Neighborhoods and Development said, “We’ve never really had this opportunity on such a scale to really take down these varying blights within a neighborhood.”
It’s not just the $15 million on demolition to improve neighborhoods. The city will spend almost $19 million to improve and fill-in housing plus rehab. Other large dollars will be spent on new sidewalks and curbs.
((Mike Campbell))
Improving neighborhood recreation and amenities is also included.
Almost $4.5 million will be for new and improved spray parks and more than $2 million to upgrade parks in general.
“Every decision we make needs to be around the theme. It is impactful for the community, we see ourselves as stewards of these funds, hopeful for a major transformation for the city of Dayton and it’s neighborhoods,” Gondol said.
One big spend in the category of improving and enhancing critical city services includes $11 million for a brand-new combined fire station and police substation.
