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.
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 |
