The Chic Guide: What is The Dayton Arcade?
Megan Dunn Peters, Arcade Community Manager at The Dayton Arcade: The Dayton Arcade is a complex of nine buildings totaling over 500,000 SF in the heart of downtown Dayton’s central business district.
The Chic Guide: What’s the inspiration behind it?
Dunn Peters: The full development plan will recast the Arcade in much the same way it was initially developed in the first decade of the 20th century—with a mix of retail, offices, event space and housing.
The first phase of the project, the South Arcade, will consist of an innovation center with the University of Dayton as a higher education partner. Included in the South Arcade are 110-unit residential LIHTC and market rate development for artists and creative entrepreneurs, a shared commercial kitchen program, multiple event spaces, and food and beverage-focused retail.
The second phase, the North Arcade, will include a marketplace retail and restaurant environment as well as micro-lofts or hospitality user space.
The Chic Guide: Who’s behind the renovations and redevelopment?
Dunn Peters: The development partners are Cross Street Partners, Model Group, McCormack Baron Salazar, and Structural Technologies.
The Chic Guide: What inspired the renovation to give the arcade a future?
Dunn Peters: A task force was created by the City of Dayton in 2015 to take a look at the viability of the Dayton Arcade. It would found that public investment would be much better suited to redevelopment rather than demolition. Development efforts started from there, with financial closing and construction beginning in 2019.
The Chic Guide: When will it open?
Dunn Peters: Currently, the Hub, powered by PNC, is open to its members and students and the Rotunda is open by event only. The Contemporary Dayton’s art galleries are open to the public Wednesday through Sunday. The residential Arts Lofts at the Arcade are over 95% leased.
The Chic Guide: What makes The Dayton Arcade unique?
Dunn Peters: The Dayton Arcade is such an emotional location for many in the region, and it is truly a one of a kind space for creative collisions that will help revitalize downtown Dayton.
The Chic Guide: Is there anything else new on the horizon for the arcade?
Dunn Peters: We are excited to begin development work on the second phase of the project, the North Arcade, which will hold the style of marketplace food and beverage retail component that Daytonians remember.
The Chic Guide: Where can readers go to learn more and follow along?
Dunn Peters: We encourage the community to follow arcadedayton.com and our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.
