Can anyone tell me what Riverdale is like? (Dayton, Kettering: real estate, loft)

[smurf_goddess]

Hi,

I am researching moving into Dayton, and was wondering what the Riverdale area is like. It seems like there are a lot of creative schools there for kids, and some art galleries. Hard to tell from a map, so thought I would ask. I am used to living in Capital Hill of Downtown Denver, and also very cold Rural Colorado, if this helps.

Thanks,
Jennifer

[dayton_ohio]

In general, you'll want to avoid Riverdale -- it's a fairly dumpy area near downtown Dayton (I think, could be wrong). That doesn't mean it's not safe to drive through, walk in, or go to school in, but your neighbors will be on the poorer side.

If you want an older and cheaper home, you might want to look at Kettering. You probably could drive to the Wegerzyn Gardens area, which I think is near Riverdale, in 10-15 minutes from the northern parts of Kettering.

[JefferyT]

Here is a detailed pix tour of "Middle Riverdale", between Helena Street and I-75. It starts with a history, then gives you a tour of Main Street and the side streets and the riverside area.

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=12120.0

The neighborhood has OK blocks and pockets, but it is becoming one of Dayton's zones of destruction, having lost 20% of its housing stock between 1990 and 2000, and you will find a lot of board-ups and abandonments, more closer to downtown and the river.

For what you seem to be interested in,for in-town living, the Oregon, South Park, Fairgrounds, and St Annes Hill and maybe Huffman would be better...Oregon is the closest-in neighborhood, next to downtown, and has the nightlife. Gallerys & the art scene here are just picking up...& that would be in the loft areas of Webster Station.


Kettering is pretty banal postwar suburbia, but there is one pocket in Kettering with a lot of character, and that is Southern Hills, particularly the area closer in to Dayton and next to Hills and Dales Park. This is older bungalows, four squares, and hansel and gretl cottages on nice, hilly, tree-lined streets backing up to a park.

If you are interested in urban living in Dayton check out this site, or contact the host...

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=12120.0

[smurf_goddess]

Thank you- this is really wonderful information. Gives me a good idea of what to expect from the neighborhood. Are there similar tours of Dayton neighborhoods I might preview before I visit? I am particularly interested in the area around the University of Dayton and surrounding neighborhoods.

I am also interested in the idea of revitalization of Dayton neighborhoods. These houses seem beautiful and fairly safe. Similar to North Denver before it took off and property values skyrocketed. Are there any people on this post who have similar interests? Not really to encourage gentrification, or to make it difficult for current residents to live there now, but to work with communities to have a strong base- work together on improving neighborhoods, community gardens, etc., with the people that are already there.

[JefferyT]

You won't find them on this board as this is more suburban oriented, and people will direct you to suburban areas.

Go to Dayton Most Metro, and try to contact the board host, or post on one of the blogs there for info
Dayton MostMetro.com

I have put together a few "tours" but they are more oriented toward neighborhood history, sort of like that Riverdale one.

The areas near UD to look at are the Fairgrounds Neighborhood and South Park. There is some innovative things (for Dayton) going on there involving urban regeneration

Fairgrounds:
FairgroundsNeighborhood.com - The Fairgrounds Neighborhood of Dayton, OH

South Park (not be confused with the mountain valley in Colorado!). They have a good site with a YouTube film link and some pix and a tour.
Welcome to South Park Historic District

I've parented some historical threads on the area , but it looks at the rougher, older parts of the neighborhood:

Dayton: Lower South Park/Older South Park

(D8N) Urban/Dense South Park....yet another stroll through the neighborhood.


But also look at St Annes Hill. This is a neat little neighborhood. Here is their blog

St. Anne's Blog on the Hill

Full Disclosure: I've done some in-depth historical analyses of the place and was even invited to present to the neighborhood group, so I have bit of a vested interest in it.. Here is a brief tour...

Saint Anne's Hill - SkyscraperCity

...and if you want St Annes Hill history I can link you to three in-depth threads on the place.

St Annes is close to what you asked about as there are people involved who lived in the neighborhood all their lives, so it wasnt just gentrifiers ...

Community gardens are sort of a new thing here. There is one in Edgemont, on the west side that is well known, but I am not sure if this has taken off in a big way in the neighborhoods, aside from ornamental vest pocket park gardens.

I think there was a community garden in Riverdale at one time, not sure if it is still operating.











Here are some resources for you:

[the_pines]

I never even heard of Riverdale and I lived in Dayton most of my life. Its a typical looking place around the inner city I would say. South park and Five Oaks would be similar but with bigger more intricate houses. Overall Dayton is in need of a lot of repair. It wouldn't be a small project. Every community would have to have a lot of people involved to make it work.

What to do about the east and west sides that are very run down?

Anyways im in Tampa now but I would certainly love to do what I could to help clean up Dayton and turn the city into something special again. It may sound stupid but I also want to go around Ohio's 88 counties and plant trees. Lebanon Cedars, Sequoias, Redwoods, and tons of other types of trees. Its an investment in Ohio's air quality, its housing industry, and its scenery. Its also an investment in its future economy because people love trees. That's just a fact. A want to open a giant nursery and help neighborhoods and travel around the state planting vast amounts of trees. Imagine the state fifty years later after all those thousands of different types of trees were bigger.

Its just a hope. That's how much I love the place.

[penelopelp]

JeffreyT's post is awesome! I haven't had a chance to read all the links in depth yet, but these include great information and photos. We walk & bike through McPherson, St. Anne's, the Oregon District, South Park, Grafton Hills and Huffman. I love to see people taking care of their neighborhoods, and spending time on their gardens.

JeffreyT, do you have this kind of in depth info on Dayton View--specifically upper Dayton View?

[the_pines]

I'm moving back. Going to try and get involved in helping an inner city community. Do my part as a Daytonian. Whatever you do don't make our real estate prices even border line expensive. That would go against two hundred years of the states history. Love my Ohioans. You see that grass in some of those pictures? That's the best natural grass in the "entire world."