Dayton Daily News Building Partially Demolished

 

On Monday, November 18, a portion of the Dayton Daily News Building at Fourth and Ludlow streets in downtown Dayton, Ohio was demolished. The contractor, Steve R. Rauch Inc., began a tear down of the 1922 addition that was in violation of the city’s Landmarks Commission. The developers, Student Suites of Missouri, were required to make a case to the Landmarks Commission for permission to demolish the building but had not done so. Student Suites managing partner, Dick Davis, questioned the stop-work order, stating that he was “trying to work out why we were asked to stop.”

 

Earlier in the year, the Student Suites questioned the economic feasibility of retaining the facade, but the city’s Landmarks Commission required that the developer retain the facade of the 1908 and 1922 Dayton Daily News Building in return for the demolition of the adjoining Schwind Building. The financial penalty assessed for violating the order is $500.

 

The complex, constructed in 1908 and expanded in 1922 and again in the 1950s, was vacated by the Dayton Daily News in 2007. It is highly unlikely the 1922 addition will be salvaged. The structure was compromised and the rear third has begun a lean inward which could lead to a complete collapse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They should be fined for the complete cost of replacement, even if the structure is not rebuilt.

Those pictures are painful to look at. 

 

Student Suites managing partner, Dick Davis, questioned the stop-work order, stating that he was “trying to work out why we were asked to stop.”  Has he ever even looked at the front of this building?  What a frustrating loss this is for Dayton.

Seems like there is no effective leadership in Dayton at all, if a contractor can brush aside a violation of procedure like this. Will there even be serious consequences for this?

I have said it before and I will say it again: Dayton is becoming the next Detroit. 

Those pictures are painful to look at. 

 

Student Suites managing partner, Dick Davis, questioned the stop-work order, stating that he was “trying to work out why we were asked to stop.”  Has he ever even looked at the front of this building?  What a frustrating loss this is for Dayton.

 

 

Fitting first name for Mr Davis...