Sidney theater gearing up for new renovations

 

 

A historic building in downtown Sidney is gearing up for a new round of renovations, officials tell me.

 

Plans call for upgrades to begin late this year on the Historic Sidney Theater at 120 W. Poplar St. The theater is owned and operated by nonprofit Raise the Roof for the Arts. Sarah Barr, executive director of Raise the Roof, said updates will breathe new life into the historic theater, which first opened in 1921.

 

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http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2015/09/24/exclusive-sidney-theater-gearing-up-for-new.html

Revitalization planned for historic building dating back to 1923

 

A Shelby County city hopes to bring new life to one of its largest downtown buildings.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2019/04/04/revitalization-planned-for-historic-building.html

 

New development plan aims to improve vitality of Sidney's downtown, riverscape areas

 

In an effort to revitalize Sidney's downtown and riverscape, the city has hired a consulting firm to develop a plan officials hope will provide a foundation for growth, attraction and investment in these areas.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2020/09/01/sidney-development-plan.html

 

Downtown Sidney building poised for mixed-use redevelopment — if it can find a buyer

 

A prime piece of real estate in downtown Sidney is poised for a mixed-use transformation, but the city still needs a developer to step up to the plate.

 

The Ohio Building, located at 113 N. Ohio Ave. in the downtown business district, was acquired by the city three years ago. Since then, the roof has been replaced, masonry has been restored and other structural issues are being addressed with funding from the city.

 

Additional work will include a new HVAC system and construction of a second stairwell for the upper floors. The interior condition is such that a full inside demolition and restoration will be required through much of the building, which can be divided to suit tenant needs.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2020/11/25/sidney-community-spotlight-ohio-building.html

 

Sidney looks to transform Wagner property into business incubator, co-working space

 

The city anticipates this redevelopment effort will facilitate the launch of 20 to 30 early-stage companies that would create 75 new, high-paying jobs.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2020/11/30/pdac-wagner-business-incubator-co-working-space.html

 

Developers sought to transform two historic properties in downtown Sidney

 

City and county officials are working to transform a pair of historic buildings in the heart of downtown Sidney, and are actively seeking developers to partner on the respective projects.

 

The Ohio Building at 113 N. Ohio Ave. and the old Shelby County Jail at 203 Court St. have long been targeted for redevelopment as they both sit in prime locations near the Sidney Courthouse Square Historic District. To get the latest updates on these projects, the Dayton Business Journal reached out to Sidney and Shelby County government officials.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2021/12/03/sidney-community-spotlight-redevelopment-projects.html

 

Sidney city officials address housing disparities in community

 

A local community is facing a housing crisis for its residents, and to combat the shortage, is implementing housing initiatives to strengthen the community and boost the population.

 

The need for housing in Sidney is not new. In fact, the last time a new apartment complex or housing subdivision was built was over 20 years ago. But with new businesses and opportunities spreading to the community, local leaders decided to implement a change and are now making strides to provide housing for Sidney residents.

 

At the end of 2022, Sidney implemented a city-wide Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) over the entire city, which grants property owners with tax incentives for investing in property improvements. Through the CRA efforts, the city will focus on commercial and residential real estate in an effort to provide more housing and business opportunities for residents. The initiative has already spurred two major apartment complex programs that utilized the CRA abatement, with an estimated investment totaling over $60 million between the two projects.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2023/03/13/sidney-housing-initiative.html

 

Sidney updating its master plan, adding new parks projects

 

In response to Sidney residents' concerns and wants, the local city government is implementing new master plans to evaluate local needs and execute new facilities to enhance the community.

 

The City of Sidney is currently executing a 20-year comprehensive plan to adjust and evaluate the city based on the citizens' thoughts and needs. The plan is updated every five years, with the last update taking place in 2018. The plan is being update again this year.

 

Every five years, the city receives input from the community about how goals and strategies may have changed. Then they identify areas that need to be mended. The process can take up to a year, and final decisions are set to be presented to the city council in April of 2024.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2023/03/15/sidney-master-plan-parks-recreation.html

 

Downtown Sidney amping up efforts to boost business and community

 

In an effort to revitalize the downtown area, Sidney officials are looking to expand and construct new businesses to entertain local residents.

 

The Piper Building in downtown Sidney has found new life. Originally constructed in 1886, the storefront structure at 124 S. Main Ave sat vacant for many years. City Manager Andrew Bowsher brought in Tim Spencer, president and co-founder of Trivium Development to enhance and modify the historic building, which is set to begin renovations soon.

 

The space will be leased out to multiple businesses to create a family-style entertainment venue equipped with duck pin bowling, arcade games, and a restaurant. On the main floor, the Painted Pepper will move in. The Painted Pepper is currently located in Springfield and is a Mexican restaurant that serves breakfast burritos, tacos, quesadillas and more. A full-size kitchen is set to be installed.

 

Down in the basement is where the duck pin bowling alley will be, followed by arcade games. The top floor will be dedicated to coworking space for Brickhouse Blue, which is based in Dublin.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2023/03/15/downtown-sidney-piper-building-austeria-wine.html

 

Developer seeks nearly $1M in state funding for redevelopment of historic building

 

A well-known commercial developer in the region has sought state support for the redevelopment of a historic building in a growing municipality. The $11.2 million project has previously received state funding and will help meet growing needs in the community.

 

Dayton-based Woodard Development recently applied to the state’s Transformational Mixed Use Development (TMUD) Tax Credit Program for nearly $1 million to help support the redevelopment of the Ohio Building in downtown Sidney. The developer was awarded $1.8 million in historic tax credits earlier this year from the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program.

 

Constructed in 1923, the five-story Ohio Building originally housed businesses and office space with the Venus Chocolate candy manufacturing facility occupying the rear. The building later hosted a variety of tenants, including a prominent pool hall and bar, but has been vacant for many years.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2023/09/27/ohio-building-redevelopment.html

 

$50M apartment complex will add 200-plus units to 'rapidly growing' municipality

 

An almost $50 million apartment project is set to bring over 200 units to the Dayton region. The development will add housing to an area desperately needs it as "rapid growth" continues.

 

Crawford Hoying and JBM Development, both based in Dublin, Ohio, are readying to embark on a $46 million apartment project at 2150 Echo Drive in Sidney. The development, coined "The Mills," will sit at 250,000 square feet, dispersing 216 market-rate units across 10 residential buildings — in addition to a clubhouse and pool.

 

The news comes Sidney and Shelby County have seen "rapid growth with an influx of corporations investing in the area," according to a Crawford Hoying representative. But the city's residential growth hasn't kept up; in fact, Sidney hasn't seen a new apartment complex or housing subdivision in over two decades.

 

"It has been quite some time since a new multifamily development has occurred in Sidney, and we're looking forward to bringing a quality, highly amenitized residential product to this beautiful community," the spokesperson told the Dayton Business Journal in an email.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2023/10/04/sidney-apartments-crawford-hoying-jbm-development.html

 

$5M project would give new life to blighted site through business incubator

 

A $5 million redevelopment project in the Dayton region is steadily making headway toward taking shape. The project, which has been over a decade in the making, would provide entrepreneurs in a growing municipality the opportunity to get a leg up in starting their business.

 

The Wagner Ware site, located at 440 Fair Road in Sidney, has long been an eyesore in the community and a cause for public safety concerns. It originally served as the former foundry of the Wagner Manufacturing Company that produces cast iron and aluminum products until 1952.

 

The building has had several owners until the metal finishing manufacturer Master Vision Polishing closed the location in 2008, where it has sat vacant since. Over the years it has been the subject of emergency clean-ups by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, trespassing and vandalism, and partial demolition after partial collapse left debris on public sidewalks.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2023/11/29/wagner-building-business-incubator-pdac.html

 

City looks to restore historic theatre, anchor development in $1.5M project

 

A restoration project that is revitalizing an iconic historic building in the Miami Valley is moving toward the next steps needed to bolster the efforts to maintain the facility. The $1.5 million portion of the project would help maintain the long-term sustainability of the anchor for performing arts in a growing municipality.

 

The Historic Sidney Theatre has been the anchor of downtown Sidney for over a century. Raise the Roof for the Arts (RTR) purchased the building in 2009 with the mission to renovate and operate the theater for cultural, artistic and educational purposes that would benefit the broader community. Over the past 14 years, RTR has renovated much of the theater, which has included installing new seating, repainting the interior and renovating the bathrooms.

 

For the next phase of the project, the city of Sidney is seeking $1 million in funding to support stabilizing the roof and exterior of the building. By doing so, RTR will be able to focus on efforts to continue interior renovations to the upper levels of the theater, which includes increasing seating capacity to 900.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2023/12/27/historic-sidney-theatre-pdac.html

 

Three Dayton projects receive state tax credit, a first for the program

 

The Ohio Building

 

Finally, The Ohio Building in Sidney won almost $1 million from the program. 

 

The $11.2 million project, a partnership between Woodard Resources and the city of Sidney, plans to rehabilitate the building in downtown Sidneyʼs Historic Court Square District. 

 

The proposal includes 6,000 square feet of office and retail space and 14 studio, 22 one-bedroom, and four two-bedroom residential units. Officials think it will support the city's housing needs. 

 

"We are thrilled that our partnership and developer were awarded this tax credit," Sidney City Manager Andrew Bowsher told the Dayton Business Journal in an email. "The City had owned this property for some years, and it's exciting to place it back into service and recreate some of the magic it once prevailed. The Ohio building is a historic structure in our downtown, and this project will serve as another catalyst in an ever-expanding redevelopment for Sidney."

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2024/01/30/ohio-transformational-tax-credit-dayton-arcade.html

 

$11M redevelopment project steps closer to next phase; see details

 

A once-dilapidated structure looming over a downtown landscape is undergoing a transformational project that will breathe new life into a local community. The project has been seven years in the making and recently received a boost from the state.

 

The long-vacant Ohio Building that has sat idle in downtown Sidney is the focus of major redevelopment, set to begin as early as April. The $11.2 million project has been funded by a mix of state and federal historic tax credits, and with all the capital in place, Woodard Development is in the process of getting final permits for interior renovations approved and will be accepting bids for the work once plans are finalized.

 

Redevelopment efforts include 6,000 square feet of space split between retail and office, as well as 14 studio, 22 one-bedroom, and four two-bedroom residential units. The redevelopment work is expected to take 12 months to complete, with the whole building anticipated to open by summer 2025.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2024/02/13/ohio-building-redevelopment-update.html

 

Refurbishment of historic building in Sidney begins construction phase

 

A project turning a historic office building in a Dayton suburb into a new space for commercial and residential has began its next phase. The city of Sidney is investing $11 million into transforming the 60,000 square-foot structure into a mixed-use building. The Ohio Building sits at 113 North Ohio Ave. in downtown Sidney’s Historic Court Square District.

 

The transition is being spearheaded by Woodard Development; a Dayton-based construction company founded by Jason Woodard. Woodard recently finished demolition on the buildings interior, mainly focusing on tearing out any water-damaged materials and has now began the next phase of construction inside the building.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2024/05/13/historic-building-in-sidney-construction-phase.html

 

Sidney continues transformation of historic downtown with new mixed-use structures

 

A local city is continuing its goal to give a historic downtown a modern facelift. Sidney plans to redevelop several locations throughout the city into mixed-use real estate. Both projects are being developed by Trivium Development, a Columbus-based commercial construction group.

 

The first project that is being worked on downtown is the Piper building. The bottom floor will be used as a restaurant space, which will feature an outdoor patio directly next to the building in what is known as Piper Park. The top floor will be manly office space overlooking the downtown square. Sidney is actively seeking Tenants to use these spaces when the building's renovations are completed.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2024/05/30/sidney-downtown-transformation.html

 

'Shovels in the ground' as Sidney sees housing boom and diversification

 

After losing 1,200 residents in the late 2000s, Sidney seemed to be at a crossroads. But nearly two decades later, the city is experiencing a housing boom.

 

As of March 2025, new residential developments, including apartments and single-family homes, are sprouting up across the city, driven by a focus on affordability and community.

 

The numbers back up this resurgence, with significant increases in home prices and sales.

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2025/03/27/sidney-housing-development-real-estate-multifamily.html

 

$60M-plus in substantial investment drives Sidney’s downtown revitalization

 

A Dayton suburb is continuing efforts to bring vitality to the heart of its community.

 

More than $60 million has been invested into the City of Sidney’s landscape. This includes previous projects and planned endeavors moving forward.

 

Andrew Bowsher, city manager, referred to downtown Sidney as the city’s “crown jewel.” He said revitalization efforts have been a long time coming, and increased amenities will make the city a more attractive destination.

 

“Our downtown has consistently been a priority for our city leaders and stakeholders who have pushed to move this revitalization effort forward,” Bowsher said. “We have private business holders that really wanted to utilize their political and financial capital to make positive changes in our community. It is an ecosystem of individuals coming together in both the public and private sector to make this happen.”

 

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https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2025/03/28/city-of-sidney-investment-downtown.html