County reps to discuss Austin Pike interchange plans

http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/11/10/ddn111008austinplanweb.html

 

Officials from Montgomery County are expected to present a plan Monday night, Nov. 10, to best take advantage of a proposed Austin Pike interchange on Interstate 75 to grow jobs and boost development in the county.

 

The meeting, at 7 p.m. at Cox Arboretum, will involve the Montgomery County Transportation Improvement District discussing the Austin Interchange Development Project plan with officials from Miamisburg, Springboro and Miami Twp.

 

...

Austin Pike project not easy to fund

http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/11/12/ddn111208austinfolo.html

 

The events center and hockey arena envisioned for the planned Austin Pike interchange is being touted as great idea that will be a challenge to fund, particularly in today's economic climate.

 

Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, raised the possibility of shifting $2 million in state capital budget funding now allocated for Dayton's Ballpark District to Austin Pike. Husted, who becomes an Ohio senator in January, said if Dayton's project can't use the money in the near term, "we probably would be better off transferring that money to Austin Road." He said a decision to shift that money would be made in conjunction with the city, Montgomery County, Gov. Ted Strickland and area legislators.

 

Dayton City Manager Rashad Young said he was surprised to hear talk of shifting the money away from downtown Dayton.

 

...

Austin Pike project not easy to fund

 

Cool, it's about time this project went forward. However, with all this talk about a hockey team, what about the Bombers?

Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, raised the possibility of shifting $2 million in state capital budget funding now allocated for Dayton's Ballpark District to Austin Pike. Husted, who becomes an Ohio senator in January, said if Dayton's project can't use the money in the near term, "we probably would be better off transferring that money to Austin Road."

 

Just for grins, the developer that wants to build the arena/event center, RG Properites, gave $15K to Husteds' campaign fund.

 

 

Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, raised the possibility of shifting $2 million in state capital budget funding now allocated for Dayton's Ballpark District to Austin Pike. Husted, who becomes an Ohio senator in January, said if Dayton's project can't use the money in the near term, "we probably would be better off transferring that money to Austin Road."

 

Just for grins, the developer that wants to build the arena/event center, RG Properites, gave $15K to Husteds' campaign fund.

 

This is an amazing story..they want to take $2M out of the budget for Dayton's arena district development and put it towards the Austin Road interchange.  RG Properties is pretty much the "guru" of big box develoment.

^

Not the interchange itself but a developement adjacent to the interchange.

 

But wait!  There's  More!

 

The Dec 9 DDN Reports

 

Hotel-motel tax hike could finance arena

By William Hershey

Staff Writer

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

 

COLUMBUS — Montgomery County commissioners are seeking a change in state law to permit them to levy up to an additional 4 percent lodgings tax to help finance an events center and hockey arena envisioned for the Austin Pike interchange south of Dayton.

 

The lodgings tax in most of the county now is 6 percent, with 3 percent going to the locality in which the hotel or motel is located and 3 percent to the county, Montgomery County Administrator Deborah Feldman said today, Dec. 9.

 

Of the county's share, 70 percent goes to the Dayton-Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Feldman said.

 

...

 

The hotel tax subsidy to the hockey arena/event center didn't pass the state leg, but note that all local politicians are on board, and espeically note John Husted's POV on downtown Dayton...recall this guy was the speaker of the Ohio house for awhile:

 

 

Proposal for Austin Pike arena runs out of time in 2008

Senate president says he did not know local officials had worked out their disagreements.

Dayton Daily News

By Lynn Hulsey and William Hershey

Thursday, December 18, 2008

 

A proposal to allow Montgomery County to pay for an Austin Pike arena with an increase in the lodgings tax is dead for the year, and the local legislator who put it before the Ohio House said he is was embarrassed by the disarray among local officials regarding the issue.

 

"I was frustrated because I had gone through a lot to get it worked out at the state level and then have it fall apart," said Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering.

 

Local officials say interchange development will occur, regardless. But they say a hockey arena and events center likely will not happen without public financing, and the community could lose a chance to develop a unique "destination" when the state builds an interchange at I-75 and Austin Pike in southern Montgomery County starting next year. They hope to attract high technology businesses, and use the events center to draw people — and sales tax revenue — north from the Cincinnati area.

 

...

 

Why a hockey arena as the anchor amenity for Austin Road?  Becuase the developer is apparently a hockey fan, with a home rink and his own private Zamboni machine, reports Dayton uberblogger David Esrati:

 

"There is a hockey rink off Austin Road, but you wouldn’t know about it unless you play. It’s in an old tennis barn, and it’s one of the coldest rinks I’ve ever played in.

 

"The boards are catywampus, the stands are just aluminum bleachers, and the locker rooms could double as a meat locker, but the ice is hard and fast. And the poor sap who owns it, paid for it with his own money, not yours.

 

"Now, Randy Gunlock, of RG properties, who already has a private ice rink in his backyard- complete with a full size Zamboni- wants to have the country raise taxes to build a 5000 seat hockey stadium- that he’ll end up owning just because, well, he can afford to buy a legislator or two

 

New Montgomery County Sales Tax to Make the Rich Richer

 

 

This is an open letter but not a public letter, as it was only sent to "community leaders" (one of whom happens to post at the Dayton Most Metro forum...one of two places that have a healthy discussion on local urban affairs issues), from the county commission, rationalizing their support for a public subsidy to the Austin Road "event center"..ie hockey rink...

 

 

Here is Montgomery County's "official" position and explanation for the need for this Austin Road project... enjoy!

 

Dear Montgomery County Business and Community Leader:

 

Recently you may have read about the new interchange at Austin Road and the proposed development around it. The interchange will represent a $70 million dollar investment of federal, state and local funds and will open over 1,200 acres of land for development on the high growth I-75 corridor between Dayton and Cincinnati. Plans for Austin Landing, the 400 acres immediately adjacent to the interchange, include a mixed use development of over 5.5 million square feet containing office, light industrial, retail, and residential. Additionally, as a focal point of the development, there is a proposed 6,000 seat event center. This project is one of the largest and most significant development efforts our community has undertaken and we believe it is critical to the long term renewal of the Montgomery County economy. We recognize that many of you may have questions about the importance of this project, the purpose of the proposed event center, and why we are considering the use of the hotel/motel or lodging tax as one of several financing options. We would like to take this opportunity to answer each of these questions directly.

The purpose of this letter is to share with you important information regarding the Austin development. It is critical that it be understood in the context of Montgomery County’s comprehensive economic development plan which is based on principles of balanced growth throughout the County. Our comprehensive plan includes strategies around continued support of our core city, a focus on logistics and distribution along the I-70 corridor and adjacent to the Dayton International Airport, support and promotion of our regional strengths around advanced materials and manufacturing, aeronautics and sensor technology, IT and human effectiveness.

 

The news has recently been filled with disappointing events regarding the local economy, most significantly the closure of the GM Moraine truck plant, and the current national recession. However, we are confident that as a community, if we remain focused on these strategies, we can turn our economy around. Recent successes such as the 800,000 square foot Payless distribution center in Brookville, $1.6 Million investment in TechTown & IDCAST in Dayton, and the new Care Source headquarters building in downtown Dayton are evidence that these strategies are working.

 

Why Austin Road?

Southern Montgomery County is home to of some of our largest high tech companies including Lexis Nexis, Teradata and New Page. These companies represent over 4,000 jobs and from a competitive standpoint, they have consistently told us that access to the workforce along the I-75 growth corridor is essential to their staying and growing in the region. The interchange also provides a strong connection to the Miamisburg Mound and redevelopment there that has created over 250 jobs over the last five years. Any successful plan must be based upon a realistic assessment of the current situation. The facts are that over the last ten years, Montgomery County has lost population. However, the counties directly south of us, Butler and Warren, represent some of the fastest growing areas in the state.

 

Here are two statistics that support this population trend:

Between 2000 and 2009, the number of people 22 to 24 living in Warren and Butler Counties grew 14% and 51%, respectively. The number of people 25 to 29 grew 20% and 91%.

 

We can look at these demographics and “wring” our hands and declare Montgomery County a “dying” community as a recent magazine declared or we can turn this reality into an asset.

The Austin Interchange is within a thirty minute commute time of northern Hamilton County, most of Greene County and all of Montgomery County. It provides an ideal location for employers interested in recruiting a work force from this wide and diverse geographic area. Growth along the I-75 corridor south of Dayton is not a possibility, it is a reality. There are eight interchanges between I-275 and Austin Road. Growth at each of these interchanges has been stunning over the last ten years and the development already underway or soon to be underway includes an outlet mall, industrial/business parks, multiple retail establishments and restaurants. We strongly believe that with aggressive and bold planning, we can create a high-visibility destination at Austin that will attract many of the high quality companies considering a location in Southwest Ohio. With those employers comes a superior workforce that is essential for the long-term vitality of the region.

 

Why an Event Center?

We strongly believe it is critical that the Austin Interchange development have an anchor amenity to differentiate the location from other developments along the I-75 corridor. We need something to encourage potential companies and employees to look north on 75 and not south. We must create a sense of “place”. Market analysis and ongoing research consistently indicate that an anchor amenity is essential. We believe the proposed event center would be a key catalyst to creating the identity which is so important to the development’s success. Negotiations are ongoing with Mandalay Entertainment, owners of the Dayton Dragons, to explore the potential of a minor league hockey team to serve as the primary tenant of the event center. Additionally, the event center would fill a current gap in the Dayton/Cincinnati arena market providing a mid-size venue for concerts and other entertainment. Another important use of the event center would be to strengthen our county’s competitiveness in the youth sports market. Currently, we do not have sufficient venues to attract many youth sports tournaments. These tournaments can be an extremely lucrative source of business for our area hotels and restaurants. A great deal of additional information is needed as we explore the potential of this amenity.

 

We recognize there are strong opinions on all sides of this proposal and, as we have always done, we will sincerely listen to and consider all comments and suggestions before taking action.

 

Why consider the use of the lodgings tax?

The County Commission has requested that the legislature give it the option to raise the hotel/motel tax or lodgings tax by a maximum of 4%. The legislation proposed by Speaker Husted would not raise the lodgings tax. It would simply give the County Commission the same authority available to almost every urban county in the State of Ohio. Again, no decision has been made as to whether we would exercise this option. As we stated above, important work must be done on determining the viability of the event center and the value it adds to the Austin development before taking any action on the lodgings tax.

In discussing the lodgings tax, it is important to understand the facts. The current tax in Montgomery County is 6%: 3% goes to the local jurisdiction (i.e. city or township), 3% is countywide (of the countywide tax, 70% goes to the Convention and Visitors Bureau/ 30% to Montgomery County government). Additionally, the 7% sales tax is applied. Presently, on a $100 hotel room, the combined tax is $13.00. If we did raise the tax a full 4%, the tax would be $17 or an increase of $4.00. If our neighboring counties all kept their tax at their current rates, the difference in the tax on a $100 room would range from $4.25 to $4.50 per night.

We recognize there are a number of people who are concerned about our consideration of this tax as a potential funding source for the event center, however we believe that the amount and the relatively few number of Montgomery County residents who would be affected by it, make it a logical and reasonable option to consider.

 

We hope this letter has helped you understand more about the Austin Road development and the important role we believe it can play in our county’s future growth. As we stated at the outset of this letter, Austin is part of a much broader economic development strategy which, with hard work and commitment, can successfully stabilize our economic base and position Montgomery County competitively for the future.

 

Sincerely,

Commissioner Judy Dodge, Commissioner Dan Foley, Commissioner Debbie Lieberman

So what d'y'all think? 

I think if it creates new jobs and not relocate jobs. I'm all for it.

So is this to replace the Nutter Center which replaced Hara?  How large is Nutter compared to this "event center"?

^

Interesting point.  No one has said anything about size.  I figure it would be maybe more Hara Arena or Cincy Gardens size.

 

 

This op-ed wraps up the latest installment in the Austin Road saga…they did a pretty good conclusion too…:

 

County got ahead of Dayton, public with hotel tax hike idea

By Dayton Daily News

Monday, December 22, 2008

 

The push by Montgomery County's commissioners to get the authority to increase the county hotel/motel tax was bungled.

 

The commissioners wanted the state legislature to give them the option of increasing the hotel/motel tax rate by 4 percent, so — maybe — they can help the developer of the Austin Road interchange build an entertainment venue there. They prevailed on Kettering's Jon Husted to get them permission to do so during the last hours of his term as speaker of the Ohio House.

 

When Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin heard what was in the works, she objected, and Democratic state Reps. Fred Strahorn and Clayton Luckie — acting on her behalf — slowed down the train, as did Sen. Tom Roberts in the Senate.

 

At that point, Speaker Husted was embarrassed. He was advocating for permitting a tax increase, and he thought he was doing what the local political leadership wanted. In the end, Mayor McLin and the county commissioners held hands, but the authorizing legislation got stuck in the Senate. It could come back up next year.

 

...

This sounds like a total clusterf*@k.

If the the county and the various local govts. had went ahead with their original plan there wouldn't have been that much controversy.  Now that they want to subsidize some private developer with this hotel tax increase, well, different story.

 

 

I realize I'm coming in late to this discussion - but I've enjoyed all the insight and depth of thought as I got caught up with this thread. 

 

I've spoken with some of the people involved in this project over the years here in Dayton and their perspective is that for the region to compete nationally or even globally, we need to do three things:  1) strengthen the core, 2) develop Austin Rd into THE destination interchange along 75 between Dayton & Cinci, and 3) continue to implement BRAC 2005 (the consolidation of jobs to WPAFB from Brooks, Rome, Hanscomb & Mesa).

 

My issue is that I don't see anything exciting about this boondoggle.  So far it sounds like the same as any other interchange - hotels, offices, restaurants, gas stations - oh, and we promise we won't pull anything away from the Dayton Mall.  Yeah, right.  From my perspective, the only one who will win is RG Properties - and the politicians the family has made contributions to in exchange for support on this disaster waiting to happen.

 

To me, if this is going to be THE destination then we need to do something BIG and BOLD and WORLD CLASS, especially tied to Green and Alternative Energy.  However, I don't think we have leadership at any level who can grasp that concept, let alone execute it.

 

Montgomery County officials feel this is their last chance to gain some much needed additional tax revenue.  They are essentially trying to do to Butler/Warren Counties what Greene County did to Montgomery with The Greene.   

 

Well, guess what, these days we all need more money.  So does that mean we turn our backs to hookers & common thieves & drug dealers - they need the money too?  I'm sorry, this just feels like Montgomery County is going for a short term, knee jerk solution that ultimately is the same as selling their soul.  No one has been able to tell me where these 21-28,000 jobs are going to magically appear from.

 

And when you consider that TeraData and Lexis Nexis aren't likely to be in the area 3-5 years from now, I really don't understand why we're doing something on this scale to accommodate them.  Especially because the next company recruited to the area will look at their empty buildings, decide the footprint doesn't work, and will want something pretty & new and designed specifically for them.  And the cycle repeats. 

 

If we keep designing for cars & traffic, we will continue to get cars & traffic.  I'd much rather see this $48m go toward light rail or a bullet train between Cincy & Dayton (as well as to all the major cities in the state) to eliminate all the car congestion.  It's time we look at moving PEOPLE around, not CARS.

Austin Road Project Draws Crowd

 

Dayton Daily News

By Tim Tresslar

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

 

DAYTON — A proposal to anchor the Austin Pike interchange with an events center/hockey arena drew criticism from residents and downtown business owners on Wednesday, Feb. 18, though most expressed support for the interchange itself.

 

The comments came during a public input session held at Swishers Too Cafe, 110 N. Main St., in which Montgomery County officials fielded questions regarding the $48.8 million interchange on Interstate 75, south of the downtown.

 

Work on the road project is expected to begin in March, but no decisions have been made about the proposed arena and events center.

 

...

I guess it's really gonna happen...

 

Dayton Business Journal

Thursday, February 26, 2009, 5:24pm EST

 

John Jurgensen Co. has won the contract to build the new Austin Road interchange.

 

The Ohio Department of Transportation awarded the contract this week to the Sharonville-based firm, which won it with a low bid of $22 million.

 

Construction is set to begin this March and last until late 2010.

 

...

 

Im willing to bet they got some money from the stimulus package. Also, the 5-7k jobs created was before this economic meltdown.

^

Should the local officials who sold this project on the promise of 5-7k jobs in 7 years be required to post their retirement package as collateral for that project?  If the jobs don't materialize, neither do the retirements!  Sounds fair to me.

"Continuous flow intersection"

 

Is that like a roundabout of some sorts?

Okay, I thought this was interesting and worth noting, so I'll post it.

____________________________________________

Developer to begin $54M project at Austin Road

Dayton Business Journal

 

http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2009/09/14/daily14.html?surround=lfn

 

RG Properties, pending the approval of Montgomery County, will embark on a $54 million development at the northeast corner of the Austin Road interchange.

 

 

The Dayton Daily News discovers new freeway intechanges lead to urban sprawl. quelle suprise.

 

Austin project could push growth beyond interchange

 

The impact of the Austin Pike I-75 interchange is expected go far beyond the land abutting the exit ramps, flowing three miles west to Miamisburg’s Mound business and tech park, and three miles east to Washington Twp.

 

>snip<

 

Well, guess what, this is going to influence development as far east as OH 48.  And that was the intention all along since all that land along Social Row was in speculation before the interchange was announced.

 

 

 

400 jobs coming to Austin interchange with cancer center

 

http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-business-news/400-jobs-coming-to-austin-interchange-with-cancer-center-371506.html

 

DAYTON — Optivus Proton Therapy will build a high-tech medical center at the Austin interchange that will create 400 jobs and help generate an estimated $170 million per year for the area once it and related businesses are up and running, Miami Twp. Trustree Deborah Preston and Township Administrator Greg Hanahan said Wednesday, Oct. 28.

 

....

^Nice. We need it.

 

Anyways, I love this comment from the comment board below the story:

 

@Fred & Hoss - This treatment is not offered at local hospitals. I'm pretty sure it isn't offered anywhere in Ohio. They're not taking business away from area hospitals, they're adding to the health care that is available in Montgomery County.

It's no wonder people talk bad about the Dayton area. You people wouldn't know good news if it bit you in the ***.

One thing that really concerns me with all the development along I-75 lately is that it's all medical related - new Atrium Hospital & 'medical campus' at Middletown, Cincinnati Children's at 129 and new (UC Physician?) Medical one mile away at Tylersville Rd, Dayton Childrens just south of Austin Rd, and now this new cancer treatment center at Austin.

 

I'm not opposed to new medical facilities in general, and they are closer to the concept of high paying jobs, but is it wise to build so many new medical centers?  Is the area in danger of centralizing on one industry, which itself is coming under strong calls for oversight? Will any other high-paying industries move to/grow in the area?

 

(maybe Monroe building outlet malls and distribution centers is a nice counterbalance to all the medical centers, but again, those are not high-paying-jobs.)

I'm not opposed to new medical facilities in general, and they are closer to the concept of high paying jobs, but is it wise to build so many new medical centers?  Is the area in danger of centralizing on one industry, which itself is coming under strong calls for oversight? Will any other high-paying industries move to/grow in the area?

 

This is a national issue, not just local. Health care is being used all over the US like a universal economic growth engine. I read that either Flint or Lansing (forget which) want to reposition the entire city as a health care mecca.

 

I forgive local leaders for being myopic because it's pretty universal across the US. And it's quite popular with voters, because health care is the one accessible job opportunity that most people look at when they're laid off.

 

Health care now looks like the dot com buildup. US medical spending per patient is about twice the average of other developed countries. If cost control becomes a big watchword with the health care legislation, I'd expect health care to deflate just as suddenly as the dot boom did. In certain circumstances, health care facilities seem to be extremely overbuilt.

Latest development at Austin Road.  The Dayton Business-Journal reports:

 

Austin Landing likely home to 1M sq.ft. of retail, offices

 

Site plans for the mixed-use development call for roughly 1 million square feet of space. The development breaks down into 450,000 square feet of office space, more than 422,000 square feet of retail space, a hotel, a fitness club and an 80,000-square-foot theater, entertainment or retail center.

 

>snip<

 

Highlights of the Austin Landing site plan include:

 

• two 120,000-square-foot office buildings, two 60,000-square-foot office buildings and a 90,000-square-foot office building;

 

• a parking structure for nearly 650 cars;

 

• two retail anchors, one at 80,000 square feet and another measuring 87,200 square feet;

 

• two smaller, “junior” retail anchors;

 

• a hotel; and

 

• a corridor of retail space at the center of the development.

 

Note this is only the northeast corner of the interchange.  And its pretty clear by this significant retail component that the initial concept of “protecting” the Dayton Mall area by focusing this development on office/industrial/etc, has been discarded…as I suspected it would be when they announced RG Properties as the prime developer. RG specializes in retail development.

 

Also, they are quite clear they intend on going after the remaining office tenants downtown:

 

Unfortunately for downtown Dayton, which already is saddled with an office vacancy rate of more than 37 percent, Maas said Austin Landing is a draw for tenants currently in the city of Dayton. He said Austin Landing is in play for some downtown office users.

 

Austin Landing has a logo:

I guess it's really gonna happen...

 

Dayton Business Journal

Thursday, February 26, 2009, 5:24pm EST

 

John Jurgensen Co. has won the contract to build the new Austin Road interchange.

 

The Ohio Department of Transportation awarded the contract this week to the Sharonville-based firm, which won it with a low bid of $22 million.

 

Construction is set to begin this March and last until late 2010.

 

...

 

 

You don't want to know how much the Jurgensen family makes through "winning" these kinds of contracts.

Im really surprised by how fast they built this thing. There was a single overpass that took 3 years to complete on I-75 at Paddock road.

I think if it creates new jobs and not relocate jobs. I'm all for it.

 

Unfortunately several studies have indicated that new highway infrastructure moves existing jobs more than it creates new ones, with two caveats: 1) This happens more now than it used to, 2) It varies by location.

Im really surprised by how fast they built this thing. There was a single overpass that took 3 years to complete on I-75 at Paddock road.

 

Keep in mind that there's a pretty significatn difference between the Austin Road interchange and the Paddock Road interchange.  No traffic had to be maintained across the Austin Road interchange during construction, whereas Paddock Road interchange could only be constructed in small segments at a time, in order to maintain existing traffic across the bridge during the construction.

Avoiding 725 and the Dayton Mall traffic so that I may get my Miamisburg Hamburger Stand (CityBeat fix makes this interchange a win in my book!

The Austin Blvd interchange is open.  Here are some last reports on the construction side:

 

First to open was the continuous flow interchange at Austin & Springboro Pike (OH 741), just east of the I-75 interchange, in late May or early June:

 

Austin-Ohio 741 continuous flow intersection may open this month

 

…but it was only a partial design (scope cut due to costs)

 

Original plans called for a four-way continual flow intersection, but it was too expensive. So, northbound and southbound traffic on Ohio 741 flows like a typical intersection. Motorists traveling east or west on Austin Pike face a set of left-turn lanes that cross over oncoming traffic a few hundred feet before the intersection at Ohio 741. Signals are timed so that left-turning traffic typically doesn’t have to stop at the intersection and is able to merge smoothly with other vehicles after the turn.

 

The I-75 interchange opened on July 2, just over a week ago:

 

Austin Boulevard Interchange Opens Today

 

MIAMI TWP. — Dayton’s first new interchange in decades was scheduled to open this morning, July 2, at the much-anticipated Austin Boulevard exit on Interstate 75. The official dedication for the $20-million interchange is Aug. 16, but because it was ready two months early, officials decided to open it today, said Steve Stanley, director of the Montgomery County Transportation Improvement District.

 

…but wait, theres more!:

 

There’s already a wave of change with the opening, including the $7 million widening of Byers Road in Miamisburg, which will bring some 5,000 local jobs with new businesses and local companies relocating there.

 

In addition to the Byers Road work (a major realignment of this road on the west side of I-75), Austin Boulevard is being widened and realigned to the east, to the township line, where it  changes name to Social Row Road (already widened in parts in Washington Township)

 

Among the businesses coming to Austin Road are

 

Teradata (in a new building nearing completion on the NE side of the interchange)

 

Motoman (possibly on the NW side of the interchange, near the Byers Road relocation)

 

A spec office building being built by RG Enterprises

 

..and not one, but two proton cancer treatment centers

 

KETTERING — Kettering Medical Center announced that it and a California partner will invest up to $80 million in a proton therapy center, setting up a potential new battleground on the frontiers of medicine with competing hospital network Premier Health Partners. It will build the nonprofit proton therapy center, which it hopes to open within three years, at either its Southern Boulevard campus or on 48 acres at the Austin Pike-Interstate 75 interchange, KMC said in an announcement Thursday, May 13.

 

>snip<

 

Meanwhile, Premier Health Partners announced this week that it and Dayton Physicians Inc. are discussing a potential collaboration with California-based Optivus Proton Therapy Inc., which is planning a $170 million for-profit proton beam radiation treatment center at the Austin Pike interchange

 

This is moving into discussion about the real estate development, not highways.  The Austin Landing development itself is detailed in a DBJ article

 

Highlights of the Austin Landing site plan include:

• two 120,000-square-foot office buildings, two 60,000-square-foot office buildings and a 90,000-square-foot office building;

• a parking structure for nearly 650 cars;

• two retail anchors, one at 80,000 square feet and another measuring 87,200 square feet;

• two smaller, “junior” retail anchors;

• a hotel; and

• a corridor of retail space at the center of the development.

 

Some of the site developement for this is being funded via stimulus money funneled through Montgomery County, I think.

 

One of  retail anchors may be a new-concept Kroger (which would compete with a nearby Dorothy Lane Market

 

The DBJ is going to hold a panel discussion on Butler/Warren/Austin Road growth on Tuesday morning, and yours truly will be there.  Hopefully I can snag some graphics to scan for y’all.

 

 

 

I tried it out today and it wasn't as bad as I thought.

Yeah, had it been fully completed, the intersection would be much more efficient. It's best utilization will come when Austin Pike has much more traffic than the few cars it carries now.

The D  B-J reports on Austin Road:

 

Greg Sample, president and chief operating officer of Centerville-based RG Properties Inc., said the development along I-75 — including the RG Properties’ development Austin Landing — are not suburban sprawl, but rather in-fill development between two metropolitan areas growing toward each other.

 

“If there was no development to the south, it (Austin Landing) would be sprawl,” Sample said. “But the reality is, we’re late to the game. All the others (developments) have a jump start on us.”

 

Business leaders discuss Austin interchange development at for

 

 

One of the tidbits of info is that the general aviatioon airport next to the site can't be used for fully loaded and fueled corporate jets due to runway/clear zone and avionics restrictions. 

 

And one of those cancer treatement centers is going to be putting in an R&D center and maybe even some med device manufacturing in the area. 

 

Lots of interesting intel.

The Northwest corner of the interchange will have Motoman on the land right next to the exit ramp (southbound exit), the balance will be developed as light industrial/office, probably a lot like what is already along Byers Road north to Lyons.

 

The Southwest corner will get one of the proton treatment centers, and a proposed R&D facility, hotel, restaurant, and what looks like spec office or R&D facilities and a large water feature/retention basin.  A very conceptual plan was on display for this parcel, which is owned by Miami Twp. 

 

The RG Properties rep (their COO) replied, point-blank, "yes" when asked if they are trying to attract retail like whats at The Green.  He then said they are trying to complement the Dayton Mall, not kill it,  and are looking at recruiting various uses, including theatres and full service hotels.  "If the Dayton Mall fails, Austin Road fails".  So at least there still is public committment to the orginal plan of not cannibalizing the Dayton Mall retail district.

 

He also mentioned that RG is under no financial pressure to develop the site, so can wait for the appropriate uses, not try to make money quick by putting in gas stations and budge hotels (examples given).

 

It was remarked that the infrastructure piece of Austin Road project was the first multijurisdictional TIF in Ohio, and the local government cooperation was a selling point when trying to attract tenants to the site.

 

It was also remarked there are 150 acres adjacent to the airport owned by the city of Dayton, which has a development plan for it, but no execution strategy or movement to execute the plan.

 

The CEO of TeraData mentioned that 80% of new growth will come from

'within the region', business expansions and relocations.  Which seems to indicate (my words) this will be seeing more Motoman style relocations as firms expand and perhaps consolidate into a better geographical location (better vis a vis the "SW Ohio Urban System", aka Cin-Day).

 

The Dayton B-J will have a longer story on this in their Friday print edition. 

 

 

 

Thanks!

Tenants await approval at Austin Landing

 

 

The face of Austin Landing will have more definition this week as several tenants enter the final stages of approval.

 

Miami Township officials on Tuesday are expected to give the final nod for Centerville-based RG Properties to construct a Kohl’s in Austin Landing, a 142-acre mixed use development on the northeast end of the Interstate 75 interchange at Austin Boulevard.

 

Kohl’s would be the first retail tenant of the new development, which currently houses Teradata Corp.’s (NYSE: TDC) new 60,000-square-foot headquarters and a nearly completed four-story Class A office building.

 

So office parks with big box retail is considered mixed use?  Brilliant.  :roll:

Isn't there a Kohl's a couple of miles north up on Wilmington Pike?  If so, are they going to close THAT location for this monstrosity?

Kohl's coming to Austin Landing

 

...

Kohl's has inked a deal to open an 87,000-square-foot store at Austin Landing, the 142-acre mixed-use development on the northeast end of the Interstate 75 interchange at Austin Boulevard. The store is set to open Sept. 25.

 

Full article:

http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2011/05/12/kohls-focuses-on-smaller-stores.html

Looks like they are planning another "The Greene" at Austin Road:

 

New Austin Plan Explored

 

MIAMI TWP., Montgomery County — RG Properties and Miami Twp. are negotiating an agreement for a more than $60 million proposed retail and residential village development at Austin Landing.

 

In exchange, RG Properties would commit between $50 million and $81 million to develop a the village on 120 acres on the northwest corner of Ohio 741 and Austin Boulevard by 2014...

 

....The village would include 70,000 square feet of retail space; 186 apartments; a 14-screen movie theater; a four-story, 120,000-square-foot office building; a 106,000-square-foot retail store; and a second 520-space parking garage, according to the agreement.

 

Rendering at the link.

 

 

 

 

It just looks cheap.

Yeah, that same dreary brick postmodern spec office stuff you see around here.  It just looks dated.

 

BTW, this was announced, sort of, by the RG spokesman at the D B-J confab at that little airport last year..they had a 'whats up' meeting featuring some of the Austin road development players.

 

The RG spokesman said "we're not building sprawl, we're building infill" . 

 

It is to laugh

 

 

Oh God.  "Infill" on former grasslands.  The Metroplex should use that.

...heh...yeah...."infill", yeah, infil between Cincy and Dayton.  It's ALL infill!