Wright-Dunbar Business Village News

Wright-Dunbar Village Project Earns Nationals Planning Award from HUD
The City of Dayton has been notified that the Wright Dunbar Village revitalization project has been selected to receive the 2004 HUD Secretary's Opportunity & Empowerment Award by the American Planning Association (APA). The prestigious award recognizes the comprehensive preservation and redevelopment efforts that have occurred in Wright-Dunbar Village and the adjacent historic innerwest neighborhoods.

The Award will be officially presented during the APA's National Planning Awards Luncheon on April 27, 2004 in Washington, D.C. In selecting Dayton to receive this year's award Bruce Knight, Chairman of the 2004 APA Awards Jury said, "Given the large number and very high quality of this year's entries, the jury's work was particularly challenging. However, the jury concluded that (Dayton's) entry is the type of planning leadership APA seeks to honor with our national awards."

This award annually recognizes excellence in community planning, particularly those projects which have led to tangible and measurable results for low- and moderate-income residents. Dayton was selected based upon its high ranking in several key areas, including:

• meeting the housing choice or mobility needs of low- and moderate-income residents;
• serving as an example for other communities to follow;
• using innovative approaches to enhancing community empowerment;
• providing broad community stakeholder involvement and support; and
• providing a high value for the amount of funding invested.

"Not only has the Wright Dunbar Village been revitalized after years of disinvestment, but the surrounding neighborhoods are also starting to benefit as well, "Mayor Rhine McLin said, "We are creating vibrant neighborhoods and new housing choices for residents that were not available before."

"I think this award is also a tribute to the commitment of citizen groups who helped make Wright Dunbar possible, "City Commissioner Dean Lovelace said. "The Aviation Trail group was an early advocate for the project, and the existing residents of the neighborhood were determined to maintain homes in the community. Their combined energy and passion were important ingredients to jump-starting the initial planning process. Now we have beautiful new homes in the area, a National Park District, and spin-off community development. In the process, we have rediscovered our aviation history and our African-American heritage. Wright Dunbar is truly a community development success story."

Some of the important achievements of the Wright-Dunbar Village redevelopment include:

Reversed a previous urban renewal philosophy that as late as 1988 favored demolition and clearance over historic preservation.