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Dayton
Business Journal
Piqua unveils
$10M riverfront development plan
by Tristan Navera
The city of Piqua has unveiled plans for a major redevelopment to
transform its riverfront space downtown.
The plan calls for the demolition or redevelopment of several buildings
along the city’s riverfront and park improvements to transform several
blocks around Main and Water streets into a more walkable space.
Tentative plans call for a new amphitheater, park space and more
avenues for walking, biking and possibly boating.
The project could be a boon for the city and help draw more businesses,
visitors and consumer spending. It could also provide construction work
for area builders and suppliers.
City Manager Gary Huff estimated such a project costing in the realm of
$8 million to $10 million.
“We think it’s really going to change this section of the downtown
riverfront,” Huff said.
The city was one of six that received funding from the Ohio Development
Services Agency’s Office of Redevelopment for a Brownfields Action
Plan. In late 2012, the city got another $50,000 to study how it could
redevelop its riverfront district, which resulted in the new
development plan put together by CityVisions Associates out of
Louisville, Ky.
Piqua also got $400,000 from the EPA to assess properties on its
riverfront to help clean and redevelop those buildings. Most recently
in 2012 it received a $148,000 grant from the Centers for Disease
Control for planning how it could attract more private investment to
the riverfront, especially in recreation and commercial or retail use.
Huff said the city is seeking a public-private partnership for the
project. While a developer has not been selected, the city will
consider forming a holding company to take charge of the redevelopment
efforts. It’s holding meetings with private investors as to how to
rework the downtown project.
Read the rest of the article at the Dayton Business Journal
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