I'm not in any kind of rush or anything but I was just curious if it would be possible in the future to maybe rent the arcade for a day or a few hours like for a wedding/ reception? I think it is a gorgeous building and that's not something that everyone does. Obviously I would be willing to compensate for the use of it. I heard rumors of re-opening in 2013 or something like that and I don't think I'll be getting married in the next year or two or even three. I was just wondering if I should consider this as a possibility or not. If anyone has any information on this or knows of someone who would and could possibly get me their contact information that would be greatly appreciated.

 out of  found this valuable. Do you find this valuable?    

I have helped in redevelopment in other cities and I have loved the Arcade since I moved here in 2003. I think it would be a shame to lose it for a parking garage-as has been suggested in the past-and I think it is a valuable piece of history and real estate. I am a social work and urban affairs major at WSU and I have read studies and conducted studies about what people want from the downtown area. A major portion of people to be considered are those who are already downtown everyday due to employment. We need to keep them there for lunch time activities and after work activities. Many of the renovated warehouses and buildings into apartments have done extremely well. If the plans for Ballpark Village go through, and they are going to go through...the Arcade will be an asset. The details in the apartments are not seen in anything modern today and add a special element that the competition does not have. The apartments should be used as apartments-but with security features so that regular people cannot access those floors. I think the offices should be used as offices. The idea of using part of the arcade for community events or shows is a great idea! Area schools can showcase their bands or chorales, for example. This has worked in the past in other areas...and it brings families downtown too! I think that "mom and pop" shops should bring back businesses to the arcade too. It is part of the charm that other centers have. If people downtown have the ability to pickup items from the gift shop and bakery and jeweler and their drycleaning, etc...during the workday or shortly thereafter---they will! Also, if there is a delinquent building that is attached or across the street--I do not remember if there is....that should be developed into parking for the Arcade and it's tenants and helps solve the issue of parking. These are just some thoughts that I think would enhance the Arcade and downtown. Oh- Please-NO boutique hotel!!!!

2  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?    

For those who weren't able to attend, I got some photos of the Arcade's interior and exterior yesterday:

<a href="http://blogesque.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/dayton-arcade-photos-from-urban-nights/">http://blogesque.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/dayton-arcade-photos-from-urban-nights/</a>

BTW, am I the only one who never noticed that there are architectural gargoyles on the Ludlow St. facade?

2  out of 3 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?    

A social experimentation area with ongoing activities in which people can participate either physically or virtually to make discoveries or realizations about human nature, for example have an experiment where the participants are assigned an identity with a group (e.g the “sneeches”, red squares, blue circles or whatever…not affiliated with any group in the real world but with distinguishing features that make them different from other groups in the experiment) and then asked to participate in a virtual social activity.
A ban on the sale of weapons in the arcade but an area devoted to the study of violent subcultures their affect on society and how to overcome them and another study of the affect of religions on society, both good and bad

A wireless internet café.

A performance area.

NO rollercoasters or other such amusements that would compromise the aesthetics and structurally integrity of the building and undermine its historical significance.

4  out of 7 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?    

My vision for the Arcade is inspired by the Chicago Cultural center (a beautiful building with coincidentally, two Tiffany domes across from Millennium Park, downtown, which was once slated for demolition, but saved due to public involvement), the D’art Center in Norfolk, Virginia, the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA, Dayton’s International World Affair (as good or better than the international street festival in Adams Morgan in Washington D.C., in my opinion), the Dayton Peace Accord, Urban Nights, urban renewal in St Louis, MO and Alexandria, VA, the City Museum in St. Louis.

2  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?