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The Missing Link for the Dayton Arcade IV
I could say I’m an idealist and budding artist myself (writer, new book Road Kill out now! Can Google it!) and when something that feels right hits me, I run with it. After the recent push of a dedicated few to address the possibly of the Dayton Public Library moving to the Arcade, inspiration hit as I’ve always thought an art school would be excellent in our area. I had recently suggested the city should link the Oregon District with the Third Street Cannery by buying the lot at the corner of Wayne and Fifth. I wrote over a dozen movers and shakers in the area, only one responded with a ‘thanks’. A few months later I see in the news how the land was bought for this service, no mention of who came up with it. I also dreamed up an idea for Aviator Park to complement Dayton’s creation of the airplane with an educational amusement park that could be built on McCook field. Only one person thanked me and silence.
This time, this idea is so large and beautiful I had to take it public. Inspired by the articles in the Dayton City Paper about the library/arcade I am sharing this with everybody. The magnitude of this is large and life changing and I would love to be a part of it.
I even have a perfect name. Get ready for it.
THE ARCADE ACADEMY OF THE ARTS UNIVERSITY or Triple AU for a nickname. I can see the banners and flags draped over the grand entrances and skywards to the awesome rotunda. The name is classy and prestigious while honoring the history of the arcade. I believe the arcade founders would be proud. The Arcade Academy would be a historical landmark educational facility for art and cultural life, leaving a legacy for students and generations to come. What else could you do with this historic one hundred plus year old building? I hear cicadas. Let’s make it happen!
Sincerely;
Christopher Joseph
See more: http://cjxauthor.wordpress.com/
Posted:
Sunday, 12:18 AM EDT by
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The Missing Link for the Dayton Aracade III
An ART university.
Imagine with me the prestigious glamor of a top rated art school occupying the Arcade. On the third street side colorful banners flowing from the impressive Gibbons front with students spilling out into the street showcasing their wares to the general public. Courtyard square filled with painters, musicians, dancers working for their grade. Think of the concept of an Arcade besides the arches, its usually a group of stores or merchants displaying their wares (or video games etc.) Our school would use this central advantage as part of the students grade. On certain days the school would be open to the public to meander through the square as students dance, perform, display their craft in a festive atmosphere. With enough students, the performances would spill onto the sidewalks around the four openings, out to Courtyard square. This would enhance full downtown events such as Urban Nights, Art hops, holidays and celebrations.
Dayton, for a technology and manufacturing hub, has one of the healthiest art centers for a mid-size city. The area has always had a healthy music and performing art scene. The strength of the Victoria Theatre Association - including the Schuster Center, Culture Works, Dayton Art Institute, Dayton Visual Arts Center, Dayton Playhouse, and many art galleries and museums abound. Dayton was home to the Land of Funk music scene of the 1980‘s which dominated nationwide, while the indie rock scene bubbles healthy underground. The local village of Yellow Springs is an art haven. Graphic arts, the most promising game-changer of the genre, is growing by leaps and bounds. The local film scene is supported by gracious state-tax cuts and by local organizations such as FilmDayton and Cinema Arts Society.
Posted:
Sunday, 12:16 AM EDT by
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The Missing Link for the Dayton Arcade II
The reason nobody can find appropriate funds for the desperate building; there isn’t a great idea to back up the fledging dream logistically.
The missing link is envisioning one usage that could fill all five halls. Something that would be worthy of the classic building, contribute to the inner-core of the city, have the funds to pay off the burgeoning debt, spark a huge revitalization unprecedented in all of the current ongoing projects.
Ideally, this usage would be something wanted and needed in our city, our region, our state. Something that would attract people from surrounding areas to travel here to again marvel in this unique center-point of Dayton.
Surprised this idea has not surfaced in the twenty years since closure, you ready for this? It hit me like a sack of bricks and I just had to shout it out to everybody.
Envision this; a university.
Not any university, Dayton is richly filled with excellent centers of higher learning such as The University Of Dayton, Sinclair Community College, Wright State University and many in the surrounding area such as Wilberforce University, Antioch College, Central State University, Wittenberg University and more in the countryside. Not talking the pay for education Kaplan, Southwestern or Miami-Jacobs either.
This university would have to be unique in stature, a niche school of high quality higher learning. A school that would attract students from a wide range of cultures, regions, backgrounds and skills convening in unison for one specific goal. A school that would fit into the current revitalization of downtown Dayton and more accurately the urban renaissance blossoming mere blocks away.
Get ready for it.
Posted:
Sunday, 12:12 AM EDT by
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The Missing Link For the Dayton Arcade
The missing link for the Dayton Arcade May 18th 2013
By Christopher Joseph
As the Dayton Arcade has sat mothballed for decades, debated about suitable usages, incurred continuous insurmountable tax debt and the probable structural damage for the centuries old building, one thing remains certain; it’s still empty. An enormous hollow shell of its once formal grandeur of old, as ghosts of its glorious past whisper through the deserted eves.
This glory is what keeps this abandoned maze of buildings alive. It not only connects to Dayton’s history, its an amazing architectural feat only fully realized wandering through its vast corridors leading up to the fabulous middle arena under the rotunda. The decor in this room is one to behold and truly missed in the current revitalization of the inner city core. The maze of connected buildings cloaked behind a city block of normal downtown mediocrity is an amazing skill the architects don’t get enough credit for.
While the debate slugs along; What to do with this worthy classic building and who’s going to pay for it?
Ideas abound from returning shopping to it (never would compete with modern malls), office space (boring and un-needed), relocating the public library (nobel cause but not likely), maybe a downtown grocer (not logistical), a museum would be idea but with the excellent Dayton Art Institute nearby and other worthy museums wouldn’t gather much steam, a hotel, a flea market, blah blah they all wouldn’t have enough support or money.
Posted:
Sunday, 12:10 AM EDT by
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Give people a reason to make the arcade a must be place to go!
In the early 1980's my father owned and operated the Michael's World Of Coca-Cola museum at the newly renovated arcade to the happiness of many and the dismay of a few others. I have many wonderful memories of the arcade and still marvel at its glass rotunda. Yes, it must be preserved but how? I offer a very aggressive suggestion but one that would not fail if taken seriously buy all parties involved. Not everyone who reads this will jump for joy. That is why God made us see in color. Everyone has a different favorite but all are good for us to see.
I suggest a resort casino. Provided issue 3 passes. I would lobby the state hard to seek approval in Dayton if it passes.
By converting the small apartments into newly modeled hotel rooms. The rotunda into an area with blackjack stations, craps and so on. Surround that with slots to the out side of the card areas and down the aisles that lead to the exits with more slots. The current shopping areas would stay and fine jewelry stores, coffee shops, restaurants, a resort spa can use that current space on the two levels.
I have way to many ideas that would go all day but everyone must first have a BIG vision. You preserve all the splendor of this building in side. Just fill it with a lot of people who want to relax, gamble and get away. The arcade would be a top destination for many, many years to come and from both in and out of state patrons if this could be done. People would love to sit under the dome all day and night. It could be like no other new building which would give this casino the biggest advantage over anything in any surrounding city or state. If you build this, they WILL COME.
By the way I don't gamble at casinos much myself. But I admit I enjoy going to them with friends and always spend too much money on the other non gambling offerings most casinos have.
Best Regards. Jim Michael
Posted:
Oct 20 2009, 6:30 PM EDT by
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News Archives
Jan 15, 2012 "Restoration of Dayton’s downtown Arcade hinges on identifying an anchor tenant, a magnet to attract others to lease space in the historic structure, according to the owner of the complex." (read the full DDN article by Joanne Hu
Last updated:
Jun 11 2012, 6:03 PM EDT by
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Home
W. Third Street entrance to the Dayton Arcade ©Nancy Roach The Arcade is located in downtown Dayton and has entrances on W 3rd, Ludlow, and W 4th. For a birdseye photo of the Arcade visit YahooMaps .
Last updated:
Jun 23 2011, 9:02 PM EDT by
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