The Gutting of Dayton

An interesting cartoon questions the logic of demolishing historic buildings in Dayton.  The challenge for Dayton and other mid-size cities is that sprawl and the general lack of disadvantages from the sprawl that is seen in larger cities makes it very difficult to provide the critical mass of people and capital necessary to undertake and make feasible the extremely costly rehabilitation of buildings downtown such as the Arcade.  There just aren't enough people still working downtown, and there aren't enough professionals living nearby to make the renovation projects look more attractive than staying located near home in the suburbs.

 An interior view of the Arcade Building