A well-known Dayton commercial developer is continuing a streak of buying up local property. Another set of buildings in the busy Oregon District business district and neighborhood is under new ownership.
Jason Woodard of Woodard Development has purchased 337 and 343 E. 5th St., according to records. This is adjacent to the popular restaurant Lily’s Bistro.
The $228,000 building sale closed in March, according to public records. One of Woodard’s limited liability companies purchased the buildings from the family of Miriam Maue.
The two-story buildings were both built in the early 1900s.
The building at 337 E. 5th has 2,800 square feet of space. The larger 343 E. 5th comes in at 9,000 square feet.
Woodard said the first thing that will happen is putting up safety fencing around 337 E. 5th and starting the process to demolish that building
“The wall closest to Lily’s is caved in; it’s past saving,” Woodard said. “The city declared it an imminent threat. We closed on it knowing that smaller building will come down.”
That will pave the way for eventual redevelopment of the larger building at 343 E. 5th, though Woodard said there’s no immediate plans or timeline. He said redevelopment could include anything from retail, restaurant with patio, residential and office.
“The strength and stability of the district made it an appealing acquisition,” Woodard said.
Other recent Woodard purchases in the Oregon District include:
- Johnston Building (513, 515, 517-523 E. Fifth Street)
- Schaefer Building (601-613 E. Fifth Street)
- Former United Business Service (411-417, 419-421, 505 S. Jefferson Street).
Woodard also is involved in a mega $200 million mixed-use project proposed in Middletown. That project is expected to activate nearly 700,000 square feet of new development once completed in phases over the next eight years. The project would include hotels, residences, an event center, restaurant and retail space, office space and other community uses.