East Dayton Ground Truth: Findlay area

Taking a closer look at one of the areas identified in the previous post to see what’s going on, as a ground truth beyond maps and diagrams:


This area doesn’t have a name so I’m calling it “Findlay”, as that’s what it was called when it was first subdivided, probably in the 1860s. East of Van Lear was later re-subdivided in 1882, so the housing here is, median, 1880s and 1890s, with probably some 20th century building, too.


The area has substantial concentrations of problem vacancies


Third Street probably had a lot of larger places like this one, at first, as it was on a car line. Most of that is gone as larger properties from the first plat were re-subdivided, and as the street commercialized. But now there are more vacant lots, too. This big house isn’t boarded, but its clear the place is abandoned.
(I did do a thread or two over at Urban Ohio exploring the "big houses" on Third and on Findlay Street, particularly Findlay Street, maybe I will repost that).


Three of the four houses visible are vacant and boarded (pix is on Springfield looking south to 3rd, I think the vacant lot used to be the "Alhambra Theatre"...we are close to the Tals Corner business district here)



Little sawed off shotgun near Springfield & Van Lear.

One story doubles scattered throughout the 19th century blue collar neighborhoods. Paired board-ups...

...And next door, evidence of the demolition program in action. One sees a lot of this in the neighborhood.
Down the street a bit more board-ups. One maybe more recent (note the dish antenna)

Here is a good string of vacancies. Four board-ups in a row (one is by the tree in the background, not very visible). Across the street, not shown, the houses are still occupied.
And a good illustration of the progression. From right to left,

• Occupied

• For rent or sale: but no takers (nice detail, here, though, on the window frames and roof).

• Vacant and boarded up: dropped out of the active real-estate market

And, finally, demolished (note the board up next door):
Though this might give the impression the entire neighborhood is becoming vacant, the reality is there is replacement housing being built, and most of the remaining older housing seems to be occupied. Here are some infill examples


A vacant lot waiting for a new house (new ones can be seen in the background, with garages facing the alleys).An alternative to demolition is restoration. This is a particularly good example:
…but probably not a realistic one as it might cost a lot to restore vacant and boarded up houses. Yet it was nice to see this one example.