I think this "district" was just a daydream of sorts of the thread parent. If you'll notice most of the posts at that site are by one person, who was also the thread parent of this thread. The rest is getting the bar owners to work together at promotion and marketing the area, and getting a few gay business minded people on board to open a few gay owned non-bar businesses. There are alot of gay people already living in the surrounding areas so that part is solid. There are a few storefronts vacant in the area downtown where the gay bars are though, and if a few gay entrprenuers opened a gay shop and maybe a diner that would be about the extent of it for this size city I think. It will not be anything like a bigger gay village in say, Chicago. It will be small, because its a small city with a smaller gay population consequently. There is no reason we cant break the mold and create a truly unique downtown gay village. I disagree though that Dayton cant make it a gay village. I agree with Streetcred that is makes sense to have the bar owners market it as Dayton's Gay nightlife or commercial center. Dayton's gay bars are mostly in a one block area of Downtown. I agree that most gay villages are in neighborhoods outside of downtown areas (think Boystown in Chicago, Casto in SF, and Short North in CBus). Clearly, the downtown and immediate surrounding neighborhoods are the gayest part of Dayton.
The zip code includes Downtonwn Dayton but also the Oregon District, South Park neighborhood,and Mcpherson town. It is about 1.9% gay households, which ends up being about 45 since there are roughly 2065 households in the zip code. 45402 zip code has one of the highest percentage concentrations of gay couple households in the state of Ohio zip codes according to the 2000 census. I agree with Streetcreed on a few points, disagree on others. Let the private sector determine if the buildings will be renovated for housing, but don't expect enough housing to be renovated in these buildings to create an LGBT neighborhood. Try to attract artists to the surrounding buildings for events. If anything the Oregon District has the factors that are needed in place.Īdvice: Stick to just marketing this area for events/clubs. This proposed area isn't practical for being turned into a "gay neighborhood". They will renovate smaller homes then the larger buildings follow.
A gay couple or artist (most) cannot afford to renovate a large building.
Issue: this proposed Dayton district has all buildings in a downtown. They are all neighborhoods with homes that are cheap at first but have historical value. This area has buildings but none of these successful LGBT districts are IN a downtown. It appears a neighborhood of homes is a factor that must be in place. First the homes in the neighborhoods start to renovate then artists/gay establishments take over the strip.ģ) Toronto: The neighborhood had a dilapidated retail strip, historic buildings off of it. The strip is renovated by artists and the gay community and the surrounding homes/buildings renovated for living.Ģ) Columbus' Short North: Historic homes in neighborhoods abutting a dilapidated retail strip. Historic buildings, dilapidated retail space on a linear strip, all needing renovation.
The current gay neighborhoods all have some things in common:ġ) South Beach. However, their desire is to, also, make the area a "gay neighborhood". The area already has many "gay clubs" so it could easily simply just be marketed better as a "gay nightlife district." All that is needed for that is promotion (by the club owners) and possibly signs etc.