Orleans Development Company, which is renowned for restoring historic buildings in Northern Kentucky’s river cities, purchased the four-story, 137-year-old brick building that stands at the northwest corner of Sixth and Berry Streets in 2021 with plans to rehabilitate and restore the historic structure to its original luster.
The company plans to spend $1.8 million for the purchase and renovation the long-vacant building on Sixth Avenue in middle of the city’s central business district into a high-quality, mixed-use building that will feature commercial space on the first floor and loft-style apartments on the upper floors. Demolition was undertaken during 2022 and construction is expected to start in 2023.
When completed, the building will have 10 apartments in 13,500 square feet of space on the second, third, and fourth floors and 4,500 square feet of commercial space on the first floor. The residential units will be one studio, six one-bedroom units, and three large, loft apartments. Unit sizes will range from 650 to 1,254 square feet with rents expecting to range from $825 to $1,300, including less expensive rents for some units the city is subsidizing for affordable housing in the building.
The building served as Dayton’s first City Hall as well as Fraternal Lodges. The original structure, towering windows, and grand staircase remain intact from their original construction more than 130 years ago.
The building — known both as the Rayme Building and the Burton Building – was built in 1884 on land owned by Burton Hazen, a Cincinnati steamboat builder and lumber-yard owner and one of the original founders of the City of Brooklyn, which merged with the City of Jamestown in 1867 to form the City of Dayton.
A post office, barbershop, store, and private offices originally occupied the first floor of the historic building. The back of the second floor served as Dayton’s City Hall – housing the offices of the City Marshal, City Clerk, Treasurer, Property Assessor, and Engineer — while the front portion of the second floor and third and fourth floors served as a meeting hall and offices of the International Order of Odd Fellows.
Over the years, the building was used for a variety of commercial and civic uses, including a Pythian Temple, the city’s first Kroger’s grocery store, a druggist, barbershop, attorney office, insurance agency, print shop, and a movie theater. In recent years, tenants had vacated the building, windows were boarded, and the building’s condition deteriorated. The last active commercial use in the building was a carpet retailer more than two decades ago.
The upper floors of the building will be developed industrial loft-style apartments similar to Orleans’ recently completed projects — the Kent Lofts in Bellevue and the Tailor Lofts in Newport — both of which achieved 100 percent occupancy shortly after completion. Redesigning the first-floor façade will create new storefronts that are expected to reactivate street activity and foster small business growth and job creation in Dayton.
Partners in this project with Orleans Development include the City of Dayton, the Catalytic Development Funding Corp. of Northern Kentucky, and Duke Energy.
“This historic building is the anchor of our central business district and its rehabilitation has been a top priority in our city for many years,” Dayton Mayor Ben Baker said. “We are excited and appreciative that Orleans Development, a high-quality developer with expertise in historic rehabilitation projects, is undertaking this transformational project.”
In May 2021, The Gateway Flats at Manhattan Harbour opened on the Dayton riverfront with sweeping views of downtown Cincinnati and the Ohio River.
The Gateway Flats features 76 high-end lofts in a walkable in an accessible riverfront setting.
The residential community is about a 1.5-mile walk to downtown Cincinnati and includes a three-mile riverfront trail loop that’s part of Riverfront Commons, the 11-mile walking and bike trail along the Ohio River. The community also has a marina, boating rental club, riverfront restaurants, and Queen City Riverboats transportation and events.
Most of the units have balconies and gourmet kitchens that include quartz countertops and top-of-the-line GE Profile stainless steel appliances as well as cable and Wi-Fi, a 24-hour fitness studio, a coffee café, a business center, professional onsite management, and barbecue grills on a rooftop deck.
Rents at the Gateway Flats range from 1,275 to $2,100 a month.
Gateway Flats is part of the Manhattan Harbour riverfront community that also features luxury waterfront condos and homes being developed by the Manhattan Development Group, which is led by Miles Scully and development partner Brendan Sullivan, a Dayton resident.
For more information about The Gateway Flats, visit gatewayflats.com, email info@thegatewayflats.com, or call 859-360-5919.
Manhattan on the River, formerly known as Tapestry on the River at Manhattan Harbour, offers 263-luxury apartments in four, four-story controlled-access buildings, with elevators and air-conditioned interior hallways that opened in 2020.
Three miles from downtown Cincinnati, the location provides spectacular views of the Ohio River, ample resident parking, bike storage, and Class “A” amenities.
The one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments homes offer open floorplans with exceptional closet and storage space. Each apartment has a chef-inspired kitchen with granite countertops, custom cabinetry, pendant lighting, and stainless-steel appliances.
The community has a resident social and sports lounge, complimentary Wi-Fi in those areas, a premium coffee/tea bar, a fitness and yoga studio, and a resort-style saltwater pool. Non-smoking and pet-friendly buildings are available.
The 7,000-square-foot clubhouse has three fitness rooms, a large rec room with a pool table, kitchen, and a number of seating areas, all for the use of the tenants.
The picturesque private river walk follows a peaceful stretch of the Ohio River, which has gathering spots — both small and large — to entice people to come together and enjoy the views. The swimming pool and dog run are also popular places where residents gather.
Wide hallways in the apartment buildings encourage casual visits between neighbors and the apartments have nine-foot ceilings and open floorplans, making the spaces feel welcoming.
For more information about Manhattan on the River, visit Manhattan on the River or call 859-206-2568.
Pottebaum Point is a 19-lot development with extraordinary panoramic views of downtown Cincinnati and the Ohio River. Located on O’Fallon and Walnut Streets, the units on O’Fallon Street have been completed and construction is currently underway on the Walnut Street homes. All of the homes are 100-percent custom designed to meet all your wants and needs
Pricing for these homes range from $500,000 to $1 million. Features include rooftop patios, Smart Home packages, custom-floor plans, elevator options, and much more. Contact Redknot Homes today for more information on Pottebaum Point at 513-709-7000 or via our website www.redknothomes.com.
