Delco Lofts

Crawford Hoying and Woodard Development have proudly partnered with the City of Dayton to transform the vacant riverfront into a vibrant and walkable mixed-use neighborhood—Water Street District. Located adjacent to RiverScape MetroPark and the Day Air Ballpark, this project currently includes office, retail/restaurant space, structured parking and the first hotel developed in downtown Dayton in decades.

In 2014, Crawford Hoying acquired the historic Delco Building (located within the neighborhood) for $1.7 million. The building was listed as a Dayton Historic Landmark and had served as a manufacturing plant for Delco Electronics, a branch of General Motors, during the 1900s before sitting empty for years. It was later purchased by the Mendelson Company where it was used as a warehouse and industrial space.

Crawford Hoying set out to reinvigorate the project by converting the building into high-end apartments with parking and ground floor restaurant space. The team worked hard to maintain the industrial character of the building throughout the restoration. Particular attention was given to the large industrial-scale windows which were replaced to match the original windows, and to retaining the mushroom columns and high ceilings found throughout. The historic sixth floor office space said to be associated with Delco founder, Charles Kettering, was also preserved and made into a stunning amenity space for residents to enjoy. The first floor and basement serve as parking spaces for the building's tenants, which was a compatible use for this building made possible by existing vehicular use and the introduction of ramps in an altered location below an existing light court. 

The building, now known as Delco Lofts, features 133 luxury loft-style apartments with polished concrete floors, quartz countertops and floor-to-ceiling windows. 

Throughout the development of the project, the team faced and resolved various environmental concerns. In addition, the project involved a complicated capital stack which included federal and state historic tax credits, PACE financing, traditional financing and private equity.