Westwood
Reclaiming History!
Westwood
A historical neighborhood on the west side of Downtown Dayton, Ohio.
Roughly a mile and a half in size, the edges of Westwood are bounded by West Third Street and North Gettysburg to the south and west respectively, and Wolf Creek to the north.
History
The story of Westwood mimics the story of Dayton.
The neighborhood reached its peak in the 60s and 70s, when it provided quality housing and cultural institutions for Dayton's Black population.
Zoom around and swipe from left to right to see historical aerial images of the Westwood neighborhood. Source: Montgomery County
Furthermore, the neighborhood's proximity to highways and centers of industry made it an optimal location for working class residents.
1960s Population Density
Data from the 1960 depicts Westwood as having a similar population density to surrounding census tracts. At the time, the northern tract had a population density of around 7,347 people per square mile and the southern tract had a population density of nearly 11,000 people per square mile.
Westwood has a pretty big footprint, so not only were the population density numbers high, the total population was nearly 13,000 people.
Both of these census tracts were more highly populated than their surroundings, making Westwood a concentrated hub in Dayton's West Side.
1960s Median Income of Westwood
According to a FHA study of the Dayton housing market, the median income of Dayton in 1965 was around $7500. The above map shows that an super majority of Westwood was not making over $500 of the median income, confirming that this was a working class, blue collar community.
So while Westwood was pretty densely populated, its strength was not in the income of its residents. What made Westwood special, and what needs to be embraced as it rebuilds, are its roots in working class community. Westwood is home to a litany of anchor institutions that must be celebrated, recognized, and leveraged in the rebuild.
The Montgomery County Historical Society created a resource in 1997 in which Westwood answered the question: "Who We Are."
Numbers Correspond with the locations on the map.
They mapped out this list of institutions, defining Westwood as a product of its institutions, most notably being churches and schools.
Not every entry on this list has made it to the present day.
The Westwood Recreation Center was consolidated into a nicer facility around 1.7 miles outside of the neighborhood.
Thomas Funeral Home has changed locations, and pictured here is the greenfield where the McNary Elementary School once stood.
But, it is extremely exciting that the majority of the list Westwood understood as its foundational institutions still stand today!
Here is a brief introduction to some of these fixtures.
In 2005, the combination of three local parishes resulted in the Resurrection Church and School becoming the St. Benedict the Moor School.
The Westwood Library has been operated from this quaint location on Hoover Avenue since 1938.
Wayman AME is the oldest Black congregation in the city of Dayton, being founded in 1835 and calling Westwood home since 1965.
Westwood is also home to Dayton's second oldest Black congregation, First Wesleyan, which was pastored by the iconic Daytonian humanitarian Rev. DeSoto Bass.
The Wesley Community Center was founded in 1966 and moved to Westwood in 1976.
This powerful resource provides social services and a gathering place for the residents of Westwood no matter the demographic.
Change and Growth
From this brief introduction of Westwood's historical assets, you see the community that that remains today was truly built in the 60s and 70s when these institutions decided to call Westwood home.
These places shaped the history of Westwood and have stood the test of time. But, they alone were not enough to stop the decline of the neighborhood.
Dayton Tire & Rubber, Inland Corporation, and Dayton Malleable Iron Works were all job sites that were close to Westwood. Over time, with the decline of industry in the region, these facilities have closed up shop.
The effect shook all of Dayton, and Westwood was no exception.
We will now look at the current conditions to see what the reality of Westwood is today, and what we can do to set it on the right path.
Current Conditions
Current Population Conditions
Over the last 20 years, Westwood has seen drastic population changes that have a strong impact on the neighborhood.
In 2013, the Fitz Center Project found the following to be the most pressing Census shifts within Westwood.
- Population Loss
- Increase in Vacant Housing
- Increase in Poverty
- Increase in Percentage of Single Female Head of Households
These trends continue today and into the future.
The 2019 unemployment rate in Westwood was 8.8%, compared to a 4.6% rate nationally. Westwood is not the only neighborhood hurting in Ohio though. The 45402 zip code has an unemployment rate of 11.2% and Montgomery County, Ohio has a rate of 5.7%.
The population is expected to fall -0.30% in the next five years in Westwood.
Along with that, the average household income will not keep up with the rate of change of the United States as a whole.
The current median household income is $24,880, with the average household size of 2.18. The projected median household income in 2024 is $27,387 - for a 1.94% increase in the course of five years. The USA as a whole is projected to experience an increase of 2.70%.
Take a look below for more information on current social conditions.
Current Physical Conditions
The Westwood Right Project report pointed out a few obstacles and challenges existing currently in Westwood.
Most of the current obstacles have to do with vacant and dilapidated lots. The physical experience of walking through Westwood could be strengthened by taking care of dilapidated homes and tending to trash or overgrown greenery.
However, Westwood also has many strengths. The neighborhood cares about the community of residents and spaces. There is area for drastic improvement in curb appeal, to inspire residents and visitors alike.
Which leads us to redevelopment opportunities to enhance the community spaces on Hoover Avenue in Westwood.
Proposals
Choice improvements to selected vacant lots on Hoover Avenue will make a world of difference to the community in Westwood.
This 3D model shows what six properties along Hoover Avenue could look like with renovation.
Click the below button to view the full model app. Check out the bookmarked scenes along the bottom of the page as well!
Financial Impact
These changes do come with a cost; however, using the strength of the community organizing in Westwood - costs can significantly be cut by using neighborhood manpower and leveraging grant funds.
Hoover Ave parcel changes
Shown in the graphic above, along Hoover Avenue a few target parcels will be renovated to enhance the curb appeal.
- Parcels in dark green are green space.
- Parcels in orange are new construction.
- Parcels in purple are restorations.
- Parcels in light green are community gardens.
