Community Development Director Alex Carlson recently answered a series of questions for local media outlets about the many projects taking shape in our community. Many positive projects are underway, so we want to share his remarks with you:
What projects are you most looking forward to seeing move forward next year?
I'm most looking forward to seeing the Miami Crossing Master Plan move forward. The Dayton Mall area means a lot to our community, both Miami Township and the larger Dayton region. We are excited to be working with the new property owners of the Dayton Mall, Hull Property Group, along with an Oversight Committee comprised of local leaders and business owners to plan for the future of this regional destination.
Another key project is the reactivation of the LexisNexis campus by Industrial Commercial Properties (ICP) into "The Pike" business center. ICP has renovated much of the interior space to bring exciting new tenants into our community, like Accelevation, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and TQL, as well as retaining LexisNexis within the park. Miami Township and ICP are in preliminary discussions to transform this aging corporate campus into a revitalized mixed-use property with new amenities to support the business park as well as the surrounding area.
Finally, we are enthusiastic about the continuing development of the First Flight Commerce Center at the Dayton Wright Brothers Airport. Northpoint Development has been a great partner to the community, and has supported our ability to attract new types of jobs and businesses to Miami Township with a focus on strategic industries.
What has been the highlight of 2025 for Miami Township?
Community backing for the Miami Crossing Master Plan represents a major highlight of 2025. The implementation of the previous plan, the 2015 Dayton Mall Area Master Plan, was largely stalled by ownership changes and external events. Over the last decade however, Miami Township has implemented several recommendations of the previous plan, such as completion of the Lyons Road bridge project and intersection signalization at Springboro Pike, securing funding for the Kingsridge Drive streetscape improvement project, and implementation of Miami Crossing branding within the district boundary. The Miami Crossing JEDD has engaged Planning NEXT to facilitate the planning process. With new owners of key areas within Miami Crossing, we believe now is the time to deliver the long-awaited and significant community change.
What are your plans for the downtown area next year?
Miami Township does not have a traditional downtown, so our community center focus is the Miami Crossing District (Dayton Mall Area). This planning effort is actively underway to transition the area toward a more walkable, mixed-use environment with opportunities for pedestrian-oriented retail, additional density, and residential/office components. We also have major infrastructure improvements planned for next year and beyond, focused on getting pedestrians and cyclists safely around our community.
State Route 741 Pathway Project: We are working on a multi-use path along SR 741 that will run underneath the I-675 overpass. This project is vital for connecting the two sections of the township that have felt disconnected for pedestrians and cyclists.
Kingsridge Drive Project: Currently in design, this project will transform a busy commercial corridor with the addition of new sidewalks, pedestrian lighting, mid-block crossings, and landscaping.
What development projects or sectors would you like to see coming into the city next year?
We would like to see continued growth in industries and sectors that align with regional strengths. The First Flight Commerce Center is already creating new jobs in growing industries like Advanced Manufacturing and Aerospace and Defense Innovation, with the potential for growth in other sectors like technology infrastructure and data analytics.
We are also actively looking for high-quality Class A professional office tenants for new and revitalized spaces like "The Pike," and will be encouraging a wide range of new development types as the Miami Crossing plan progresses.
What areas of your city are underdeveloped or in most need of revitalization?
Miami Township has refocused our efforts to revitalize our public park network. Last year we adopted the Miami Township Parks & Trails Plan, focusing on the improvement and activation of our parks, as well as the sidewalks and trails people use to visit our parks. Multiple parks have already seen improvements, supported in part by funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, as well as the generous support of donations from members of our community. As we work to attract jobs and residents to our community, having quality parks is an important but often overlooked piece of the puzzle. Good parks increase property values and make it easier for companies to attract skilled labor.
We are also currently engaged in a comprehensive overhaul of the Zoning Resolution, a key strategic effort designed to modernize land development regulations. This initiative is specifically intended to achieve full alignment between the zoning code and recommendations established by The Plan, Miami Township’s 2022 comprehensive plan. By adopting this new resolution, the Township will effectively streamline the development process, creating a regulatory environment that is predictable, efficient, and directly supportive of the future growth and investment priorities desired by the community and prospective business partners.
This project received funding through the Ohio Department of Development Housing Technical Assistance Program (HTAP) which expedited the township’s ability to initiate this process by bringing on McBride Dale Clarion to bolster our limited staff time.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
12/12/2025
Contact: Jill Drury, Communications Manager
(937) 433-9969
Alex Carlson, Community Development Director
(937) 433-9969