b)
Guidelines for Irving Avenue, documenting improvements for each house along the street and addressing the need for a definable campus edge. The guidelines will specify improvements to help emulate the quality and care of the facades of Oakwood neighbors, while at the same time, providing a unique identity and entrance to the student neighborhood.
c)
Parking will be provided in large lots to the rear of the houses along Irving Avenue. This will provide more parking spaces and enhance the appearance of Irving Avenue and the residential streets.
d)
Improve existing neighborhoods with front porches and gabled roofs.
e)
Provide a strategy for locating new houses of a similar style and renovating existing houses.

The City of Oakwood should work closely with the University of Dayton to ensure that these improvements are undertaken in the future.

Shroyer Road is located adjacent to the City of Kettering. A resurfacing program along this street has significantly enhanced the appearance of the corridor. Other opportunities for improvement might include:

a)
Enhancement of the older homes and multi-family developments along the corridor;
b)
Improvement of sidewalks, with attractive parkway treatments and street trees;
c)
New street light fixtures; and
d)
Attractive public signage.

It would also be desirable to improve the commercial area within the City of Dayton, between Acorn Drive and Shroyer Road. This area provides a major entrance to Oakwood at Patterson Road. Many of the commercial properties in this area are marginal and deteriorated.

Commercial Area Recommendations

The Land-Use Plan recommends that Oakwood’s established business areas continue to be the commercial focal points within the community. These areas should provide for the day-to-day commercial needs of Oakwood residents. Commercial uses should continue to be located primarily within the Far Hills Business District, the Park Avenue Business District, the Sugar Camp area, and in other smaller locations.

  • Oakwood is primarily a residential community, and local commercial areas should continue to be strongly oriented to community needs. Commercial areas should remain small and compact, and their present scale and character should be essentially maintained.
  • Since commercial and business areas are located along important traffic routes, access to individual properties should be carefully controlled to minimize conflicts with through traffic. The consolidation of access drives for adjacent properties should be encouraged where possible.
  • Adequate off-street parking should be provided within all commercial and business areas. The consolidation of parking facilities for two or more businesses should be encouraged. Parking lots should be attractively landscaped, particularly along major streets and sidewalks. Parking should be provided in a manner that is compatible with adjacent residential areas.