The Dayton City Commission approved Wednesday a redevelopment agreement that could lead to the Wright Company Factory becoming part of the Dayton Aviation National Historical Park.
The historic building, on the grounds of the former Delphi Home Avenue Plant in West Dayton, would be preserved in the pending demolition of the Delphi plant and redevelopment of the overall site for manufacturing by Home Avenue Redevelopment LLC.
Earlier this year, the Clean Ohio Fund approved $3 million for the redevelopment project. It will be matched by money from the LLC and a Delphi-related group, the city said.
It’s the first dedicated airplane production site in the U.S., and it’s the world’s oldest still-standing aircraft production facility. The Ohio Department of Development has said that Congress has authorized the National Park Service to purchase and restore buildings at the site.
“Preservation of these buildings and including them in the Dayton Aviation National Historical Park will not only tell the story of our lead in flight, but will educate and inspire future generations to expand on the legacy of the Wright Brothers,” U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, said.
Turner said that as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, he was able to include language to expand the boundary of the Park to include the building.
A spokesman for Turner’s office said that the congressman will continue to work with the National Parks Service to make the factory part of the Aviation Park.