A proposed medical office building on South Brown Street that will serve the University of Dayton and the surrounding area would be built to preserve and incorporate a nearly century-old former church into its design as part of plans presented to neighbors July 14.

The former South Park Methodist Church, built in 1925 between Sawmill and Stonemill roads, would be repurposed to provide space for physical and occupational rehabilitation services and integrated with a new structure as part of an updated proposal still subject to city of Dayton approval. 

“We appreciate our partnership with the neighbors and Preservation Dayton and their encouragement to take a second look at the site,” said Jason Woodard, principal of Woodard Development. “It is not always possible to reuse a long-vacant, special-use building such as a former church. But by taking a second look in this case, we were pleased to find a feasible way to balance the preservation of the building while integrating a new structure that will together provide the necessary space for these medical services.” 

The updated plan for the site also reconfigures the building’s parking lot and maintains mature trees along the site’s north property line. It would also expand a buffer between the parking area and residences to the west of the property.

The project is under development by the University in partnership with Woodard Development, Crawford Hoying, and Premier Health.

As the building’s anchor tenant, Premier Health will provide the larger community convenient access to health care services, as well as lower-cost care. The building will house primary care and orthopedic physicians, imaging, lab and comprehensive physical and occupational rehabilitation services available to meet community needs and will also provide an employer clinic to UD’s nearly 2,700 full-time employees. This clinic will include evening and weekend urgent care for UD staff and students. 

For more information and interviews, contact Cilla Shindell, executive director of news and communications, at pshindell1@udayton.edu.