New Home for LGBT Center
02/02/2023
Congratulations to the LGBT Center on the purchase of New Home!
by Randy Phillips
Over 45 years in the making, The Dayton LGBT Center has now purchased a place of its own! The Gay Center, as it was originally called began in 1976 under the direction of Howard Getz. A group of men were gathered together, at the Stage Door bar, and were lamenting the fact that there was nothing for them to do outside of a bar setting. Mr. Getz then began a men’s group that met in his home on N. Main Street in Dayton. The group grew and thrived and eventually out grew a home setting. The group began meeting in various borrowed locations through the years. A location in the Hills and Dales Shopping Center, on Salem Avenue, Shiloh Church, St. Paul’s Church, MJ’s Bar and Café, and Miami Valley Fair Housing, just to name a few. Much of this time was also spent virtually, only meeting at places for special events; otherwise helps were offered via the web or via the telephone. There has been some key leadership throughout the 45 plus years. After Mr. Getz stepped aside, Leon Bey served as president of the board for many years, followed by Vicki Hahn. During her tenure as board president, John Gantt stepped in as the Center’s first executive director and under his leadership in 2001 began the 1st Pride Parade and festival. After Vicki’s tenure, Joshua West stepped in as board chair followed by Bret Wendel, both resigning to pursue their career paths, after which, Randy Phillips stepped up to serve as board president. It was during this time that the Center continued to grow and expand their educational programs and support groups. In 2017 Randy signed a 5 year lease on the property at 24 N. Jefferson Street to lease a space with the Jefferson Sims Building to truly call their home. To get the space at a price point they could afford, they took the space “As Is” without heating or air conditioning, and in pretty rough shape. Randy and volunteers such as RJ McKay, Matt Ross, and Jerid Martel work had to shape the space into a great workable space that our community could use, feel safe in and grow in. In 2020, Randy accepted the role as executive director of the Center, and RJ McKay stepped in as board chair. The Center continued to flourish with record numbers of folks attending groups and events. When the pandemic hit, the Center quickly shifted to virtual meeting and when safety permitted hybrid meeting began with some people coming in-person and other attending online. This model proved to be very effective and continues to this day.
As the lease on the current location was coming to an end, a search committee was put together, led by RJ. McKay, to find a property that we could purchase and make it our very own home. A set of criteria was selected in looking for a home. Various properties were looked at with some checking a few boxes and others far off the mark. In September of 2022, Randy Phillips stepped away as executive director to assume a role with another non-profit, and Rick Flinn then stepped in as the current executive director of the Greater Dayton LGBT Center. Time seemed to be running out as a few of our leaders terms on the board would be running or terming out. There was talk of putting the search on hold as a new board president was elected in November of 2022 when Nycia Lattimore became board chair. Yet it seems fate was in the design. Our real estate agent, Mike Embree, gave us a call to say a property was about to be listed by an old friend of the Center, Ed Grant, who was retiring from his printing business and putting his property up for sale. The day his property was listed by his agent, Ed received 4 offers from groups wishing to purchase his property. The deciding factor for Ed was when RJ had written him a letter identifying some key advantages of selling to a non-profit. This along with the Center’s long standing relationship with Ed lead to his decision to sell his property to The Greater Dayton LGBT Center, Inc.
On Thursday, January 19th, 2023, all parties met at the LGBT Center to close on the sale and RJ McKay signed the paperwork for the Center to become the official owner of 136 N. St Clair Street, Dayton just one block from our current location, and the former home of The Graphics Terminal as former board members and former board presidents watched the historic event. It new home of the Center features 10,000 square feet almost double what is currently used. When the property was originally built it was designed as a car dealership and showroom, so it has a large open floor plan. Temporary walls were put into place to accommodate the businesses since that time. Many of those temporary walls will need to be removed to open back up to fit the needs of the Center. This is no different that when we first took over the current space. Plans have been drawn up to make a space all our own, to fit our ideal needs for our community. So congratulations to The Greater Dayton LGBT Center on achieving their New Permanent Home!
by Randy Phillips
Over 45 years in the making, The Dayton LGBT Center has now purchased a place of its own! The Gay Center, as it was originally called began in 1976 under the direction of Howard Getz. A group of men were gathered together, at the Stage Door bar, and were lamenting the fact that there was nothing for them to do outside of a bar setting. Mr. Getz then began a men’s group that met in his home on N. Main Street in Dayton. The group grew and thrived and eventually out grew a home setting. The group began meeting in various borrowed locations through the years. A location in the Hills and Dales Shopping Center, on Salem Avenue, Shiloh Church, St. Paul’s Church, MJ’s Bar and Café, and Miami Valley Fair Housing, just to name a few. Much of this time was also spent virtually, only meeting at places for special events; otherwise helps were offered via the web or via the telephone. There has been some key leadership throughout the 45 plus years. After Mr. Getz stepped aside, Leon Bey served as president of the board for many years, followed by Vicki Hahn. During her tenure as board president, John Gantt stepped in as the Center’s first executive director and under his leadership in 2001 began the 1st Pride Parade and festival. After Vicki’s tenure, Joshua West stepped in as board chair followed by Bret Wendel, both resigning to pursue their career paths, after which, Randy Phillips stepped up to serve as board president. It was during this time that the Center continued to grow and expand their educational programs and support groups. In 2017 Randy signed a 5 year lease on the property at 24 N. Jefferson Street to lease a space with the Jefferson Sims Building to truly call their home. To get the space at a price point they could afford, they took the space “As Is” without heating or air conditioning, and in pretty rough shape. Randy and volunteers such as RJ McKay, Matt Ross, and Jerid Martel work had to shape the space into a great workable space that our community could use, feel safe in and grow in. In 2020, Randy accepted the role as executive director of the Center, and RJ McKay stepped in as board chair. The Center continued to flourish with record numbers of folks attending groups and events. When the pandemic hit, the Center quickly shifted to virtual meeting and when safety permitted hybrid meeting began with some people coming in-person and other attending online. This model proved to be very effective and continues to this day.
As the lease on the current location was coming to an end, a search committee was put together, led by RJ. McKay, to find a property that we could purchase and make it our very own home. A set of criteria was selected in looking for a home. Various properties were looked at with some checking a few boxes and others far off the mark. In September of 2022, Randy Phillips stepped away as executive director to assume a role with another non-profit, and Rick Flinn then stepped in as the current executive director of the Greater Dayton LGBT Center. Time seemed to be running out as a few of our leaders terms on the board would be running or terming out. There was talk of putting the search on hold as a new board president was elected in November of 2022 when Nycia Lattimore became board chair. Yet it seems fate was in the design. Our real estate agent, Mike Embree, gave us a call to say a property was about to be listed by an old friend of the Center, Ed Grant, who was retiring from his printing business and putting his property up for sale. The day his property was listed by his agent, Ed received 4 offers from groups wishing to purchase his property. The deciding factor for Ed was when RJ had written him a letter identifying some key advantages of selling to a non-profit. This along with the Center’s long standing relationship with Ed lead to his decision to sell his property to The Greater Dayton LGBT Center, Inc.
On Thursday, January 19th, 2023, all parties met at the LGBT Center to close on the sale and RJ McKay signed the paperwork for the Center to become the official owner of 136 N. St Clair Street, Dayton just one block from our current location, and the former home of The Graphics Terminal as former board members and former board presidents watched the historic event. It new home of the Center features 10,000 square feet almost double what is currently used. When the property was originally built it was designed as a car dealership and showroom, so it has a large open floor plan. Temporary walls were put into place to accommodate the businesses since that time. Many of those temporary walls will need to be removed to open back up to fit the needs of the Center. This is no different that when we first took over the current space. Plans have been drawn up to make a space all our own, to fit our ideal needs for our community. So congratulations to The Greater Dayton LGBT Center on achieving their New Permanent Home!