The heartbeat of Uptown Centerville has quickened with an array of new developments. Walking through Uptown, your senses are awakened by the sights of colorful murals, the aroma of the many new restaurants that now call Centerville home and the sound of people visiting the businesses along Main and Franklin.
Since 2019, when the City Council approved the Uptown Action Plan, Centerville has been invested in creating a more functional, unique, upscale location for shoppers and diners. The Action Plan includes six focus areas: improving walkability and reducing traffic congestion, improving parking, scheduling and organizing new events, focusing on business development, creating branding and increasing green space.
“The city has been doing an excellent job of working the plan that was put together. Investing public dollars has resulted in what we now see in Uptown,” shares Erik Collins, City of Centerville Development Director.
Just in Uptown alone since May of 2023, Centerville has welcomed four new restaurants including Manna Uptown, Agave & Rye, Meridien and Brunch Pub in January of 2024. “We’re seeing what we refer to as a spinoff effect. We are hearing from some of our merchants, whether it's Burgundy Chic or Pieces of Style or other establishments, that customers will go to a restaurant like Manna and then visit the Town Hall Theater so there’s a ripple effect on the economy,” states Erik.
Outside of new businesses and restaurants, residents may have noticed the addition of public parking in Uptown. Not only have about 150 new parking spaces been created, but the city has been focused on creating strategic partnerships to add 141 more. “The big thing is always how you make it convenient for the residents. The city has been very focused on investing in public infrastructure by acquiring, demolishing and improving to the tune of more than 3.5 million dollars that has been converted into public parking,” shares Erik.
The Action Plan also encompasses looking into ways to make sure that people who are parking and going from their car to places in Uptown have a good experience. This includes considering things like lighting, greenery, hardscapes and more. “One of the things that we are doing now is repositioning the area to make it safer to drive and walk in Uptown,” conveys Erik.
The city is focused on creating the best possible quality of life for those who live in Centerville and visit here. “We want to make sure we have a variety of businesses in Uptown that are going to complement each other so it becomes a hub where people can go to multiple places within walking distance,” states Erik.
While it’s exciting to see the progress that has already been made in a short amount of time there is still more to come. This year, there will be a new 6,000-square-foot building constructed in Uptown across from the Brunch Pub for a new restaurant and there is an active pipeline for different types of projects in Uptown.
“I’ll compare it to this: Our good friends in Miamisburg created their master plan in the year 2000 and they are still working through their plan in 2024. We did ours in 2019. I think it’s going to be at least 10 years, but if you look back at what we have accomplished in this community so far it’s pretty remarkable,” reflects Erik.
For more information about the Action Plan and upcoming improvements to Uptown Centerville visit CentervilleOhio.gov.
“The city has been doing an excellent job of working the plan that was put together. Investing public dollars has resulted in what we now see in Uptown."
