Chinese developers set sights on Dayton

The Vindicator ^ | 10/30/2009 | Chris Potter

[Saije]

Dayton is being considered as a potential retail and residential development site by Hong Kong business mogul Zengbin Song, of Tian An China Investments Company. Working with local business owner Jack Gong, the Dayton Economic Development Corporation has now established a relationship with the Chinese investment community. Mr. Gong is the President of Overseas Operations for the Dayton office of Lucky Toys, a Six Flags distributor. Most recently, Gong developed, and leased, a shopping center in Willis, Texas.

As part of a 60-member Chinese delegation to the Houston market, Song was attracted to Dayton as a high-growth submarket in the Houston region. Chris Potter, DCDC Executive Director responded by providing a comprehensive site proposal marketing Dayton to the Tian An China developer. Song met for several hours at the DCDC office with his Dalian, China real estate advisor and was provided lunch and a tour of Dayton development sites. He was also given a detailed demographic analysis of Dayton and informed of the increasing need for new residential, retail and commercial venues. All types of development options are currently being considered, by Song...

Also attending the meeting was James Chen, MBA, Regional Director for Asia with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Potter has worked closely with the Governors Office on past projects and requested they provide an economic development advisor for the Chinese delegation. Chen played an instrumental role in translation and Chinese protocol at the meeting.

“On behalf of the Office of the Governor, I am very happy to work with Mr. Potter to bring a group of Asian investors from China to the City of Dayton,” said Chen.

“Chinese investors are ever more interested in expanding their business investments overseas. New investments help both sides by creating more jobs in Dayton and building a stronger global economy.”

[Saije]

That would be Dayton, Texas. I guess I'm just being overly provincial and not sufficiently embracing the global economy but it's disturbing to me, that cities have to look to China for development. Weren't we the ones who used to go around the world doing that? But I guess China's got most of our dollars so it's good they're investing them here.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Yes, but will Gong show?

[martin_fierro]

Mr. Gong is the President of Overseas Operations for the Dayton office of Lucky Toys, a Six Flags distributor.

Motto: "If It's A Good Toy, It's Lucky!"

[Orange1998]

You got to be kidding me. Maybe a population of 6,000.

[Kenny Bunk]

This is insane.

Downtown properties in the smaller core cities of America, are being picked up for pennies on the dollar.

[Kenny Bunk]

This is insane.

Downtown properties in the smaller core cities of America, are being picked up for pennies on the dollar.

[wideminded]

Confusing. Apparently there is a newspaper called The Vindicator in Liberty County, Texas, where there is a small city named Dayton. There is a more well known newspaper called the Vindicator in Youngstown, Ohio - the same state as the more well known Dayton.