Federation announces relocation sites for north programs and services

On Feb. 18 the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton completed the sale of the Jesse Philips Building to United Theological Seminary.

Under terms of the agreement, the Federation will lease space in the Jesse Philips Building from the Methodist seminary at least through May 27 – the end of the DJCC’s preschool year – and will leave the building entirely by June 30.

“This was a difficult but necessary decision on the part of our board,” Federation President Deborah Feldman said. “Now we can move forward and focus on our mission without the weight of a significant financial drain.”

Currently, the Jesse Philips Building is home to the DJCC site servicing Dayton’s north suburbs. It also houses Jewish Family Services, United Jewish Campaign, The Dayton Jewish Observer, the Dayton Jewish Federation Foundation and the Federation’s administrative offices.

The seminary, which will hold fall classes at the 78,000 square-foot Trotwood site, will soon begin construction on parts of the building, including the gymnasium.

To facilitate this process, the DJCC closed the Jesse Philips Building’s fitness room, locker rooms, gym and racquetball courts on March 18.

After the close of the DJCC’s preschool year on May 27, the north Early Childhood Program will relocate to Hillel Academy in Harrison Township.

The sale of the 27-year-old Jesse Philips Building does not include the Federation’s other buildings on the Trotwood campus: Covenant House resident and respite care facility and Covenant Manor, a 50-unit apartment complex it sponsors for senior citizens, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Federation also owns and operates the Boonshoft Center for Jewish Culture and Education in Centerville.

The Federation’s Senior Nutrition and Activities Program will move to Covenant Manor.

Jewish Family Services, Federation’s counseling division, will relocate to two sites: an office at Covenant Manor and an office at the Federation’s administrative office suite in the Soin Building at 33 W. First Street in downtown Dayton.

“With a downtown administrative office site, we can best meet the needs of the Jewish community, evenly distributed across the suburbs both north and south of Dayton,” Feldman said.