DAYTON, Ohio — A historic building that was used by airplane inventors the Wright brothers could face demolition, but one group is trying to keep that from happening.

“You know the Wright brothers were probably standing right here, they were at my building, they were at this building,” said nearby business qwner Shannon Jackson.

Jackson runs a real estate business in a remodeled historic building in Dayton. 

Just outside of her window, across West Third Street, there’s a building that’s been sitting empty and slowly falling apart for years, but she said there’s something more there too.

“For me, to be able to walk to, maybe touch a wall that someone may have touched, maybe even the Wright brothers, that’s exciting,” said Jackson.

The Wright brothers, credited for creating the first airplane, are said to have run a bike shop in that building almost 130 years ago, but because of the condition it’s in, Dayton city zoning leaders gave the green light to tear it down.

“If the building comes down I would love for them to save the facade or as much of the material or (as much of) the bricks as possible,” said Jackson. 

That's why she said she's standing behind an effort to try and save all or part of the building. 

Monica Snow is the head of Preservation Dayton. 

She said donors have put up funds, now they need developers to make it a part of a renovation project to try to save it. 

“If the facade is saved then the whole development qualifies for historic tax credits,” said Snow. 

She said she hopes that will be part of what gets the city to hold off on any plans to tear it down. 

Right now, she said the city has not put a timeline on how long developers have to show interest nor on demolition. 

Either way, Shannon Jackson said she’s glad something will be done.

“I’ll admit, it’s an eyesore. But the fact they’re gonna be making some changes in this neighborhood, I’m excited,” said Jackson.