DAYTON, Ohio — With its vaulted ceilings, natural archways and spacious layout, Ashley Doliboa saw something in a 120-year-old building on Dayton’s east side.
As an interior designer, she said she’s had two teams for as long as she can remember, restoring an historic property and building a wedding venue. This 30,000 square foot former factory off Ringgold Street offered the opportunity to check both boxes. She just had to get her husband on board.
The Doliboas examine the outside of the house
Seth Doliboa comes from a family of builders. He and his brother are the co-owner of Catalyst Homes, which builds custom homes throughout the Miami Valley, though in recent years, Ashley has found a role in the company as well.
About seven years ago, Seth asked for her help with some of the design aspects of his properties, starting with colors and finishing.
“And our reviews just went off the charts,” he said.
Over the next several years, they worked as a team. Ashley would come up with a vision and Seth and his brother would help make it a reality.
“Somehow in that time period, she became our boss it feels like.”
That’s why when it came time to take a leap of faith and try building something new, the Doliboas, knew they had a solid foundation.
The Lift before the Doliboas got to work
In 2019, they started touring properties, looking for a place they could convert into a wedding venue, and in the fall, that brought Seth and Ashley to 141 Ringgold St.
“Seth was like, ‘This is a no go, this is awful.’” Ashley said. “We walked in and I said, ‘This is it. We have to take this.’ And he looked at me like I was crazy but here we are.”
The building dates back to the turn of the 20th century, when it was built as an ice cream cone manufacturing plant but after changing hands a few times over the past century, it had gone mostly unused for decades.
The outside was covered in graffiti, the roof needed to be reconstructed, the interior had water damage but Ashley had a vision.
“This could be a full aisle way through here, an aisle for her to walk up with this ceremony up here and chairs on both sides,” she said walking through the main floor.
The final selling point was in the corner there’s a large service elevator, a still-functioning piece of the building’s manufacturing history. Ashley said it brought the whole place together.
“So ‘The Lift’ just sounded perfect for the name of it, because this is the main focus,” she said.
The interior of The Lift as the Doliboas begin renovations
The Doliboas bought the property in November and got to work.
“I’m lucky enough that when I throw an idea, the guys, they actually roll with it,” Ashley said.
They stripped much of the interior, taking out three dumpsters-worth of material, but the structure was sound.
The exterior now has new windows and a modern black and white paint scheme covering the bricks and frame. On the inside, the pattern continues making the vast space appear bright and open.
A year and a half into the project, Ashley’s grand vision for The Lift was materializing.
“When it comes to design, we try to give her what she wants, she’s usually right,” Seth said.
The pair publicly announced the project in December and it garnered immediate interest.
“Within a day I had people messaging me and people wanting to get married and just word of mouth,” she said.
The Lift as the Doliboas wrap up exterior renovations
After couples canceled and rescheduled their 2020 weddings and receptions, many are still searching for the perfect place to tie the knot and the Doliboas said the Lift is hitting the market at the right time.
The Doliboas plan to finish construction in the next four months and the Lift is now pre-booking tours for the fall. It will host its first wedding before the end of the year.
