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Vacant & Abandoned Buildings Roundtable | Columbus Landmarks

Ohio’s Historic Preservation Community Addresses Vacant and Abandoned Buildings Problem

Columbus Landmarks Foundation hosted historic preservation representatives from around the state at a May 23, 2012, summit to discuss growing concerns over maintaining the integrity of historically important neighborhoods and buildings with the reality of demolition plans for vacant and abandoned buildings. The May 23, 2012, meeting was co-sponsored by Heritage Ohio and Preservation Ohio, two state-wide historic preservation organizations, and drew participants from Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Lancaster, Warren, Marion, Delaware and Galion, as well as from Columbus and the Ohio Historic Preservation Office. Royce Yeater, recently retired Midwest Director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a preservation consultant who has written and spoken extensively addressing vacancy and abandonment through preservation in urban settings, moderated the summit.

The growing catalog of vacant and abandoned buildings is an issue for cities of all sizes, with, for example, more than 6,000 identified in Columbus and 13,000 in Cleveland. With no market for many of the buildings and concerns from homeowners about the negative valuation effect of vacant houses on their own properties, a culture of demolition is developing in Ohio as well as around the country. The May 23 summit focused on bringing the preservation community’s perspective and assistance to the problem.

Participants in the summit shared information on actions that have been effective in their cities and new initiatives that are under development. Representatives from cities as well as volunteer organizations were able to share viewpoints and explore how they might increase collaboration. Participants agreed that not all vacant structures can or deserve to be saved.

Several long-term strategies were identified as best practices for preservationists to activate in their home communities.

  • Help local governments identify historically important buildings and landmarks among those vacant and abandoned
  • Work with neighborhoods, local governments and other partners to find the appropriate solutions, including documenting, mothballing, funding restoration, resale, rehabilitation, or demolition
  • Bring preservation expertise to the planning table at the city and neighborhood levels
  • Educate and raise awareness for the economic development and sustainable results of preservation

Findings and an executive summary are being provided to all participants, as well as to local government housing, preservation and development officials, potential partners for the preservation community and other interested parties. For more information on becoming part of the solution to this long-term problem affecting all Ohioans, contact Nathalie Wright, Field Representative, at [email protected] or 614-221-0227.

About Columbus Landmarks Foundation

Columbus Landmarks Foundation advocates historic preservation and rehabilitation as its primary mission through community action and education. The organization celebrates the cultural landscape by promoting exemplary urban design respectful of the architectural and historic past.