Thanks to "Building Cincinnati" Blog for this information! Four Historic Homes at 833-839 Bank street will be torn down unless something can be done. I have been by these homes and they all are restorable and have intact exterior detailing that should be preserved. These four homes sit directly behind historic Dayton Street which is home to some of the grandest ( and most expensive) downtown residential real estate in the city.
The economics of restoration clearly make sense. The question is who does the city have a system where four homes will be needlessly torn down because of nuisance complaints? Additionally why can't the city work with the property owner to reach a compromise where these four homes could be sold or donated to a preservation group who could stabilize them and then resell them, with protective historic covenants, to individuals who would restore them? At the very least allow the property owner to put them on the market to see if they can be sold. A protective conditional covenant can be put on the sale requiring the new owner to pull permits within 90 days. Clearly some "compromise" can be found.
Clearly four restored homes that would range in value once restored from 150-300,000 each would be a better contributor to the city tax base than 4 vacant lots. In fact restoration of these homes might spur new infill townhouses on the vacant lots east of the properties.
As for myself I am willing to donate my time to develop a comprehensive restoration plan to anyone either individual or developer, who will buy and save these properties.
I have sent a "Preservation 911" alert to the National Trust for Historic Preservation as clearly the senseless demolition of these homes will impact the historic fabric of the neighborhood. I encourage everyone to contact your city council members and the mayors office to ask the question, Why can't a compromise be reached and why is the city tearing down important historic structures?
Why is the system broken that allows this to happen and what will the city do to correct the problem?
If enough of us 'raise a stink" perhaps pressure can be put on the city to SAVE rather than DESTROY its architectural heritage!
Preservationists Unite ! Save Bank Street !!!!
Reviewed by citra
Published :
Rating : 4.5
Published :
Rating : 4.5
