Of course, regret is a significant part of preservation. Nowhere is there a better example of that regret, of something lost, than Cleveland’s Euclid Avenue. Once dubbed ‘Millionaire’s Row’, Euclid was home to a number of the country’s most wealthy citizens and their incredibly unique and ornate residences. But now after much demolition, a two-mile long stretch of substandard, and in some cases slum-like buildings exists today in their place.
Most endangered historical places in NEO
As much of the post WWII construction of schools and other municipal buildings is aging and populations are shifting, issues of new construction funding continue to be debated. Courthouses, municipal buildings and schools are often at the heart of these discussions. More and more groups and organizations are forming to insure the the 'real costs' of new construction are part of the equation.
What are the real costs of building on a new site? Renovating an existing building general saves 20 to 25 percent of the cost of new construction as the building shell is retained. In addition to the known costs for designing and constructing, there may be hidden costs that don’t enter into discussion.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Neighborhood Schools Initiative
The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Neighborhood Schools Initiative is aimed at leveling the playing field and putting renovation of historic neighborhood schools on an equal footing with construction of new schools.
Preservation Ohio
Ohio is the midst of the greatest systematic loss of our built history since the days of urban renewal, as dozens of historic schools are lost each month in a massive construction program that fails to take into account the full potential of existing school buildings.
National Vacant Properties Campaign—Cleveland at the Crossroads
Cleveland at the Crossroads has a “Zero Blight Initiative” which aggressively addresses the city’s vacant property issues. This report explains the critical challenges and provides potential strategies for improving Cleveland’s ability to address vacant and abandoned property.
Ohio Underground Railroad Association
The buildings that tell the important story of Ohio’s Underground Railroad heritage, many of which are in small towns and secluded areas, are literally crumbling to dust.
Resources
Cleveland landmark list
National Register of Historic Places
Encyclopedia of Cleveland History
Western Reserve Historical Society
The Recent Past Preservation Network
The World Monuments Fund
Underground railroad national register
Ohio Hill Country heritage area
The Ohio History Store
The Marcel Breuer-designed Ameritrust Tower
Cleveland Jewish Community Federation Headquarters
