Over the last few months, several Ohio preservation and downtown revitalization organizations have established a more thorough presence on Facebook with the creation of an official “Page.”

Facebook Pages are a more robust version of the former Facebook Groups, the latter of which basically allowed only static information, simple posts and some discussion. Pages have all of this and more, including the ability for those registered as “fans” to receive updates on their own individual sites. Pages can also be outfitted with applications, which provide increased functionality and features.

Both the Cincinnati Preservation Association and Columbus Landmarks Foundation have active Facebook Pages, which are updated often with news, event information, advocacy alerts and more. Fans can comment on these posts, can add their own content, and can embed posts them on their own pages.

Downtown revitalization organizations with Facebook Pages include Downtown Mansfield, Inc., Main Street Kent, the Heritage Centre Association (Mount Vernon), Main Street Oberlin, the Main Street Area Association (Hamilton), the Marysville Uptown Renewal Team, Main Street Canal Winchester, Main Street Medina, Main Street Orrville and Main Street Delaware.

Preservation Ohio’s Facebook Page includes all of the standard features, as well as our latest “Tweets,” the most recent photographs posted on our Flickr page, and the ability to easily invite friends to the page.  The Preservation Ohio Facebook Page interconnects with both our website and the new Ohio Preservation Network. Together, through Twitter, Facebook, the Ohio Preservation Network, Flickr and our blog, MyHometownOhio, Preservation Ohio now enjoys between 2,000 and 3,000 friends, fans, followers and subscribers just through online social networking. All of this work is an attempt to build a cohesive and effective community for preservation and preservation-based revitalization in Ohio.

To access any of the Facebook Pages for the organizations referred to in this post, visit www.facebook.com/preservationohio and look for the “Favorite Pages” in the left-hand column. And, while you’re there, please become a “fan” of Preservation Ohio!

It’s time again for the annual showcase of urban living in downtown Columbus - City Hop - and this year, as in years past, offerings include both renovated and new infill living spaces.

The event is a reminder of the power of historic architecture to provide incredible places in which to live and work. Some of this year’s stops, such as the newly-renovated “8 on the Square,” are housed in period office structures (this one from 1906; see photo) that have been updated to provide the kind of living space that is financially difficult to replicate. Others, such as CityView, are located in buildings which had dramatically different original purposes - this one constructed as a factory building for a shoe manufacturer.

Of course, the infill projects that have recently sprung up like very welcome weeds in downtown Columbus promote the idea of a walkable, dynamic and dense urban environment. Projects such as Neighborhood Launch and The Annex at River South take their cue from their surroundings and from the history of the area, while adding a 21st century flair.

There’s a lot to see at City Hop, presented by the Columbus Landmarks Foundation. Here are links to relevant resources:

• Main City Hop 2009 page on the website of the Columbus Landmarks Foundation - includes a look at each tour stop, tour details, etc..
  
• The new City Hop online magazine
  
• City Hop on Twitter
  
• Podcast about City Hop from Columbus Underground

Photo: 8 on the Square - gorkon280/Creative Commons License

Over the next several weeks, Preservation Ohio goes "On the Road" to visit many corners of Ohio. Some of our visits will coincide with the release of the 2009 List of Ohio's Most Endangered Historic Sites; in others, we will be talking about issues relating to statewide preservation issues, financial incentives for older properties, and downtown & neighborhood revitalization.

Here's a quick look at some of our upcoming trips:

May 13 - Mansfield - Downtown Property Owners Conference

May 16 - Hamilton - Butler County Preservation Roundtable

May 18 - Columbus - Announcement of two properties on the 2009 List of Ohio's Most Endangered Historic Sites.

May 21 - Springfield, Dayton and Yellow Springs - Additional Most Endangered announcement visits.

July 31/August 1 - New Philadelphia - THAT Old House Preservation & Restoration Workshop

Several more trips are being planned. In each community, we plan to chronicle stories of communities coming together to recognize and work for the future of their historic resources. Stay tuned to this site, MyHometownOhio and the Ohio Preservation Network for photos, video and more.