Preservation Ohio is pleased to announce the first property available for sale through its new Gannon Fund for Historic Preservation.

The 1878 Leffler-Giles House on South Greenwood in Marion is not just any house .... its a large brick Italianate replete with period "vaseline" light fixtures, fireplaces, unpainted original woodwork, and beveled glass.  If that weren't enough, the house is within walking distance of the public library, elementary and middle schools, and the Warren G. Harding Presidential Home and Museum.

The Gannon Fund acquires and markets interests in historic properties in an effort to promote their preservation.  The Fund was established with a generous gift from Loren and Virginia Gannon, long-time supporters of preservation in Ohio.

To view information and photos of this historic house, click here to visit Ohio Landmark Properties.  When there, click on "Gannon Fund Properties" to see a complete description of the Leffler-Giles House and additional photos.  For biographical information, click here to view the biography of Godfrey Leffler, builder of this extraordinary house.

Rookwood Commons, Norwood
Photo: Joe Dunckley/Creative Commons

This week's Ohio Supreme Court eminent domain ruling, official known as "City of Norwood vs. Horney," was important news for anyone involved in issues of smart growth, economic development and land use planning.  The unanimous decision, handed down in a 58-page ruling, prohibited the use of eminent domain for acquisition of residential houses for a proposed $128 million shopping and office complex in suburban Cincinnati, near Rookwood Commons.

Not surprisingly, the web is teeming with perspectives on the decision, and blogs are busy with Ohioans -- and people around the country -- adding their own thoughts on the decision.

The ruling was not without a fair dose of "wiggle room," and as the true measure of any court case is most easily measured in hindsight, as subsequent actions are measured against the first, the full impact of this ruling is uncertain.  It is pretty clear, however, that City of Norwood v. Horney will affect the type and pace of development in Ohio.

For a good analysis of the eminent domain issue with an Ohio flavor, there is an excellent review on the website of Greater Ohio (click on "eminent domain coverage.").  This review includes a look at the Ohio Eminent Domain Study Task Force which has been analyzing the issue -- and must make recommendations for legislative actions this coming week.  For an outstanding example of hometown coverage, the Cincinnati Enquirer had this story in its July 26 edition, and has maintained this special section on eminent domain with a collection of links to related stories and court documents.

The Turner Institute for Historic Preservation is presenting "Building a Grassroots Constituency" workshop on Friday, September 18 in Springfield.

The workshop will be led by Marian Vance.  Marian is Director of Development for Preservation Ohio, and also serves on the Ohio Historical Society Board of Trustees and the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board.  Attendees will learn techniques for building networks of citizens to brainstorm, develop and initiate plans of action that have positive community impact - particularly where historic resources are at risk.

The next Turner Institute workshop will take place on September 15 in Zanesville, and will feature Jill Evans of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources on effective grantwriting.

For more information on Turner Institute workshops and for online registration, click here.

Eleven years after the Statehouse project, the Rotunda is again the scene of restoration activity.

The current work was prompted by concerns of peeling paint on the Rotunda ceiling.  Sophisticated analysis showed that two independent factors were combining to cause the problem - the 1995 paint was placed over older paint that could not handle the weight of the new, and the Statehouse's air conditioning was an issue.

At a price tag of $1.1 million, the project has temporarily closed the Rotunda for the summer, as workers remove everything down to the original plaster and stone and re-paint in the familiar shades of dusty pinks, roses and greens.  Work is scheduled for completion on September 8.

The Statehouse Rotunda's ceiling soars 120 feet to a stained glass skylight featuring the Great Seal of Ohio.  In 1865, it served as one of the locations where President Abraham Lincoln lay in state, and it continues to serve ceremonial functions to this day.

Click here to visit the Statehouse online.

Photo Credit: TTVo/Creative Commons

North Main Street, Downtown Mansfield
Preservation Ohio File Photo

Officials in Mansfield recently announced updates on ambitious plans to revitalize downtown and its surrounding area, and also the "Miracle Mile," a 50-year-old stretch of commercial activity on Park Avenue West.

A key component of Mansfield's plans calls for the building of new homes geared for middle-class families in the "Chamber District," the residential area immediately north and west of downtown.  Through a partnership of city, non-profit agencies and the Mansfield Alliance, the plan is to attract single-family homeowners into an area which has long since lapsed into decline.  The hope is that the city and non-profit action can lead the way and hopefully attract private investment.

It is an interesting concept for a community which has seen some downtown success with the unique Carrousel District, but where surrounding neighborhoods have so far defied reinvestment activity.

As another important element of its revitalization strategy the Central Park area has been designated as a local historic district, and the centerpiece of the Square, the stately Vasbinder Fountain, is being restored.

Preservation Ohio will be monitoring the progress of this initiative in future editions of MyHometownOhio.  In the meantime, visitors to the Main Street Mansfield website can access the 2006 Mansfield Alliance Strategic Redevelopment Plan Update.  This past Sunday's Mansfield News-Journal also featured a profile of the ambitious neighborhood revitalization program.  Both are great reads.

Is it possible to actually plan for tourism?

The Knowlton School of Architecture of The Ohio State University is asking that question in a one-day conference on August 11 called "Planning for Tourism: Challenges and Opportunities for Success," co-hosted by OSU, the Columbus Section of the Ohio Planning Conference, and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.  Speakers will focus on heritage tourism, sports tourism and agricultural tourism, as well as on the overall questions of how tourism interfaces with local and regional planning.

Following lunch, attendees have the option of viewing poster presentations given by students from OSU and the Technical University of Dresden, Germany.  The presentations will focus on the interface between urban planning and tourism in the City of Columbus.

One of America's newest National Register Travel Itineraries highlights a number of Ohio historic resources.

The Ohio and Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor Travel Itinerary takes a look at buildings, neighborhoods, farms, cemeteries and historic settlements along a four-county path through northeast Ohio.  The trail begins in the hustle of downtown Cleveland, moves into the small villages of northern Summit County before reaching downtown Akron, goes through Canal Fulton and Canton in Stark County, and finally reaches Zoar and Dover in Tuscarawas County.

As with all National Register Travel Itineraries, online visitors can learn about significant historic resources along the route, view maps, and access links to various heritage tourism sites.

Take a visit online ... and then go see the real thing!  To visit, click here.

The role of downtown in community planning is evident to many - but it is always good to see Ohio communities giving downtown revitalization an important and deserved place in master planning projects.

Elyria, in Lorain County, is in the midst of creating the Elyria 2015 master plan, a roadmap to how citizens see the future of their community.  A review of the Elyria 2015 process, which can be accessed by clicking here, reveals that the process emphasizes three key areas -- "preserving and protecting," "connecting" and "developing" the city.

A working committee is currently looking at the downtown and Midway districts.  The Elyria Chronicle-Telegram recently reviewed the work of that committee, and encouraged commentary from its readers; that site can be accessed here.  To review meeting minutes of the downtown working committee, click here.

Downtown Elyria

Creative Commons Photo