Voters take to the polls on November 6 – and in some Ohio cities, issues affecting preservation and revitalization will be on their minds.  Here’s a quick sampling of Ohio communities where this is the case; click each city name for local coverage:

Columbus – Candidates for Columbus City Council recently volunteered their ideas for revitalizing the downtown area, with an emphasis on the largely vacant City Center Mall.

Hartville – One candidate for Mayor is stressing the importance of downtown revitalization, including the hopeful creation of a preservation-based program.

Port Clinton – Downtown revitalization is also an issue here, as is a proposed new water park development on a stretch of open space fronting Lake Erie.

Johnstown – Although all current Council candidates are running unopposed, they recently outlined their vision for the future of their community, including balancing maintaining the historic feel of Johnstown while allowing for controlled growth.

Sandusky -- Voters are being asked to approve or reject a non-binding expression of support for the Marina District, a large project along the city’s waterfront.  The project may or may not negatively impact the city’s Battery Park, depending on whose opinion is asked.  For a taste of the controversy and discussion of its possible relationship to downtown revitalization and historic preservation in Sandusky, read any of the numerous comments made after this Sandusky Register story.

New Philadelphia – New Philadelphia voters will consider whether or not to overturn City action which authorized the construction of a Walgreens Drug Store in the historic Franklin Square neighborhood.  Click here to read our story on this situation.

Oxford – A proposed amendment to the City Charter loosening restrictions on creation of apartments has many speculating on whether the change will encourage or discourage “teardowns” in the historic Uptown area.

Photos - Erie County Courthouse, Downtown Sandusky - fusionpanda/Creative Commons License