After 266 consecutive articles about preservation, revitalization or heritage tourism in Ohio, we’re going to break the rules just once and take a quick peek at a handful of recent stories and sites concerning preservation across the US and the world. Not suprisingly, however, each of these stories and sites talks about opporutnities and challenges that mirror those right here at home.

You would think that if any historic resource was “safe,” surely that list would include the glories of Ancient Rome. The 300-mile long Appian Way in Italy, however, is being threatened by the construction of pleasure villas along its path and in the midst of a regional park. Ineffective and ignored governmental regulation has exacerbated the problem.

Bordentown, New Jersey has recently rejected amendments to local land use ordinances that would allow for additional residential units to be built in its historic downtown area, citing the need to maintain the historic character of the community. As a result, the community is seen to be “enabling sprawl."

Just to the north, the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan has been successful in using older downtown commercial buildings as incubator locations for entrepreneurs to start new businesses. It should be noted that two weeks ago, local officials announced that the community had been chosen for a dramatic expansion for a life sciences company; out of 3,300 new employees, at least 400 will be located downtown.

It is well-known that buildings that are occupied tend to enjoy longer life-spans that unoccupied structures. Imagine, then, trying to preserve an actual ghost town – Discover Magazine profiles efforts to safeguard the future of the past in Brodie, California, which it calls “The Most Famous Ghost Town in America.”

He’s outspoken and somewhat controversial, but James Kunstler is someone who regularly speaks his mind on issues surrounding smart growth, the quality of architecture and other urban issues. His new “Kunstlerkast,” available via I-Tunes, allows his to expound verbally on his theories; a recent episode featured the numerous surface parking lots in downtown Columbus. That podcast, as well as Kunstler’s always-humorous “Eyesore of the Month” (think the Remuddling backpage of Old House Journal but for commercial and public buildings) is available here.

Preservation Online reports that the site of the primary supply depot for Colonial troops during the Revolutionary War in Fishkill, New York is slated to become home to – a strip mall. A local organization is working hard to preserve 8 acres of the site – out of an original 70.

Photo: Appian Way - hankword/Creative Commons License