Our new news and Twitter reader on the left column of MyHometownOhio contains a constantly-updated selection of preservation, downtown revitalization, heritage tourism and smart growth stories from Ohio-based media.  Every so often we highlight some of those stories that we believe merit special attention.  Here are some recent news stories that have captured our interest:

Two of properties included on the 2008 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Sites have been in the news recently.  First, residents of the Village of Greenhills continues to debate the future of the planned New Deal community as they come together to fashion the community’s first-ever comprehensive plan.  Concerns have been raised about what was perceived as the Village government’s objective to revitalize Greenhills through removal of original buildings and replacement with more “attractive” housing stock.  Click here for a recent Cincinnati Enquirer story.

Second, there was potential good news recently in Dayton in the sale of the Arcade Building complex to a pair of Wisconsin developers.  The duo certainly know about large-scale renovation projects, as pointed out in this Dayton Daily News story.  The story also recounts a basic chronological history of the building.

Elsewhere in Ohio, a development group in Springfield is asking for permission to demolish the venerable Memorial Hall, a Frank Packard-designed city-registered landmark.  Stated plans call for the possible retention of the façade and interior elements (doors, etc.).  Unstated plans suggest that the site will become yet another chain drug store.  The Springfield Preservation Alliance is hosting a public forum on the issue at on March 24 at 6:00 p.m. at Heritage Hall.

The Cleveland Restoration Society recently issued a statement concerning pending plans of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland to shutter a large number of parish churches in Northwest Ohio.  In their statement, CRS profiles not only the issue and the history of their involvement with the Diocese, but their plans to deal with the challenges presented with the closure of significant historic structures worth preserving.

The economy is cited as the primary reason for owners to close the landmark 1924 Vernon Manor Hotel in Avondale.  The structure not only has a history of welcoming national celebrities but which was its own star of sorts in the movie “Rainman.”  Read this Cincinnati Enqurier story to learn more.

Ohio’s sustainable growth organization, Greater Ohio, recently discussed its involvement with the proposed Community Regeneration, Sustainability and Innovation Act, which would create both mechanisms and funding for older Ohio communities to deal with the problems of vacant, abandoned and decaying housing.  This blog article also references a Columbus Dispatch story on the effort, which is led in part by US Senator Sherrod Brown.

Photo: Interior, St. John Cantius Catholic Church, Cleveland (built 1925) - Eddie~S/Creative Commons License