I just love it when all these people talk about saving historic buildings (their own) and the history of Middletown when they can’t even save the cemetery that was established in 1827.

CHAPTER 1210:  HISTORIC PRESERVATION

1210.01  POLICY AND PURPOSE.

The City hereby declares as a matter of public policy that the preservation, protection, perpetuation and use of areas, places, structures, works of art or similar objects having a special historical or aesthetic interest or value are a public necessity and are required in the interest of the health, prosperity, safety and welfare of the people. (Webster Dictionary – necessity – 1. the state or fact of being inevitable or necessary. 2. something essential, esp. to existence. 3. poverty; great need. 4. compulsion.)
The purpose of this chapter is to:

(a)     Preserve and protect the heritage of the City by delineating structures, sites and areas that reflect the City’s cultural, social, economic and architectural history;

(b)     Stabilize and improve property values;

(c)     Protect and enhance the City’s attractions to residents, tourists and visitors, and to encourage business and industry;

(d)     Foster civic pride in the beauty and notable accomplishments of the past;

(e)     Strengthen the economy of the City;

(f)      Protect and enhance the visual and aesthetic character, diversity and interest in the City;

(g)     Promote the use and preservation of historic sites and structures for the education and general welfare of the residents of the City;

(h)     Safeguard the property rights of the owners whose property is declared to be an historic site or is located in an area designated as an historic district;

(i)      Develop appropriate settings for designated historic sites or historic districts; and

(j)      Establish a Council on Landmarks and Historic Districts.

(Ord. O91‑19, passed 3‑5‑1991)

Ahh Wasteful
Now we are to the meat of the problem…If the City had been taking care of the cemetery the Vault would not need to be restored...If the City had been taking care of the cemetery it would not have become an unsightly weed field littered with broken stones and  I wouldn’t have spent the last 5 years and a bunch of money cleaning the mess up….If your family was buried in this cemetery it would really matter to you.

Spiderjohn
Major changes will be taking place over the next few months and I will miss your wisdom. I hope you will join us again after the election to discuss our new City Council.   

"One of the benefits of a historic district is that owners of homes will not have to apply individually to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and incur the expense associated with this process."

Vet
   I’m having a real problem understand this….
   I have worked on and in many residential historic districts in the tri-state area and I have NEVER seen an age difference like this. All the residential historic districts that I have worked in are homes built no later than about 1900.
   I could understand this better if it was just a few blocks however this is a huge area to be declared historic.    
   And then we have the homeowners of these newer homes. Do they really want all these restrictions placed on their homes? Will all these restriction on these newer homes devalue and make it more difficult for them to sell their properties later? Do they really understand that once their home is declared historic that they can’t put on a new roof or outside light fixture without the permission of Mr. Ashworth & Mr. Kohler? Did ALL 66 residents sign a petition to be included in this proposed district?
    Something about this is just not sitting right with my three little gray cells. More research is needed.

I agree with Vivian.  A lot of people when they buy an old home like to restore it back to the original features to a degree.  They also want the extras that are available now on homes.  But homes that were built in the 50's or later - probably want to be able to upgrade their homes (especially homes in the 70's).

Wastful - sometimes it is just about doing what is right.  I don't expect a school to teach students about local history - however families do pass this information down to their children.  It is not right for the city to make everyone keep up their properties and not their own.  The vault is not a new issue that they just realized - it is something they have known about for along time that they put on the back burner.  The vault has more history then some of the houses that they are wanting to designate historical. 

Viper,

swohio75 wrote: Mike_Presta wrote: Jerry Lucas's boyhood home was in the 2200 block of Grand Avenue.  Perhaps that should be a "Historic District"??? While the area itself might not warrant historic designation, I would tend to agree that Mr. Lucas's childhood home should be considered worthy of local historic designation. Again, where is the property owner making the petition?

Most Middletonians just have too much COMMON SENSE and too little SNOBBERY to think that their old stuff is "special" or that it should be used as a means to "liberate" hard-earned tax dollars from their less fortunate fellow citizens!

 

swohio75

Merrell,

Pac. Last night was the 1st reading for the public to be aware of the issue and beleave me it was unknown to many... or for that matter any 1st reading on most issues that come before council.  That's why their's a 1st reading. As I understand it, once the public officially is aware of an issue...during the next two weeks they can do a variety of things to question it, present other related information, lobby with council members etc.  The 2nd reading and vote comes when council members have considered  info from both sides and then votes. JMO

Pac, I try to let you guys handle the real important stuff.