Wednesday, April 14, 1999
Merchants want old home saved
Lebanon plans to redevelop block
BY RICHELLE THOMPSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON — Downtown merchants stuck by the city when it was trying to rebuild its core. Now, they want the city to stick by them.
A group of business owners addressed council Tuesday, pleading with members not to tear down a historic home in the 16-block Central Business District. They said the Queen Anne-style home, which dates to the 1880s, is part of the historic character of the community.
The city's historic buildings are a valuable commodity, said business owner Marilyn Haley. “Once it's gone, it can never, ever be brought back. I plead with you in some way to help make the merchants and business and properties on Cherry Street a source of pride.”
Some merchants said tearing down the home would signal that council members aren't committed to preserving the city's historic feeling, which is a primary draw for 1 million tourists each year.
Further, business owners said they fear the Cherry Street house would be the first step toward leveling the entire block.
The block bordered by Main, Mechanic, Mulberry and Cherry streets is to be a key component of the downtown master plan developed by Brandstetter-Carroll Inc., a Lexington, Ky., consultant
hired by the city for $37,000.
The block is one of the few spots downtown with open land. In the past five years, the block has been proposed as a location for a post office and a convention center. The bicentennial committee hoped to preserve the area and call it Heritage Square as a salute to the city's 200-year anniversary in 2002.
Approval to demolish the home, at 5-7 Cherry St., could come next Tuesday, when the planning commission has scheduled a public hearing. City officials say no action will be taken unless council approves a downtown master plan that includes a recommendation to tear down the home. That report likely won't be ready for another four months.
The city is holding the public hearing now to speed the process along, should the report recommend leveling the house, acting City Manager C. Ed Patterson said.
The city already has lost 190 homes and businesses in the 16-block area since 1954, business owner Gerald Miller said. He urged council to give the house a chance for renovation. “It just needs a little love and care,” he said.
Councilman John McComb reiterated Tuesday that the city intends to redevelop the block, but the means and expense haven't been determined. That's the reason for a downtown master plan, he said.
Business owners in the block say they would support a recommendation that called for renovations. Some of the buildings have become rundown over the years and could use sprucing, they said. But they don't want the entire block razed to make room for parking or a convention center or for any reason.
The past five years “have been a roller coaster in my life,” said Judy Blanton, owner of the Party Pick-up, which is within the block.
“Please leave me alone.”
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