Local residents must take responsibility for saving our architectural heritage

Local residents must take responsibility for savingour architectural heritage
EDITOR:
I am writing in regard to the recent front page Vindicator article detailing the plight of a classic old home from the iron and steel era of Youngstown. During the winter of 2005, the owners of 1660 Volney Road, a 105-year-old mansion nestled in Mill Creek Park on over 2 acres overlooking Lake Cohasset Falls, asked me to market their one-of-a-kind property. I informed them that the purchaser of such a home would have to be a unique individual who truly appreciated architecturally significant homes from the turn of the last century.
As one who has toured classic American residences such as Whitehall in Palm Beach, Fla.; the Biltmore in Ashville, N.C.; Stan Hywet in Akron and others, I was immediately struck by the fact that I was undertaking the marketing of an architecturally significant property in Youngstown.
I solicited assistance from the Mahoning Valley Historical Society with respect to the historical background of the early owners and developers, in addition to doing my own research.
Over my 30-plus years in the real estate industry in the Youngstown area, I had never before been inundated by the barrage of inquiries that I had with respect to requests to tour this property. Long story short, I had to inform people that I wasn't a tour guide. The majority of local response was as expected: "If only that house were in Boardman, Canfield or Poland, I would have bought it in a heartbeat!"
On the other hand ,without exception, all of our out-of-town Internet respondents, which numbered in the thousands, were flabbergasted that a home such as this was actually available and didn't sell within the first hour in the high six figures. One such prospect, a Los Angeles area attorney flew in to view the property. Other prospects, including a well known tire company heiress and a highly successful Texas businesswoman, seriously considered the purchase. Arthur Menaldi, a Florida architect saw the home on-line and knew that someone had to step up to the plate and save this historic treasure before it disappeared in a similar manner to Idora Park.
Shortly following his purchase, the home was burglarized, and now someone has set this architectural treasure ablaze. As residents of the Youngstown area, we must ask ourselves how many individuals are willing to go through these kinds of ordeals in order to save our architectural heritage? As a community we must diligently work to safeguard our historic properties and support individuals such as Mr. Menaldi and others like him in their efforts to save our local history and architecture before its gone forever.
Jim Escaja
Boardman
The writer is a broker with Town & amp; Country Realty.
Would consolidation help?
EDITOR:
Last Sunday's editorial (Chamber's chief proposes a push for consolidation) fails to answer two questions.
A number of years ago, it was Tom Humphries who talked about cleaning up the appearance of our main corridors as a means of attracting business and people. We didn't listen to him then, why would we listen to him now?
How will consolidation or regionalization make our neighborhoods safer, increase civility and encourage citizens to take ownership for certain issues instead of relying on the public sector to address them?
As you said, "it's a huge undertaking."
KIM KOTHEIMER
Boardman
Walls come tumbling down
EDITOR:
After attending a city council meeting I am surprised that our local government isn't more concerned about the esthetics as well as the environmental and safety issues concerning the limestone wall that was taken down on the 2200 block of Wilson Avenue in Campbell.
I think the person responsible for leaving our city in shambles doesn't live in our city and is selling the stone to surrounding communities for his own personal gain.
The missing wall and the remaining walls were put there for a purpose. We now have an erosion problem. When it rains and now that the snow melted, the soil is washed onto the sidewalk and roadway making this area not only a muddy mess but a safety hazard. There is debris scattered over the lot. I see children playing on the hill. It is unsafe and someone is bound to get hurt. The person responsible for this should be fined and made to clean this mess.
A lot of hard work and sweat went into building the walls. I was told they were built in the early 1900's from limestone quarried on the East Side of Youngstown. We must save and preserve our city's history. Please put laws on the books so that we do not have this problem again.
KATHY BAIRD
Campbell
You can always go downtown
EDITOR:
When my children were young the big thing for them was to go downtown to Youngstown, especially at Christmas to see all the lights and shop and eat. We were so sorry to see all the stores moving out and boarded up.
But I went down last Saturday to the Ford Center at Powers to see Rod Coonce, and it was a wonderful show. The building and seats were wonderful. I dropped my riders at the door and parked on Commerce Street in a well lit parking lot. I felt very safe, and it is nice to feel that as I am 77.
Going through downtown was amazing with all the new buildings since the street was opened up. I was through there at Christmas and it was dark, but it still impressed me. I will continue to come downtown to shows now that I know I will be safe and can dress up and feel I am in a big city environment close to home.
GERRY MILLERLEILE
Hubbard
Double-check your work
EDITOR:
Recently, I had a troubling experience with our Dominion Gas Co. that I wanted to share. The company is in the process of changing gas meters so readers don't have to come into each house or walk their routes. I support this, as it is safer.
However, as our meter was being replaced, the technician forgot to put a gasket on, and we had a gas leak. For two days, we intermittently smelled gas in the house, but couldn't find the source. Finally, we were able to locate it and the problem was remedied. Not only was this irresponsible on the part of the installer, it posed a very real threat to my family and myself.
My point here is that the technicians need to be more efficiently trained to avoid this kind of liability. Please ask that those employees replacing meters double-check their work, and if the homeowner smells gas, the problem needs to be remedied immediately.
We were the lucky ones, and I thank God nothing happened to those I love.
MARY ANN NAVARRO
Youngstown
Politics by the numbers
EDITOR:
Trumbull County population declines by 3.4 percent, Mahoning County declines by 2.4 percent and Columbiana County loses 1.4 percent of its people. These losses were overcome by growth elsewhere in the state, and Ohio as a whole had a 1 percent increase in population.
The Mahoning Valley, dominated by the Democrats for as long as anyone can remember, is a loser, and the rest of Ohio, which has a two party system, prospers. You figure it out.
DON JOHNSON
Liberty Township