German Village character under attack
As a resident of German Village and chair of the German Village Society’s Historic Preservation Committee, I am deeply concerned about the recent destruction of 150-year-old sandstone curbs in our neighborhood.
These curbs, hand-cut by 19th-century immigrant stonemasons, are part of the original streetscape and a defining feature of German Village’s historic character.
In recent months, contractors working for the city of Columbus have removed these curbs during ADA ramp installations without public notice and without obtaining the required Certificate of Appropriateness.
Every homeowner in German Village must secure this certificate for any sidewalk or curb work. The city should be held to the same standards.
Columbus has experienced the cost of losing historic assets before.
Past administrations allowed the demolition of important landmarks, including the historic train station. We should have learned from those mistakes – not repeated them with our streetscape.
The loss of these curbs is permanent. Once replaced with modern concrete, their historic craftsmanship cannot be recreated. It is also troubling that the public hearing has been scheduled the week after Thanksgiving and at the start of the Christmas season, limiting participation.
I urge city leaders to protect the remaining sandstone curbs and require COA review for all City-led work in historic districts before more irreplaceable history is lost.
Michael Gallaugher, Columbus
Holier-than-thou lawmakers should leave marijuana law alone
Re “Ohio House changes voter-backed marijuana law, restricts hemp sales,” Nov. 20: Once again, the holier-than-thou legislators are attacking the marijuana law passed by the citizens of Ohio.
Now they want to ban smoking products everywhere but inside a private residence.
My question is this: What about those responsible parents that choose to smoke outside to keep their children away from the intoxicating effects of the smoking?
Is your next move to arrest parents for exposing children to the smoke? They appear to be on a campaign to undermine the will of their constituents.How about this? Require that each representative pass both a breathalyzer and drug test at each legislative session. Especially after breaks and lunches; I think it would be prudent to the citizens of Ohio that these people are in a sober state of mind while crafting legislation. Or maybe, better yet, work on real policies to reduce property taxes.
William Daniels, Blue Rock
Want to restore civility? Talk to Trump.
The Trump administration never ceases to amaze me. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has launched a video campaign to “restore courtesy and class to air travel.” The greater need is to restore courtesy and class to the United States presidency.
Recently, President Donald Trump was on Air Force One when he was asked a question by a female reporter, and he responded with a pointed finger and angry words, “Quiet, piggy.”
Trump has set the tone of his administration as one of lies, mockery and disdain for anyone who questions him. As a retired educator, I fear that civility and courtesy will not return by watching a video when the president disparages and belittles American citizens every day.
Ann Heffernan, Columbus
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus is destroying irreplaceable German Village history | Letters
Reporting by Letters to the Editor, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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