Published: August 28, 2008 09:00 pm            

Stan Champer: Breathing new life into old buildings

Years ago, after installation of an expansive new street lighting system in downtown Ashland, Winchester Avenue came to be known as the Great White Way. The new fixtures had precisely that effect.

We were all pretty proud of the way it contrasted with what we had before. Aesthetically, it was a giant leap, allowing us to better showcase a part of town that was dear to the hearts of all Ashlanders.

There were other benefits, as well. Safety was improved for late-night motorists. Storefronts were better illuminated — every nook and cranny was illuminated — offering a greater deterrent to crime.

This development alone gave us some bragging rights years later when city planners nationwide, challenged by the growing lure of mall shopping, began scrambling to find ways of making downtown more “user friendly.”

With the new lighting system in place, Ashland already had a mind-set that acknowledged the value in some of the ideas for improving the attractiveness of central business districts.

So when the Idea People said the addition of trees would enhance the appeal of central districts, Ashland responded by planting trees throughout the downtown.

When “new thinking” stressed the value of architecture from bygone eras, Ashland responded by encouraging downtown property owners to consider restoration options.

When planners said replacing sections of concrete with brick would create an aura of quaintness, Ashland responded by doing just that in crosswalks and sidewalks.

Among those who spend their time studying ways of reinventing downtown districts, concepts ebb and flow. This year’s best idea may run a distant third next year, only to be back in the lead again two years hence.

We have that same ebb and flow in our own business on the question of newspaper design. At one time or another, we’ve all heeded a guru’s advice on what works best at drawing readers into our papers, only to be told there’s a new guru in the game who might have a better plan.

This is not to say there aren’t some tried and true ideas.

In the realm of reinventing downtown districts, a concept that seems to have merit in all plans involves the restoration of older buildings that uniquely offer architectural gems not found in modern-day construction.

It’s not an inexpensive proposition, but if the money can be found to properly refurbish and restore these long-standing structures, such projects are unmatched in aesthetic value and preserving a community’s history.

Given the financial resources (a big “given” in today’s economy), imagine what could be accomplished in the central district at Catlettsburg, above and beyond what’s already been completed in that community.

The Gate City’s architectural uniqueness is a restorer’s dream.

In Ashland, we’ve also already seen the positive effect — the result of even just a few projects — that saving and restoring stone-and-mortar icons can have on the total aesthetic appeal of the central district.

How nice it would be if the next of these could be the old Sears building at 17th and Winchester, a building with a fate that hangs in the balance, but which in its present state has been an absolute eyesore for much, much too long.

A neighbor once told me — after hearing that I was trying to decide on whether to trim back a giant hedge or have it removed altogether — that she would always vote for green.

I have similar feelings on this subject of old buildings. If it’s feasible (a key consideration with some of them, including the Sears structure), then I’d vote for keeping them and restoring their beauty.

Otherwise, the quicker we can get rid of them the better.

STAN CHAMPER can be reached at schamper@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2640.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.