flanagan112

Hello, Editor, I was tickled to find your pic on the Website of the Burdett School in EAST WALNUT HILLS. I think you actually have a better picture of the building from an aerial viewpoint if you look at your pic in the "East Walnut Hills" neighborhood shots--a view from the west, I believe. You'll see a blue spire of the St. Francis de Sales Church, and the Burdett School to the right. NOTICE all the significant roof structure EMBELLISHMENTS. I understand from reading the "Communique'" a monthly newsletter from the East Walnut Hills Assembly (a city neighborhood preservation group trying to bring life to the area as a viable and historic neighborhood), that the Burdett School building roof burned down a number of years ago--I don't when, except that the last use was a school use, ending in 1979. I have mentioned to one of the board members of the neighborhood group, my concern for the need to encourage the developer (or make a condition of financing loans from the city of Cincinnati) that the roof of the remodeled structure take on the historical appearance which is what really made the building--I think you will agree if you look at the "old" aerial picture. The roof Turrets are fantastic and extend the wall architecture. If you are interested, the East Walnut Hills Assembly have a pic of the old building with the original roof. Its a view from the southeast, looking at the Burdett Steet side of the building. Notice the beautiful WINDOWS and casings? The photo shown in the communique' was taken circa early 1900's, probably around the 1920's. An interested and good contact person would be Dorothea Kennedy, currently the Communique's editor. I have her email. I have also sent this webpage on your writeup on the project to her. It would be real shame to allow the developer to neutralize the building's key architectural character, using city fundings and lending support. Why am I interested? I live about 2,000 miles away here in Portland, OR, but have ancestors who were community builders in this neighborhood during the mid to late 1800's and were instrumental in the founding of the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church at Madison/MLK and Woodburn, as well as the schools. Joseph Kleine (1814-1899) and his brother Frederick Kleine built a number of homes on Cleinview (originally, Kleine Avenue), Hackberry, and Chapel that still survive and two are on the National Historic Register. This is a very historic area of Cincinnati and worthy of preservation and rehabilitation/rekindling (no not fire) and has obviously survived many challenges over the last 150 years. Compared to European cities, this neighborhood is still very young. Thank you for listening. I hope the develper is too (besides just his pocketbook). He needs to think period embellishment.