This is more pix of the area Inkaelin shot, but from 2006.  At that time one could see the board-ups, but there was also people still living in a lot of the houses.  I was looking in some depth at a smaller area as I didn’t grasp the scope of the clearances, and after I found out was just too burned-out to go back and continue snapshooting.

 

In retrospect, since this whole area is going to be wiped out a case could be made for documenting the neighborhood better before it's gone. 

 

So here is what I saw:

 

The old factory on the bluff overlooking Buck Creek.  The online Sanborns say this was water powered, but I’m not sure how they got the power up the bluff (belts or some sort of shaft).  What you are seeing was actually the newer part of the plant.

 

 

 

In the distance, an old interurban car barn

 

 

Cedar Street, looking west.  These pix are mostly on Cedar, Lowry, North, and Plum, and Baltimore Pllace

 

 

Big brick Springfield double.  There are a few of these in the area.

 

 

Lowry Street

 

 

This is a four plex.  I thought the porch was an later addition, maybe not.  Check out how those stairs widen a bit before they reach bottom (interesting detail)

 

 

Another big double

 

 

Some signs of recent habitation on the left hand side. 

 

 

The form of this cottage, with the longer one story L off to the side,  reminds me of those “New England” farmhouses one sometimes sees in the Chicago area and in the rural Western Reserve.

 

 

Some smaller houses.  I think these were on Cedar?  I was interested in these little cottages as comparison with Dayton cottage styles, and the two stories are interesting as they seem maybe more akin to old Columbus housing, particularly the hip roof (which one doesn’t see that much of in Dayton)….maybe there was some influence from Cols building styles on Springfield builders?

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is North Street.  Most of this block has just been torn down

 

 

 

 

I think that older stuff across from the Citgo has also been torn down (???)(there is a Rite Aid or CVS, and a fast food place on that block)

 

 

This is all on the east side of Plum, just north of North.  I was really interested in those cottages…one looks to have its orginal wood trim on the porch?  One can see some examples of this in Dayton, siting the cottage on the lot with the long side running parallel to the street.

 

 

Next door (…in Dayton, more frequently… one would see four windows in front, two up two down, but this one up one down style is also around town)

 

 

And next door again…a double or quad, sort of what we saw upthread with flanking outdoor stairs.

 

 

 

I think this was on Plum.  Check out the funky little second floor bay windows on either side.

 

 

Overview of Plum.  All this is boarded and will be coming down

 

 

Some of the grander houses on the west side of Plum.  When I took these I didn’t think they were involved in the urban renewal project, but they looked good, so snapped ‘em.  Now, after seeing Inks thread, I see they are boarded up and will be coming down.

 

 

 

 

 

This one also caught Inkaelins eye.  I’d bet it was pretty cozy inside.

 

 

 

And the last house on Plum before it drops into the Buck Creek gorge.  This baby is actually three stories, as its built right on the bluff.  But how about that façade, with topiary in front, and the little balcony?  The setting is fab..the heart of Springfield, but like living in a forest, with a rushing creek below.  Its boarded…gone baby gone…

 

 

And yet more big brick doubles.   

 

 

 

 

Baltimore Place

 

I don’t know why I took so many pix of this street.  Maybe the zero-lot-line siting, but still they have porches on some of the places.  Most of these are doubles.

 

 

 

 

 

As mentioned upthread, in Dayton this style would have a gable roof, but in Springfield these have a hip.

 

 

End of the block, bluffs and Buck Creek in the woods in the background.

 

 

 

But what else is at the end of the block, but a great close up of that old interurban car barn

 

 

Looking back up Baltimore Place

 

 

And this atrocity.  Sure, there are a lot of places in this urban renewal area that could be saved, but this particular street should have come down no matter what.  At the very least it was a firetrap.

 

 

 

I think Plum Street and the blocks to the west are in better shape though, and losing those will be a real loss.  For me, though, it was interesting to see all those big doubles, to see how the builders in Springfield worked with this form. 

 

 

Excellent post; based on your comments, I think we are both on the same page.

If they ever get that Wayne and Wyoming project underway we can do this for a part of Dayton, too.  Actually, one can do this right now for parts of Dayton. 

 

    Can you explain again, are these buildings all coming down in one batch?

^Yep, all in an urban renewal project for a new hospital and 2000 surface parking spaces.

Perhaps the most Appalachian city in SW Ohio.

If they ever get that Wayne and Wyoming project underway we can do this for a part of Dayton, too.  Actually, one can do this right now for parts of Dayton. 

 

They have started haphazardly along East 3rd street and the Huffman Industrial area. Quite a few houses have been torn down and destroyed. Problem is they are having an issue with Arson so they need to take them down as soon as possible.

 

Problem is they are having an issue with Arson so they need to take them down as soon as possible.

 

Devils Night for Rednecks?

 

Back to Springfield, here is a map from a recent study on housing vacancy in Ohio cities.  Note that there is quite a bit of vacancys and emptyness in town, not just in this hospital area (which is outlined on the map)

 

Good coverage. I'm too upset by it all, to think of anything else to say right now.

So much plywood used, looks like a huricane is coming.  Sorry, shouldn't make light of a sad situation.