Letter to the Editor: Preserve history, property value

The Winter Park historic preservation ordinance, as passed in December 2015, should be maintained. The benefit might not be seen now; but in two decades, it will be appreciated.

I have been down that road; I have walked in your shoes. Thirty years ago, effort was made to preserve blocks of old architectural buildings in small Ohio villages. Some little towns, like Chagrin Falls, succeeded and Chagrin Falls is, today, a lovely place to visit, have dinner, and enjoy festivals. Other towns, like Madison, rejected the idea.

In Madison, modern structures were built beside historic homes and businesses. It became a hodge-podge. Property values dropped. Citizens, who appreciated consistent architectural quality, sold out. Theme businesses lost customers.

Keep modern districts modern; keep historic districts historic. A word to the wise is sufficient.

— Donald Thompson, Winter Park