Photo by Cornelius Frolik
Two New York City boroughs, the Bronx and Queens, had similar histories and patterns of development, at least until the 1970s. During that decade, fires ravaged parts of the Bronx, and others areas of the borough were gutted by de-industrialization and disinvestment, both by the city and private entities. Still, the Bronx has more buildings and districts considered historically significant—some with landmark designation—than Queens has. In fact, there are more Art Deco buildings in the Bronx than anywhere else in the United States except Miami.
One reason why the Bronx has more historically significant buildings is, ironically, that the devastation of the 1970s discouraged developers from coming into the Bronx—and, as they are wont to do, tear buildings down. On the other hand, during that time, Queens had a Borough President—Donald Manes—who never met a developer he didn’t like and had absolutely no interest in historic preservation.
I mention all of this because whenever a building is suggested for preservation, there is a debate about what, exactly, makes a structure historically significant and to what lengths should a city, county or other entity go to preserve it.
Specifically, both questions are being debated about 1005 West Third Street in Dayton, Ohio. The city government wants to tear down the building because its internal structures have deteriorated after decades of disuse and neglect. “It could collapse tonight, it could stand for another three years—nobody knows,” says Don Zimmer, Dayton’s nuisance abatement program supervisor.
The Dayton Landmarks Commission has, however, denied the city’s request to tear it down. They, along with Preservation Dayton, argue that at least the building’s exterior could be preserved, which might entice a would-be investor.
So why are they debating about this particular building? It’s not because the edifice was home to Gem City Ice Cream Co., as significant as that might be to some people in the area. Rather, it has to do with GCICC’s predecessor: a bike shop.
Specifically, it was home to the Wright Brothers’ first bicycle shop. Yes, those Wright Brothers—who based much of their first successful aircraft’s design on their bicycles.
One wonders what they would do about the building.
