The Findlay YMCA has been purchasing nearby properties in the hope of building a new facility or expanding the current one at 300 East Lincoln Street.
There has been concern that some of the structures that were acquired along East Hardin Street, Grand Avenue and East Lincoln Street were historic in nature.
In a letter to the community, YMCA CEO Stephanie Parsons said the Y worked diligently with the Hancock Regional Planning Commission to complete a review of the properties to be demolished to ensure that any with historical significance would be removed from the list.
Parsons said when they learned of the historical significance of 404 East Lincoln Street – that it was the site of the first Catholic Mass in Findlay – it was removed from the demo list.
She said the Y will work with the Hancock Historical Museum to discuss potential uses for that property, which the museum believes is the oldest existing structure in Findlay and dates back to 1837.
You can read the full statement from the Y below.
The executive director of the Hancock Historical Museum, Sarah Sisser, has expressed her disappointment with how the Y has been acquiring properties over the years with the intent to demolish them at some point.
“These were certainly not all blighted houses when they were purchased by the Y, and this plan has led to the slow destruction of a historic neighborhood in our downtown. These houses date from the 1840s – 1930s. There is really no denying this neighborhood’s historic significance,” Sisser said.
Sisser said something needs to be done about the lack of policy regarding historic preservation in Findlay.
“We have virtually nothing in place to protect our built history, and sadly, it shows. We are far behind many of our peer communities in Ohio in this regard. I believe we can, and should, do better.”
You can read Sisser’s full statement below, below the statement the YMCA posted on their Facebook page.
Statement from Hancock Historical Museum Director Sarah Sisser:
“I appreciate that when we met with the YMCA and the organization learned of the particular significance of the John Engleman House at 404 E. Lincoln Street, they seem to have paused to determine how to best preserve this structure. I have not been told by the YMCA what will be done with the house, but since it was removed from the list of proposed demolitions recently brought before City Council, I hope we can assume that it is safe for the immediate future.I have expressed my concern and disappointment at the strategy that was used to acquire these properties over many years with the intent to demolish them at some point. These were certainly not all blighted houses when they were purchased by the Y, and this plan has led to the slow destruction of a historic neighborhood in our downtown. These houses date from the 1840s-1930s. There is really no denying this neighborhood’s historic significance.I think that this situation, along with recent threats to South Main Street and other historic neighborhoods in our community, should make us reevaluate our lack of policy regarding historic preservation in Findlay. We have virtually nothing in place to protect our built history, and sadly, it shows. We are far behind many of our peer communities in Ohio in this regard. I believe we can, and should, do better.”