Save Brooklyn Centre's Wirth House!!!

Below is the text of a letter I recently sent to the Board of Trustees of Art House, Inc. in regard to this post on the Save Our Land blog.


Dear Board Member:

I represent numerous residents and businesses in Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre and I also reside in Old Brooklyn, where my law practice is. I am literally on the front lines of the daily struggle to preserve the integrity and viability of these critically important neighborhoods in the City of Cleveland.

As you may know, these areas are contending with increased vacant properties, high mortgage foreclosure rates and increased crime activity to name some of the most critical problems. There are some urban renewal folks who advocate knocking down and building new as a solution to these problems. However, many of the people who live and work in Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre do so because of the historic significance of the neighborhood and the focus on preservation that has existed here for decades. Today, that focus on preservation is being threatened on many fronts.

Art House, Inc. is a critical part of the integrity and viability of Brooklyn Centre. Indeed, I am working with a fledgling business/ merchants group in an effort to leverage the existing assets of the neighborhoods to create a sense of place for the residents already here and to draw more residents and businesses to the area. One of the key assets we want to leverage is the longstanding tradition of historic preservation. Another of those key assets is Art House, Inc. and its unique presence in Brooklyn Centre.

Unfortunately, Art House, Inc.’s current plan to demolish Wirth House, is wholly inconsistent with historic preservation. While it is critical that Art House grow and flourish, we are concerned that it does so in a manner that does not unintentionally cause a deleterious effect on other critical assets of the neighborhood, i.e. the tradition of historic preservation.

We acknowledge that there is room for debate and disagreement about whether any particular property is economically viable for renovation or rehabilitation. However, please understand that from the perspective of the citizens who live, work and play here – we perceive that we are under attack from many fronts and that the historic significance of our neighborhood is in jeopardy.

I encourage Art House to reach out to its business and residential neighbors to find a way to grow your organization while supporting the longstanding tradition of historic preservation in Brooklyn Centre. I know the residents of Brooklyn Centre will roll up their sleeves and work hard to find a solution to the inadequacies of Art House’s current home while maintaining the historic integrity of Brooklyn Centre. Will you ask them for help?

Very truly yours,


Roger M. Bundy