Debate over future of “culturally important” building continues

To no one’s surprise, many people want to demolish an unslavagable building along High Street that’s been sitting vacant for the last eight years and replace it with new condos.

But what if that building was the oldest and largest continuously operating German singing society in North America?

That’s the situation surrounding the 1848 Maennerchor building located at 966 S. High St.

Officials of the Maennerchor are vying for its destruction, saying everything of historic value has already been removed and saved or sold, reports This Week News.

But folks with the German Village Society and the Columbus Landmarks Foundation see it much differently.

“Though located outside of the German Village Historic District and inside our neighboring historic review district, the Brewery District, this structure plays a critical role in our shared historical integrity as protected districts,” reads a notice on the German Village website.

They go on to write about how the Maennerchor building is a “culturally important” facet to the South End and its German roots.

But like they said, since the building is located in the Brewery District, all German Village can do is urge them to bar the destruction.

If German fails to convince Brewery District Commission of this, Columbus City Schools districts who owns Maennerchor would be sold to Galbreath Properties of Dublin and a 3.5-story, 18-unit condo complex would be raised. Maennerchor membership would also pursue a 2,200-square-foot extension  of the German Heritage House at 976 S. High St. to add more rehearsal space.

According to This Week News, the new building would work to preserve the history of the Columbus Maennerchor by carrying the culture of the singing society.

So, do you think Maennerchor should be demolished and replaced with condos? If not, what do you propose?

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