Historic preservation encourages cities to build on the assets they have—unleashing the enormous power and potential of older buildings to improve health, affordability, prosperity, and well-being. By transforming the places we live to places we love, older buildings are a key and irreplaceable component of this future, and we are richer and stronger when they remain. This is the sixth in a series of updates on preservation projects in our community. We hope you will drive by these special places to create your own driving tour. Each of the sites has a connection with Historic Columbus through being a current or previously HCF-owned property or a participant in the Public Participation Grant program. Thanks to the incredible support and steadfast kindness of our members, corporate partners, volunteers, and the current owners of these sites, they have a bright future!
STEWART COMMUNITY HOME UPDATE 1125 15th Street
Though the Stewart Community Home was not the winner of the 2019 Public Participation Grant, being a finalist brought much needed awareness to the Home and to our mission. In the months following the grant opportunity, we were blessed with some very generous foundation grants which have allowed us to continue to reach toward our goal for our Restoring Hope: Restoring Home capital project to renovate our building so that we can maintain it as a safe and comfortable home for people who are disabled and were once homeless. We have raised enough funds to completely replace the flooring throughout the home. That has been underway in the months preceding the shelter in place orders and will continue after those have been lifted. We have also raised other funds earmarked for replacing the historic windows, but we are still working on raising the remainder before construction can begin on those. We are humbled and grateful for the support of Historic Columbus as well as that of the community.
The Stewart Community Home, c. 1929, was originally built as the Linwood School. Its name was changed in 1962 to Edwina Wood Elementary. The Stewart Community Home moved into the building in 1994 to support people in the community who are disabled and homeless. If you would like to know more about the Stewart Community Home or how to help with the restoration of the home, please visit their website www.stewartcommunityhome.com
If you are able, please consider joining or making a donation to Historic Columbus. Your contribution will increase heritage education programming in our public schools and preservation projects along the Second Avenue corridor, the original city, City Village, Waverly Terrace, and MidTown Columbus. These are the places where your gift can make a transformational difference in a child’s sense of place and strengthen our neighborhoods one house at a time.