Obsolete Bexley Sidewalks

Does Bexley need sidewalks?

Most mornings, I leave for the office at 7:00 a.m., sometimes even 6:30 a.m.

A regular thought that comes to my mind is whether modern Bexley still needs sidewalks.  Imagine what life in Bexley might be like without sidewalks.

The morning joggers and walkers who populate the streets at that time in the morning don't use sidewalks.

Even mothers with their infants in strollers are in the streets.

I look at the empty sidewalks every morning on my drive to work.  Me, my automobile and these pedestrians safely cohabit the Bexley streets and have no need for the sidewalks.  Joggers and mothers with strollers have taught us we do not need sidewalks.

Sidewalks are redundant. Sidewalks are obsolete civil engineering.  

What happens if sidewalks are abandoned?

First, the aesthetics of this little city will gain. Imagine green grass instead of white and gray concrete.

Second, the costs of sidewalk repairs and maintenance will vanish from the municipal budget.  I seem to recall that sometime in the near future, sidewalk expenses will become charges billed to Bexley property owners.  If we get rid of the sidewalks, those looming charges won't threaten household budgets.

Removing sidewalks will also create certain environmental benefits.  Concrete sidewalks are heat magnets during Summer months and, together with street pavement, are the city's major contribution to global warming.

Instead of the swaths of concrete that absorb the sun's heat, grass walkways and paths will dissipates the heat.

Packaged properly, the removal of Bexley sidewalks can generate valuable carbon credits for either the municipal government or individual property owners.

Finally, when sidewalks are removed, children and adults will no longer trip on sidewalk cracks or on the those horrible red-nubby squares at the corner ramps.

WCRX-LP Editorial Collective

Bexley Public Radio Foundation operating as

WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio, Jazz 102.1 FM

2700 E. Main St., Suite 208

Columbus, OH 43209

Voice (614) 235 2929

Fax (614) 235 3008

Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com

Website www.wcrxlp.com

Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation operating as WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation.

[where: 43209]

RESCHEDULED. NEW TIME AND DATE: 4:30 FRIDAY MAY 11, 2012. Ohio Public Media Cooperative meeting set for May 7, 2012

RESCHEDULED.  NEW TIME AND DATE:   3:30 PM FRIDAY MAY 11, 2012.  The WCRX-LP Ohio Public Media Cooperative meeting for Bexley Public Radio originally set for 3:30 p.m. Monday May 7, 2012 is rescheduled.

The meeting location will be announced on Friday morning to individuals who RSVP by the prior Thursday.

Community residents are welcome.

Admission is $5.00 per person.

Cash, check, money order and ID.

Please RSVP to wcrxlp@yahoo.com or voice mail to (614) 235-2929 no later than the Thursday prior to the meeting.

Community Programming Advisory Committee

is a public and management committee of

Bexley Public Radio Foundation

2700 E. Main St., Suite 208

Columbus, OH 43209

RESCHEDULED. 4:00 PM FRIDAY MAY 11, 2012.Bexley Comedy Writers Guild meeting set for May 7, 2012

RESCHEDULED.  NEW TIME AND DATE:  4:00 PM FRIDAY MAY 11, 2012.  The WCRX-LP Bexley Comedy Writers Guild meeting for Bexley Public Radio originally set for 4:00 p.m. Monday May 7, 2012 is rescheduled for 4:00 p.m. Friday May 11, 2012.

The meeting location will be announced on Friday morning to individuals who RSVP by the prior Thursday.

Community residents are welcome.

Admission is $35.00 per person.

Cash, check, money order and ID.

Please RSVP to wcrxlp@yahoo.com or voice mail to (614) 235-2929 no later than the Thursday prior to the meeting.

Bexley Comedy Writers Guild

is a public and management committee of

Bexley Public Radio Foundation

2700 E. Main St., Suite 208

Columbus, OH 43209

RESCHEDULED. NEW TIME AND DATE; 4:30 PM FRIDAY MAY 11, 2012.CPAC meeting set for May 7, 2012

RESCHEDULED.  NEW TIME AND DATE:  4:30 PM FRIDAY MAY 11, 2012.  The WCRX-LP Community Programming Advisory Committee meeting for Bexley Public Radio originally set for 4:30 p.m. Monday May 7, 2012 is rescheduled to 4:30 Friday May 11, 2012.

The meeting location will be announced on Friday morning to individuals who RSVP by the prior Thursday.

Community residents are welcome.

Admission is $10.00 per person.

Cash, check, money order and ID.

Please RSVP to wcrxlp@yahoo.com or voice mail to (614) 235-2929 no later than the Thursday prior to the meeting.

Community Programming Advisory Committee
is a public and management committee of
Bexley Public Radio Foundation
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209

Bexley, Ohio. Residential tax abatements for authentic materials.

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One of the charms of Bexley is the residential architecture of the community. Design, materials and construction work together with superior landscaping to present pleasant vistas in the twenty seven neighborhoods of Bexley.













Small pleasant cottages grace many Bexley streets and neighborhoods.

Other Bexley neighborhoods have houses that look large and comfortable, timeless with quiet, unobtrusive architectural fittings of bygone eras.

Then there are austere Bexley mansions that amaze our eyes with architectural elegance, craftsmanship and fine materials.

An important component of these pleasing domestic buildings is the materials used in the original construction. Slate roofs, copper gutters and down spouts, quarried stones, bronze fittings, wrought iron fittings and hinges. All of these are subtle attributes that compliment the architectural features and landscaping of the homes of Bexley.

Sometime on a walk, focus only on the materials used to construct Bexley residences. You will soon recognize the houses with authentic materials. These are not loud pronouncements. They are quiet nuanced fittings that whisper “quality, skill, excellence."

Many of the materials used in contemporary additions and restorations are not authentic. Brass-plated steel replaces solid brass hinges; asphalt shingles replace slate and so on.

In small increments, perhaps only infinitesimal increments, the charm of Bexley residential architecture is being eroded.

A brass-plated steel hinge is substituted for a solid brass hinge. It’s not a major change. But the substitute is a small erosion of excellence. One hinge this year, one next year and then a plastic mail box replaces the wrought iron mail box.

Does anyone care that authentic materials are disappearing?

Of course practical household finance determines some of this erosion. Authentic materials are expensive, and sometimes not available. Sometimes, repairs are practical problems that surprise a budget. More often repairs are not ocassions for aesthetic reflections and so we choose the practical solutions.

As a community, should we encourage decisions that favor authenticity? How can we encourage the use of original materials in new construction, restorations and repairs?

Should the municipality take some action to encourage a market in Bexley for authentic materials?

In Bexley, real estate tax abatements have been granted for commercial, mixed retail and multi-family residential structures. Some of the tax abatements have been granted to buildings that imitate period architecture.

These same buildings use modern materials that give the impression of authentic period materials. But a moment’s glance tells the sad story of deception that these fake materials express.

The public tax abatements did not purchase something authentic for this community.

There are advantages to the modern building materials. Obviously.

But the advantages, whatever they might be, have nothing to do with aesthetics.

And living in Bexley is all about the aesthetics of daily life. Beauty in all that is quotidian.

Is it time to to subsidize things that bring beauty to our community life each day?

When families improve their houses and pick up the expense of authentic materials, should the community offer those families real estate tax abatements for their choice to preserve the beauty and the authenticity of their repairs and restorations?

Contact us.
WCRX-LP Editorial Collective
Bexley Public Radio Foundation operating as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation operating as WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation.

[where: 43209]