Church gets OK to raze 'ugly red building'

Julie Hughes said it was her duty to defend buildings in the city's historical district, but she was conflicted over a crumbling ice house.

Hughes, executive director of the Bartholomew County Historical Society, told the Columbus Plan Commission Wednesday that the ice house at Third Street and Lafayette Avenue was included in the inventory of historic buildings in downtown Columbus. The ice house is slated for demolition by its owners, First Christian Church, who want to turn the property into a parking lot. Because the ice house contributes to the historic character of the district, she said the historical society's mission requires her to defend it. However, the Historical Society's building is next door to what she called "the ugly red building."

The church received approval from the city panel to raze the structure and turn it into another church parking lot.

Read more details in Friday's Republic.

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