Tonight I was pedaling down Market St., on my way to the community forum on the recent epidemic of assaults (which was a terrific event, I might add -- sad that we had to have it however). The forum was held at the beautifully restored Englert Theatre, a gem we almost lost, as a theatre, some years back.

But a block from home, at the corner of Dodge and Market, my eyes found a sad sight: yet another house in the Northside Neighborhood falling to the wrecking ball. That's two this week. As a confirmed Northsider, this bothers me for all kinds of reasons.

I can't count the number of times I've heard references to the "historic Northside Neighborhood". It is historic; we have some of Iowa City's oldest homes. My own dates from 1873, although it had a big remodel about 1905 (those crazy kids at the turn of the century!) It was in the same family from 1885 to 1968. Yet almost all of the "historic Northside" is in jeopardy of disappearing. Despite the rhetoric, the "historic" Northside (except for Brown and part Ronalds and connecting streets) isn't a historic district and anybody can bulldoze any home for any reason.

That ain't right.

We need to expand historic preservation into the Northside. If elected, one of my chief priorities is to do just that, and more. Other areas are in danger as well. Parts of Downtown, Goosetown, Melrose, each of these historic areas deserves local historic district designation and protection.

Study after study shows that historic preservation attracts people to a city; it also is a proven money-maker. Property values go up in historic districts. They become very popular neighborhoods.

Now not every building can or should be saved. But most can and should. Preserving our heritage is the right thing to do. Once it's gone, we can't bring it back.