Xenia, Middletown buildings top 2 vote-getters in Heritage Ohio’s photo contest

Vote for your favorite photo on Heritage Ohio's website.

Vote for your favorite photo on Heritage Ohio's website.

Photos showcasing empty buildings in Xenia and Middletown are leading the four finalists in Heritage Ohio’s photo contest.

Voting continues until May 29 to choose a winner among the four, which are featured on Heritage Ohio’s website. The page has garnered more than 25,000 views since it was launched.

To cast your vote, visit the photo contest page.

The Xenia entry features the Eavey Building at 17 West Third Street. Co-owner Jennifer Dunn took the photo of a bicycle with loaded side-baskets inside the former grocery warehouse.

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The Middletown entry is of the bank vault inside the Goetz Tower, the city’s tallest structure built in 1930.

Bank vault inside the Goetz Tower, Middletown

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“The City of Middletown believes that this building has the potential to be converted into a destination location for premier space for offices, retail, and restaurants as well as offer luxury apartments for those wanting to get away from the suburban lifestyle and reconnect with their community,” according to the photo’s description.

The description on the Eavey Building offers the potential uses for the 90,000 square-foot structure, which was built in 1908.

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“This ... behemoth has the potential to be your son’s first home away from home, your mom’s loft, your favorite bike shop, a delish restaurant, your daughter’s wedding venue, where you heard that brilliant new band, an intimate wine and cheese shop, and a “kickbooty” penthouse bar,” according to the description.

As of this morning, the Goetz Tower photo is first, with 43 percent of the votes; The Eavey Building’s photo is close behind with 39 percent of the vote.

The winner of the contest will receive an award for best photo, which will be featured on the cover of Heritage Ohio’s quarterly publication and be recognized at the Heritage Ohio Conference in the fall.

Heritage Ohio is "Ohio's official historic preservation and Main Street organization" with a mission to preserve historic structures and revitalize downtowns and neighborhoods, according to the website.

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