On a recent rainy day, as we were leaving downtown, we were struck by the dramatic contrast in the sky. Soon, our eyes were drawn to the house in the middle of the photo. On the back, it faces Eugene Street, while its front is at 405 Blandwood Avenue.

The house was built on property that, in the 1800s, was part of an elite enclave surrounding the then-rural Blandwood Mansion estate. By the early 20th century, a neighborhood had taken shape there, one that gradually transitioned into a business hub. Today, the 1½-story house is home to two health and wellness related businesses.

As we explored this corner of downtown, we began to wonder: Which downtown homes get to remain in the central business district, and which are razed? Perhaps that question is part of what makes these surviving homes so intriguing—they are a tangible glimpse of the neighborhoods that once surrounded downtown.

Happy Wednesday!