Columbus Landmarks has put the city on notice. The preservation nonprofit rolled out its 2026 Most Endangered Sites list on Wednesday, spotlighting five properties it says are staring down demolition, chronic neglect or quiet conversion without meaningful preservation. The group is openly courting neighbors, potential buyers and city officials, hoping public pressure and fresh interest can tilt future redevelopment toward rehabilitation instead of the wrecking ball.
What’s on the list
This year’s lineup is a cross section of Columbus history packed into five addresses: the Beacon Building, a mid century modern office at 50 W. Gay St.; Fairwood Elementary, a 1924 school built for Black students and designed by Ohio Stadium architect Howard Dwight Smith; Courtright School, a 1927 Howard Dwight Smith design with Egyptian Revival flourishes; two long neglected houses at 147 and 157 Thurman Ave. in German Village; and a modest, deteriorating 700 square foot trades building at 871 Carpenter St. Columbus Landmarks plans to host a tour of the five sites this summer, according to Axios.
Landmarks’ track record
The annual Most Endangered program is meant to shine a bright light on vulnerable historic properties and spark reinvestment, not just hand out scarlet letters. The list is one of Columbus Landmarks’ core advocacy tools and is used to drum up awareness, encourage creative reuse and connect property owners with preservation minded partners, according to Columbus Landmarks.
Organizers say it’s not a blacklist
Nathan Bevil, director of preservation services at Columbus Landmarks, stressed that the list is meant to help, not humiliate. "It's not at all meant to be pejorative; it's not meant to be shaming or anything like that," Bevil told Axios. The hope is that a little publicity nudges the right buyers to step up with the money and patience to rehabilitate these aging buildings.
A recent win and why it matters
To make the case that the list can actually move the needle, Columbus Landmarks points to the Nagy Brothers Shoe Repair building, which appeared on the 2020 Most Endangered list. The Parsons Avenue property has since been stabilized and preserved, an outcome the group cites in its 2020 summary. That kind of turnaround is exactly what organizers are chasing again this year, using attention and tours to help line up new owners or protections, according to Columbus Landmarks.
Next steps
Over the coming weeks, Columbus Landmarks staff and volunteers will keep working behind the scenes on follow-up, outreach, and planning for the announced summer tour tied to the 2026 list. Residents who want to track what happens next or find out how to pitch in are encouraged to watch the organization’s calendar and event listings for registration details and volunteer opportunities.
