古い建物を残すこと

Redevelopment in front of the station is progressing, and the buildings of the old shopping street that has continued since the Showa era are being demolished one after another. The new buildings are bright and safe, and the number of shops increases. On the other hand, not a few residents are sad, saying that 'with the old buildings gone, even the memories of the town disappear.' Should old buildings be preserved? Preserving old buildings has several meanings. First, buildings convey the history of a town in a visible form. By actually seeing old buildings, children can imagine the lives of people in the past, which cannot be understood from textbooks alone. Also, a streetscape lined with old buildings becomes an attraction that draws tourists. In fact, there are not a few cases where carefully preserving an old streetscape increased tourists and made the town lively. However, preserving old buildings costs a great deal. Reinforcing them to withstand earthquakes and repairing damaged parts can require more money than building new ones. Owners may also grow old and become unable to maintain the buildings. It is easy to say 'they should be preserved', but who bears that cost and how is not a problem with an easy answer. What is attracting attention is the method of 'preserving them while using them'. For example, there are cases where an old warehouse is renovated and used as a cafe or library. If a building is actually used, income is generated and can go toward repair costs. Furthermore, it is said that buildings become less prone to damage when people come and go, because unused buildings are not maintained and in fact deteriorate faster. Whether to preserve old buildings is not simply a question of 'new or old'. It also means thinking about the town's future: what the town values and how it wants to live from now on. It is important for residents to hold repeated discussions and decide while calmly comparing the value and cost of each building.