Officials in Dayton, Ohio have approved the razing to the ground. They described the building as dangerous and in danger of collapsing. Protectionists say that part of it can be preserved.

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In 1892, the brick building at 1005 West Third Street had several large windows. Residents of Dayton, Ohio could peek inside through these windows and see that the Wright brothers, who were a few years away from becoming pioneers in flying, ran their bicycles. shop.

Now that the windows are gone, the plywood is in place, and the building will soon be demolished.

Dayton’s District Appeals Committee approved the city’s request to demolish the building on Tuesday, where the state’s legends Wilbur and Orville Wright opened their first successful bicycle business. City officials plan to review the developer’s proposal for the space and then decide who should get the property.

All parties agree that the building is dilapidated. But its potential demolition has caused some officials to confront conservationists. They think the building is dangerous and cause trouble for neighbors. They think it has historical significance. If it is redeveloped, it can qualify for tax credits.

Monica Snow, president of Preservation Dayton Inc., said on Sunday: "We have lost too much heritage, we have lost too much history-we should work hard to save every possible building."

Dayton’s debates echoed those in other parts of the country in which conservationists, developers, and city officials disputed over the future of local property with strong historical ties.

On an island near Miami Beach, residents and city officials disagree over whether to razor the former mansion in Alcapone. On Astor Street in Harlem, a 1883 house was declared a landmark and was unceremoniously razed to the ground last month.

In Dayton, a public meeting was held. Letters have been sent. The Landmark Committee rejected the city’s request for demolition because it wanted the city to try to preserve the outer walls of the building. The city appealed and won the decision of the Zoning Appeals Board, which overturned the rejection by a 5 to 1 vote.

In 1903, the Wright brothers created a fragile machine that could continue to fly, thus becoming important figures in aviation history and cementing their position as the first people to successfully fly an airplane.

However, before obtaining this status, they worked at home, repairing and assembling bicycles. Soon they were successful enough to open their own store on West Third Street-one of several stores on this street over time-where they continued to sell and assemble bicycles. Through their work, they honed their mechanical skills, which prompted them to become giants in the aviation field.

"I don't want us to be portrayed as anti-Wright brothers," Dayton's director of planning, community and development Toddkinski said on Sunday. He added: "If the Wright brothers can come back in time, they will not recognize this building."

In fact, the structure of this building and its role in the community have evolved for more than a century: a new external wall was added in 1928, around the time it became the ice cream building in Jewel City. The building was purchased by the municipal government in 1998 and declared a public hazard in 2008.

The National Park Service stated in a September letter to the city’s landmark committee that the “almost no structure” occupied by the Wright brothers still exists. According to the service agency, the building is part of the West Third Street Historic District.

Ms. Snow said that the city is "responsible" for the poor condition of the building, because since it acquired the property, it has taken almost no measures to prevent further dilapidation.

She said that Preservation Dayton Inc. has met some developers who "have not used up their hair after they are on fire" and believe that the building can be saved.

Mr. Kinsky said that Dayton was unable to rebuild the building in previous years because the city was in financial trouble after the 2008 financial crisis. He added that several engineering studies commissioned by the city indicated that the building is at risk of collapsing, especially the facade, which may separate and fall onto the street. He said that several bricks had fallen off.

Regardless of whether the building is demolished or not, Mr. Kinsky and Ms. Snow said that this space is likely to become a residential area. Both said that they had no problem with the result.

Mr. Kinsky said: "If a developer comes forward and does have a plan to redevelop and preserve the building, then we will definitely accept this."

Residents living near the building had different opinions: a letter from a neighborhood association expressed support for razing the building to the ground, while others expressed their support for the renovation at a public meeting.

The space is located in a high-traffic area. Ms. Snow said the only difference in what happened here is whether people will recognize or remember the importance of people who have worked there.