Cincinnati's 'Over-The-Rhine' Makes Most Endangered List

The area, which encompasses 1,200 structures, has been home to successive waves of immigrants. In the last quarter century, Over-the-Rhine has fallen on hard times; 500 of its buildings are abandoned and more of these are in danger of demolition.

"Over-the-Rhine is home to one of the country's largest collections of 19th century Italianate, Federalist, Greek Revival and Queen Anne-style buildings. Beginning in 1830, the area began filling with German immigrants.

Fifty years later, the 352-acre area became one of the most German neighborhoods in the nation. It was a thriving place, with packed churches, beer gardens and building and loan associations.

Now plywood covers many old relics. Many windows that aren't covered are shattered. For-sale signs dot the landscape along with litter and a people broken by drug and alcohol abuse who sit along small concrete stoops."