A regular Erie Times-News reader who's been calling in recent days to protest what she calls "an increasing number of newspaper photos showing buildings getting torn down," phoned again this morning.

"What's the deal with this package of stories and photos on North Park Row?" she demanded. "Old buildings and vacant lots -- is that all you people think Erie is?"

No, but a combination of the old and the new seems to hold a key to Erie's future. While it's true that the newspaper has been printing a lot of photos in recent weeks of buildings being razed, I like to think that we're staying on top of these stories for two reasons. First, nobody wants to see an authentic architectural gems slip through the cracks. That is, have a building with real value get torn down.

Some would argue that every old building should be saved, but, while a city should never surrender its architecural heritage, some buildings are better off getting eliminated. I'm thinking of the old Commerce Building, which stood for nearly a century at the corner of 12th and State Streets. If somebody stepped forward with, say, $10 million to revitalize the building, it might have been worth saving. But the smaller building that was erected in its place -- first it served as a law office and more recently as a credit union -- is a more useful addition to the neighborhood than an empty old office building.

Admittedly, planning for the city of the future -- while keeping the best of the old and blending it in with quality new buildings -- will be the biggest challenge. It starts with a survey of what's happening around us, which is why readers are seeing so many photos of buildings coming down, or, in the case of today's story package on North Park Row, buildings that are being re-cast in a new light.

It's all a part of Erie's transition. And, if we do it right, the new city could serve us well for much of the 21st century.

-- Kevin Cuneo