Columbia, SC — If you love Columbia for its historic landmarks and integration of modern remodeling to these beautiful buildings, please know that the 100-plus-year-old Palmetto Compress building is possibly going to leave us, forever.

I agree with Richard Burts that developers are shortchanging Columbia for profit (“Preservationists decry demolition of Palmetto Compress warehouse,” Nov. 6).

Mr. Burts and others have set a standard that should be followed by others who choose to develop property in these special areas of Columbia that should be preserved. I have owned property in Granby for 35 years and am thankful for leaders such as Mr. Burts and Bob Guild fighting to keep the flavor of a community intact.

You can modernize an older building. It may slow down the return on investment for the developer and property owner, but this should not be a get-rich-quick project. Look at 701 Whaley or Publix on Gervais; it can be done. Don’t let this out-of-state developer take our history away.

Call someone you know, call your council members, call the city manager, find out who is not representing the best interest of Columbia, and let’s do something about it.

Ben Plexico

Columbia