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Opelika and Auburn both face a dilemma that other cities and towns, large and small, all around the world face: how to preserve its history while moving forward with progress.

More civic engagement and greater sincerity among economic developers in realizing the value of a healthy balance are among the keys to finding agreeable resolution.

It is easy to understand why history lovers and peaceful residents content with status quo would like to see traditions and treasures such as historic homes and tree-lined avenues stay the same.

Furthermore, even charge-hard, aggressive proponents of growth and economic prosperity should well understand the attraction these hometown characteristics can bring to fiscal goals.

Reality is, however, that with growth and progress comes change, and century after century, nation after nation, village after village has had to grapple with finding the right balance of preservation vs. development.

Opelika most recently studied the issue of church-owned properties of historic value being turned into parking lots or having meaningful buildings razed for more useful developments to replace them, and city ordinances were revisited and revised.