Once again there is a renovation project under way in downtown Selma, continuing a trend of improvements that are adding value and interest in the historic business district.

Three weeks ago, a majority of the Selma City Council allocated portions for oil lease funds to pay for the repairs, upgrades and painting to the facades of buildings neighboring the new Selma Interpretive Center along Broad Street.

This week, the work began with pressure washing, paint scraping and other prep work. In the coming days and weeks, crews will repair windows, fix holes and add a fresh coat of paint to these historic buildings, bringing back to life a portion of downtown that has far too long appeared decrepit.

On Friday, city and community leaders will come together to cut the ribbon on the now completed Phoenix Park. This beautiful green space sits where the former Phoenix Building once stood. It, unfortunately, couldn’t be saved or renovated before it came crashing down a number of years ago.

Selma’s downtown is home to a number of gorgeous and historic buildings, many of which remain active taken care of and house businesses.

But, there are far too many that have simply been abandoned by their owners and left to rot and fall into disrepair.

We have seen what investment, care and appreciation for Selma’s history can mean in the renovation of some buildings downtown. We have also seen what can become of our history when it is owned by those who don’t fully appreciate what they have or don’t have the means to care for the treasures they own.

We applaud the efforts of the city council in ensuring that at least the facades of these buildings downtown are renovated and hope funds can be found for further work down the road. Selma’s history is far too precious to let it simply fall to dust.