Property: 1215 Vermont Ave., Lansing Owner: Ingham County Land Bank Assessed Value: $0 Owner says: Property will be demolished by January Architecture critic Amanda Harrell-Seyburn says: It’s incredibly tempting to sacrifice a porch to increase indoor square footage of a house.

Property: 3917 Burchfield Drive, Lansing Owner: Stefan and Tamara Farrell Assessed value: $18,300 Owner says: Could not be reached for comment Architecture critic Amanda Harrell-Seyburn says: Like the lost Mayan city of Chichen Itza swallowed up by...

The carriage house is a classic building type that all but disappeared in the 20th century, but is staged for a comeback. Few are as fortunate as the handful of dwellings in the Lansing area that possess a carriage house, like this beauty at 5632 Okemos Road.

Property: 325 Lathrop St. Owner: Virgil Rowe Assessed value: $36,400 Owner says: Could not be reached for comment Architecture critic Amanda Harrell-Seyburn says: Aluminum siding ' the precursor of vinyl siding ' was the spark that ignited what has become a serious preservation issue.

Property: Soup to Nutz Bistro courtyard, 121 E. Kalamazoo St., Lansing Owner: Soup to Nutz Assessed value: $5,000 Outdoor spaces, especially in urban settings, function best and are most loved when articulated as a room with defined sides. Soup to Nutz Bistro’s secluded courtyard is a perfect example.

Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer ' the best time of year to enjoy a truly American architectural form: the front porch. The front porch was popularized during the century following the Civil War. Porches are an outside room, an extension of the house where people congregate and interact with passersby.

Property: 708 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing Owner: James Hornberger Jr. Assessed value: $22,000 Owner says: Demolition is coming Architecture critic Amanda Harrell-Seyburn says: The word is, this lovely little bungalow at 708 N. Pennsylvania Ave. will soon be a victim of the wrecking ball.

Eye candy of the week Property: 215 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing Owner: Central United Methodist Church Assessed value: $0 Misconceived notions can have damaging effects. In the name of energy efficiency, people are quick to replace irreplaceable windows on historic buildings at the expense of both the architecture and the environment.

Property: 534 S. Magnolia Ave., Lansing Assessed value: $19,500 Owner: Richard Arrington Taxpayer: Thomas Arrington Owner says: Could not be reached for comment Architecture critic Amanda Harrell-Seyburn says: It’s so good to see a possible renovation may be underway at 534 S.

Soaring a half-story above its neighbors at 204 E. Grand River Ave. in Old Town, this red-brick gem is hard to miss. With highly decorative masonry and intricate detailing, this Romanesque revival style building oozes 19th-century charm and is one of Lansing’s architectural masterpieces.