Historical landmarks are something that can be found in just about every city. They can range from iconic buildings to statues to a simple plaque stating that one event or other took place there. Most of these landmarks are preserved to remember an event or person that was important in the course of history. Places like St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Statue of Liberty in New York city often come with welcoming and warm feelings attached. Other locations are kept just as they are to serve as a reminder of something much more sinister, though no less important.
An empty lot that sits in a town in Germany. Any number of things could have been constructed there, but the location remains empty. It sits as a blank reminder of the buildings that used to stand on that ground. Ghosts and an empty lot are all that remain of a Nazi concentration camp. It sits as proof that even a past everyone wishes would disappear ought to be remembered in some capacity. While not nearly as dark as this, one particular landmark in Austria stands a good chance of being torn down or converted into a supermarket.
Many houses that belong to famous, or in this instance infamous, people are converted into museums or declared locations of significance. The houses belonging to Thomas Edison and Karl Marx are two examples among many. As it stands, sometimes it is better to see certain monuments brought to their knees. Legislation in Austria that is still up for debate, but it would lead to the government taking possession of the house where Adolf Hitler spent a portion of his youth. It's an inconvenience to the family that currently owns it, but there is a very valid reason for seeing the building changed. Their main worry is that the building may become a shrine to some less than savory characters. They fear that it may be seen as a place for neo-Nazis to congregate. It's a legitimate fear and thus the Austrian government is considering the location's complete removal or its conversion into something mundane and uninteresting.
Certain landmarks are obvious in the fact that they should be protected for later generations. Others remain abandoned as a solemn reminder of tragedies long since passed. Occasionally though, there is that one item or building that is not worth the risk of keeping around. In the grand scheme of things, the loss of that particular building wouldn't be terribly great seeing as most of the information about its significance is already known. It may prove interesting to see how this and other such controversial sites are dealt with in the future.
