Louisville is to become an urban laboratory.
That is the term used to describe a long-term project led by The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has named the “Heart of Louisville” as a “National Treasure,” and local officials. The National Trust points to Louisville’s historic and diverse structures and neighborhoods, 70 National Register districts including over 10,000 buildings, and the 6,500 properties that have been named landmarks or districts by the Louisville Metro Historic Landmarks and Preservation Districts Commission – these make up the Heart of Louisville.
The National Trust’s Green Lab will create the urban laboratory by testing “the impact of targeted technical, financial, and marketing assistance throughout the city’s historic areas.” The Green Lab has already been involved in Louisville projects and wants to continue with a special focus on building reuse as a sustainable development strategy.
“Louisville’s historic buildings are as much a part of the city’s identity as bourbon and baseball bats,” said Stephanie Meeks, president and CEO, National Trust for Historic Preservation, in a statement. “The Heart of Louisville project will explore preservation strategies to address these complex issues and serve as a model for other cities across the country dealing with similar challenges. We are proud to partner with the City of Louisville to make sure that historic places intertwined with the city’s identity, like Whiskey Row and Main Street, are a vibrant part of its future.”
On the Kentucky.gov site, Kentucky Heritage Council Executive Director and State Historic Preservation Officer Craig Potts said of the announcement, “…Their goal of a long-term collaboration with city officials, local preservation and community organizations, developers and others to promote historic building reuse comes at a great time, just as Kentucky and the rest of the nation prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act. Shortly after its passage in 1966, the Legislature created the Kentucky Heritage Council as the state historic preservation office with a mission to identify, protect and preserve the Commonwealth’s historic buildings, archaeological sites and cultural resources.”
Photo: National Trust for Historic Preservation
