Historic Preservation

[rookzie]

Even though the NTHP is a privately-funded non-profit, the fact is, it frequently can muster and consolidate support and funding for maximizing the chances of preserving some of these notable treasures.  They (it) work toward saving all kinds of odd-ball, off-the-wall items of any size (or almost any).

 

They recently completed a fund-raising initiative to save what remains of the Cincinnati Union Terminal, a 1933 humongous Art-Deco passenger-train station which, although shared as large version of Nashv'l's Adventure Science Center (family museum), an iMax theatre, and an Amtrak station, had fallen into a bad need of restoration.  About 7 years ago, I personally had worked with the NTHP for funding the conservation and re-mastering of a specialized photographic and paper-index collection at a local university, donated during the late 1940s, and which had critically deteriorated since it's initial compilation during the early 1920s.  So first hand, I feel a bit of witnessed confidence in the National Trust.

 

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Edited January 13, 2015 by rookzie

[Bezoar]

100 year anniversary of the North Branch Carnegie library in Historic Buena Vista, the oldest library in Nashville. http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/built-carnegie-money-nashvilles-oldest-library-celebrates-100-years

 

They've just finished up interior renovations in January, and are finishing up replacing the roof tiles as we speak.  Shamefully, I've lived a couple of doors down from here for 5 years and have never visited.  

[rookzie]

100 year anniversary of the North Branch Carnegie library in Historic Buena Vista, the oldest library in Nashville. http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/built-carnegie-money-nashvilles-oldest-library-celebrates-100-years

 

They've just finished up interior renovations in January, and are finishing up replacing the roof tiles as we speak.  Shamefully, I've lived a couple of doors down from here for 5 years and have never visited.  

 

While the North Branch Carnegie is the oldest Nashville library remaining extant (followed by the East Branch), an obscure piece of historic trivia, most locals do not realize, is that another structure remains today as a former Carnegie Library ─ the Fisk University Carnegie Academic Building, built in 1908 as that institution's main library, until the opening of the Erastus Milo Cravath Hall (that rectangular dark-brown, "top-hat" building in the middle of the Fisk campus) in 1929.  This former Carnegie library undewent a major reno during 1993-94.

 

http://digital.mtsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15838coll4/id/3611

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Edited February 12, 2015 by rookzie

[mirydi]

Nashville halts future development on famed Music Row

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/real-estate/2015/02/nashville-halts-future-development-on-music-row.html

 

^I'm sorry but that's a bit ridiculous. 

[Hey_Hey]

It's incorrect to say that development will be halted. Property owners can still build anything by right that they are zone for. What will apparently be halted is anything that requires a zoning change. For the area north of Edgehill Ave that can still be intense mixed use development as it is zoned ORI. For the area south of Edgehill, which is OR20 only moderate density could be built. Also, anything currently approved is still permitted. Forestar, Virgin, Crescent, Cadence, Skyhouse, and Lennar can all still move forward without any hindrance. Also, I got the feeling that "Music Row" was defined narrowly and included only properties along 16th and 17th Avenues.

I am not a die hard preservationist, although I see benefit of keeping some of Music Row untouched. Our neighborhood opposed this because the developers refused to even meet with us until this week when the design had already been decided. A year ago our neighborhood actively supported a larger development a block away, but the developers of it met with us and heard our concerns and implemented changes. These developers felt entitled to the rezoning, which is obviously not the case.

What I think everyone can agree on is that Music Row is probably the most unique neighborhood in Nashville. Not necessarily because of architecture but because of what has happened in those houses and building over the last 60 years. Music Row should be redeveloped to some extent. However, I think it is a good thing to stop and make sure that what is being built is high quality and adds to the neighborhood. There is a real risk of developers only building developments like Note 16 and Artisan on 18th. Low-quality, single use apartments lining Music Row will kill the historicity of the Row and nashville will lose part of its identity.

[volsfanwill]

This is in Knoxville but still relevant.  2 developers offered to restore a historic home by dividing the lot and adding more housing but both proposals were rejected by nimbys. So it was demolished today.  

Also,  a 60 day waiting period goes into affect tomorrow. 

http://www.knoxmercury.com/2015/05/26/historic-christenberry-house-demolished/

[Nathan_in_DC]

Ugh, that makes me sick. What a beautiful house, destroyed because a small group didn't want condos.

[rookzie]

I'm sure I'll be gettin' attacked for saying this, but the house "deserved" to be torn down, especially with onlooking dissenters watching a smiling dozer/excavator operator (must've "...hurt so good").  I do believe in reasonable compromise to save some "unspoken" treasures as such homes.  It's like owners quibbling with firemen over a type of hose, while watchin' the damn house burn down in the meantime.

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[bwithers1]

I'm sure I'll be gettin' attacked for saying this, but the house "deserved" to be torn down, especially with onlooking dissenters watching a smiling dozer/excavator operator (must've "...hurt so good").  I do believe in reasonable compromise to save some "unspoken" treasures as such homes.  It's like owners quibbling with firemen over a type of hose, while watchin' the damn house burn down in the meantime.

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Wait, what did the house do to "deserve" to be torn down?  It is one thing for owners or neighbors to be unrealistic or uncompromising, but I'm sure that the building could not speak for itself in the community meetings or public hearings.  If walls could talk, indeed.

Edited May 29, 2015 by bwithers1

[Nathan_in_DC]

Wait, what did the house do to "deserve" to be torn down? It is one thing for owners or neighbors to be unrealistic or uncompromising, but I'm sure that the building could not speak for itself in the community meetings or public hearings. If walls could talk, indeed.

You must not have known that building. It was a real d-bag.

[rookzie]

Wait, what did the house do to "deserve" to be torn down?  It is one thing for owners or neighbors to be unrealistic or uncompromising, but I'm sure that the building could not speak for itself in the community meetings or public hearings.  If walls could talk, indeed.

 

Brett, I would think that you got the gist of why I said what I said.  "Deserving" to be torn down" was used as a strong phase of passion to refer to unreasonable constraints conferred on the owner by those in opposition, who, according to the article only,  had declined any offer by the owner to save the structure with conditions.   That house just might have had it's own soul, maybe even ghosts as far as we're concerned, but I was referring to the fact that foolish naysayers seemed to not want to meet some reasonable compromise with the property owner on saving that structure, according to what the poster above provided us ─ nothing beyond that as official or from the horse's mouth.  You of all people know how that works.  If that house had no legal "sacred-cow" protection by overlay or whatever, then I don;t think you or I could expect that the owner would just sit on it.

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Edited May 29, 2015 by rookzie

[nashvillwill]

^^^ I believe that is a case of the Nimby's winning a victory. Based on the article, both of the proposals to restore the house came with conditions to add a small amount of density. Hence the Nimby opposition. Now, it will be a one-for-one demolition. So, a historic home is destroyed and replaced with something new, but single family. No additional people.

I'm sure most of the Nimby crowd is satisfied with the result and don't give a rat's bottom about the historic structure. There may be a minority of them who wanted their cake and eat it to, and to them I would say "what did you expect?".

Unfortunately, the people like us who see that density is inevitable and want to protect the history as a part of that, are probably a small minority.

[rookzie]

^^^ I believe that is a case of the Nimby's winning a victory. Based on the article, both of the proposals to restore the house came with conditions to add a small amount of density. Hence the Nimby opposition. Now, it will be a one-for-one demolition. So, a historic home is destroyed and replaced with something new, but single family. No additional people.

I'm sure most of the Nimby crowd is satisfied with the result and don't give a rat's bottom about the historic structure. There may be a minority of them who wanted their cake and eat it to, and to them I would say "what did you expect?".

Unfortunately, the people like us who see that density is inevitable and want to protect the history as a part of that, are probably a small minority.

 

This what I totally agree with, even if my reaction was strong with disgust on razing the house.  You just said it as better qualified

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[dmillsphoto]

The list of 9 is out for the year. Number one, 1812 Broadway which I think we've all expressed concern over losing. Also on the list: Hillsboro High School... which, I get - it's a 50s-mod structure, but damned if it isn't in the way of well, everything. And it isn't really conducive to modern school's needs.

 

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/davidson/2014/09/22/alarmed-preservations-pick-studio-backdrop-event/16068641/

[titanhog]

The list of 9 is out for the year. Number one, 1812 Broadway which I think we've all expressed concern over losing. Also on the list: Hillsboro High School... which, I get - it's a 50s-mod structure, but damned if it isn't in the way of well, everything. And it isn't really conducive to modern school's needs.

 

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/davidson/2014/09/22/alarmed-preservations-pick-studio-backdrop-event/16068641/

They still list RCA Studio A...which has been saved.  Also list Trail West Bldg...which even though the design of the honkytonk isn't my first choice, at least the building is being "saved."

[Bezoar]

They still list RCA Studio A...which has been saved.  Also list Trail West Bldg...which even though the design of the honkytonk isn't my first choice, at least the building is being "saved."

That article is from September.  Do they have a more updated list?  Didn't see on on their website.  

Edited June 21, 2015 by Bezoar

[dmillsphoto]

Interesting. There was one but now it's gone. Oh well, never mind.

[Nathan_in_DC]

The State Museum currently is featuring an exhibit of old Nashville photography, which they've placed online as well. Take a gander: http://tnmuseum.org/Media_Galleries/Places_I_Remember/

[MidTenn1]

The State Museum currently is featuring an exhibit of old Nashville photography, which they've placed online as well. Take a gander: http://tnmuseum.org/Media_Galleries/Places_I_Remember/

We actually bought feed from Acme Seed and Feed!

 

[Griz83]

The State Museum currently is featuring an exhibit of old Nashville photography, which they've placed online as well. Take a gander: http://tnmuseum.org/Media_Galleries/Places_I_Remember/

I've been to see this exhibit.  Seems as though there were many more photos than the 16 which are online.

[Nathan_in_DC]

I've been to see this exhibit.  Seems as though there were many more photos than the 16 which are online.

Those are probably the only ones they could get the licensing to post up online.

[PaulChinetti]

https://tnsos.org/tsla/imagesearch/index.php?resultpage=1&find=davidson

Ya'll look at some of these! Figured this would be a good spot for these. 

16130.jpg is  a Aerial view of Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial University, Nashville, Tennessee. Not sure what this is today?

Others are self explanatory.

[MLBrumby]

Tennessee A&I is now Tennessee State University.