Preservation Louisville Announces Metro’s 2009
Top 10 Most Endangered Historic Places & Top 10 Preservation Successes
Louisville’s Top 10 Most Endangered Historic Places List
Shotgun Houses
Louisville has the 2nd largest inventory of shotgun houses and they make up 10% of Louisville’s building stock. These houses are found in many of Louisville’s neighborhoods such as, Portland, Germantown, Butchertown, Russell and California. Shotgun houses are among the most common late 19th century and early 20th century house types in the urban South. The majority of local examples were built between the end of the Civil War and 1910. Oral tradition attributes the name “shotgun house” to their distinct floor plan.
Water Co. Block Historic Buildings
Listed in 2005: The Water Co. Block bounded by Second, Third and Liberty streets and Muhammad Ali Boulevard has 5 historic buildings that are endangered, the Falls City Theater building, Louisville Water Co. buildings, Odd Fellows Hall and Morrisey Garage. The Louisville Water Co. occupied the buildings at 435 S. 3rd Street from 1910-1998. Louisville Metro government now controls all of the land and feels the property is needed to expand the 4th Street Live entertainment complex. The land eventually will be leased to Baltimore-based Cordish Cos. for an expansion of the popular entertainment district.
Victorian House on Frankfort Avenue
Listed in 2005: 2225 Frankfort Avenue, adjacent to Ginny’s Diner, in the Clifton neighborhood. In 2000, this house was in decent, livable condition. But, by 2004, the owner had allowed it to greatly deteriorate and has attempted to demolish it. It currently is for sale by calling 797-8770. The Clifton neighborhood has vigorously opposed its destruction and views it as a significant part of the historic Frankfort Avenue commercial corridor.
Historic Firehouses
Listed in 2006: Louisville’s Historic Firehouses were thought to be endangered because of Metro governments plan to open new firehouses in the city. These historic properties were taken off the list in 2008 when the city announced that the new facilities would not lead to the demolition of any of the historic properties. Since then in January 2009, the Mayor opted to close Louisville’s oldest firehouse. This was the oldest firehouse in America that was used continually as a firehouse.
Old Dental School at Brook and Broadway
Located at Brook and Broadway, formerly home of the U of L Dentistry Department, this structure may no longer be used by the University of Louisville. Discussions had been held that might place this structure as ‘surplus’ and then lead to demolition. This building is at the strategic gateway intersection to downtown from I-65 and Broadway, and thus a vacant empty lot is not a positive image to portray for downtown Louisville. It is of a distinctive appearance and architecture and is important to dental history in Louisville.
Park Hill district
Listed in 2008: The Park Hill district (bounded by Algonquin Parkway to the south, 6th Street on the east, 15th Street on the west; and Broadway to the north) was once Louisville’s manufacturing and industrial heartland. Thousands of Louisvillians worked here and created products used by millions of Americans. Companies like: American Standard, Henry Vogt, and Mengel. Now this district lays dormant awaiting revitalization. In the interim though, beautiful substantial structures are being threatened with deterioration and demolition.
Corner Store Fronts
Popular from the 1840’s-1950’s: Bright, airy and proud these corner stores brought the necessary goods to a neighborhood without the big shopping mall or strip centers. Early owner’s also lived on site, which provided an extra level of neighborhood pride. These properties were the “General Store” gone urban. The freedom of these buildings allowed the lack of a supporting parking lot- making them fit within the same lot patterns shared by surrounding, tightly packed, housing stock. As the urban landscape has changed our habits have changed with them, the result is we now have to drive further to get the things we once could find at the end of the block.
Historic Properties within the Proposed New Bridge Route
Listed in 1999: Since the announcement that a major overhaul of the interstate and bridge transportation system, all of the historic properties within the proposed routes were placed on this list. The League continues to monitor this process and attend hearings where necessary to assist in protecting these structures. This entry will remain on the list until a final proposal has been determined and all of the buildings fate has been resolved.
Iron Quarter/Whiskey Row
Often referred to as the “Iron Quarter”, this area originally called “Whiskey Row” was named this because of the buildings Cast Iron facades and the many whiskey businesses that began there. The properties located on the north side of the 100 block of East Main Street are in varying levels of deterioration. While these properties have several projects planned for them because of their close proximity to the city’s new arena, it is not confirmed that the buildings will not be demolished for these new projects.
Ouerbacker House
Listed in 2005: the Samuel Ouerbacker House at 1735 West Jefferson in the Russell neighborhood is a beautiful landmark structure. Designed by noted local architect Arthur Loomis. The city of Louisville owned this property and in 2008 the city planned on demolishing the property. Concerned preservation organizations rallied to save the structure and an agreement was come to between the city and a new owner Scott Kramer of Studio K Architects. This property has been stabilized but until an adaptive reuse of the property can be funded it is still endangered.