Advocacy Alert
As you may know, Preservation Louisville has recently obtained a copy of a proposed amendment to the Landmarks Ordinance, Chap 32.250 of the Metro Code of Ordinances. This amendment was to be heard in the Planning/Zoning committee of the Metro Council on 2/14/12. Preservation Louisville attended this meeting and is happy to report that this amendment has been tabled until public hearings can be held on the subject. We are happy the amendment has been tabled until further dialogue can occur and we intend on being part of the discussion as it progresses.
WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP!
We need to keep up the emails and phone calls to our Metro Council Representatives and the Mayor!
The Metro Council members supporting this amendment see it as needed reform. Their goals will destroy a 40 year successful landmarks program and will upset economic growth, sensible redevelopment and effective governance.
THE ISSUE:
As the Ordinance stands today, 200 signatures of citizens residing in Jefferson County is sufficient to petition for Landmark status of an historic district or individual property. The Landmarks Commission process involves site visits, documentation, research, a staff report, committee review and, if warranted, a public hearing before the Metro Landmarks Commission. If a designation results, a Landmark district designation is then referred to Metro Council for final action, whereas, an individual Landmark designation is final when acted upon by the Commission. This latter action has been used many times in the past to stop demolition of significant structures, most notably in the recent past, Whiskey Row!
The intent of this amendment is two-fold:
- -It makes all designations require Metro Council approval.
- -It would require a percentage of signatures on landmark petitions to come from within a one mile radius of the property which would make it difficult for designation in areas like downtown and Floyds Fork.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Email Metro Council and Mayor Fischer to let them know you DO NOT support changing our Landmarks ordinance and you support the expertise of the Metro Landmarks Commissioners!
Use the following points to show your support!
- -There is already a democratic process in place that gives rights to everyone in our community to be heard in every landmarks designation case. Metro Council should make sure that the people in their districts have the right to be heard and in this situation that ability already exists!
- -Bringing Metro Council into the designation process unnecessarily politicizes what should be a decision based on clear, historic and architectural criteria made by individuals with expertise in those areas. Designation should be based on guidelines and standards, not politics.
-The current Demolition Ordinance delays demolition of historic structures for only 30 days and Metro Council's involvement would require a far longer process. Many significant structures could be lost before Metro Council acts. This new legislation has many unintended consequences!
Click Here to Email Mayor Fischer
Click Here to Email Metro Council
CLICK HERE to download the UPDATED proposed amendment PDF
CLICK HERE to download the ORIGINAL proposed amendment PDF
CLICK HERE to see video of the Planning/Zoning committee of Metro Council
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Landmark the Goose House!
Come to the Landmarks Public Hearing
March 15th at 5:30pm - Old Jail
Roscoe Tarleton Goose (January 21, 1891 - June 11, 1971) was an American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing who was one of the inaugural class of inductees in the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. Born near Louisville, Kentucky, Roscoe Goose won a number of races, the most important of which came in 1913 when he captured the Kentucky Derby with the colt, Donerail. Sent off at 91:1 odds, Roscoe Goose stunned racing fans with a win that returned backers $184.90 for a $2 wager, a Derby record which still stands. Dubbed The Golden Goose, when his career as a jockey came to an end he remained in the Thoroughbred racing industry as a trainer and an owner. 3012 S. 3rd St. was built in 1900 and Roscoe Goose acquired the house in 1912 and lived there with his brother Carl Goose, who was also a famous jockey. The property was owned by Roscoe Goose until his death in 1971.
Please click the link below download and sign our petition to make the Goose house a local landmark - and please donate to our petition drive using a credit card or paypal on our secure website! Thanks for your support!
Click here to download the Goose House Landmark Petition
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Advocacy efforts
Preservation Louisville helped gain landmark status for Bauer’s Restaurant, the Wayside Christian Mission properties on East Market Street, Colonial Gardens in the Iroquois neighborhood and Whiskey Row. We also assisted in protecting the Ouerbacker House on West Jefferson Street from threatened demolition, and helped save a threatened shotgun house in Butchertown.
In January 2008, after months of study, the Board of the Brennan House Historic Home voted to change the mission of the organization following recommendations from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and local stakeholders, and to add the role of preservation advocacy to our mission. Although our mission has expanded, we will continue to act as a Heritage Center and to preserve the Brennan House along with the original family collection. In June 2008, the Board chose the name Preservation Louisville, Inc. to reflect the importance of historic preservation to this expanded mission and our community. Preservation Louisville’s new mission is to “Protect and Promote our community’s Cultural, Environmental and Architectural Heritage”
