Announced today, Colonial Gardens was listed as #6 on Preservation Louisville’s Top 10 Most Endangered Historic Places List.

Here’s what the listing means, according to Preservation Louisville:

A “most endangered” list is a preservation tool for recognizing sites with historic, cultural or archaeological significance that are directly threatened or in immediate danger of being lost. The “Endangered Properties” list has a long history in Louisville. It was initially created by Preservation Alliance, and in 1999 the list was taken over by The Louisville Historic League. The list is now compiled and published by Preservation Louisville, Inc., Louisville’s citywide preservation organization since 2007.

Check out this audio (courtesy of WFPL) of today’s presentation from Preservation Louisville’s Marianne Zickuhr where she explains the criteria for selection into this list and expands upon why Colonial Gardens was selected.

This is certainly an honor we wish not to maintain for this local landmark.  Hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, Colonial Gardens will be considered a top 10 preservation success.

On October 28, 2009, the Courier-Journal published this article: “Owners still seek buyer for Colonial Gardens”

It is certainly very good news that the Schmid family, the long-term owners of Colonial Gardens, have put off working for a hardship appeal to demolish the landmark and are faithfully seeking a buyer for the property.  Since there are very stringent requirements for a successful appeal, it certainly makes sense to finally give the building a chance to survive and finally be restored.

Bill Bardenwerper, the Schmid’s attorney, says in the article that if anyone is interested in buying the property, he may be contacted at 502-426-6688.  This is certainly a great opportunity for a developer to re-engage the splendid heritage of this key historical South End property and make a very positive name for themselves in the process.  A restored Colonial Gardens would certainly be a delightful, attractive jewel for the area, like it was in its heyday.

Also interesting in the article is the suggestion by the South End Investment Group, the developers who wished to demolish this landmark, that anyone in the community who supported the landmarking of the building be somehow directly involved with buying and restoring the property.  That would be like saying when you, as an ordinary citizen, support any idea, political or otherwise, you have to be the only financial backer to see the idea come into full force.  Nothing has ever worked that way.  Supporters of landmarking are community citizens who always had the right, under law, to protect Colonial Gardens, and no further obligation befalls them.

That said, of course, the supporters of landmarking Colonial Gardens are likewise supportive of any buyer who wishes to restore the property according to landmark code.  And conversations behind the scenes are ongoing.  Nobody is giving up on Colonial Gardens.  Nobody.  Nobody will rest until the building is restored.

The Historic Preservation Officer for Louisville Metro Planning and Design Services, Richard Jett, who has managed the landmark process for Colonial Gardens, will be speaking about historic preservation in Louisville at July’s District 12 Dialogue set for Tuesday, July 21 at the Rockford Lane Baptist Church, 2006 Rockford Lane. The meeting begins at 7:00pm.

See this post at The Valley Report for more details.

We have encountered many in the community who don’t have a very good understanding of the rather complex landmark process, including aspects such as “What makes a building historic enough to preserve?”.  This presentation and potential questions asked/answered at the proceeding should do very well to assist with people’s understanding.

In the Thursday July 16 edition of the Courier-Journal, it was reported that the South End Investment Group has “applied again for permission to demolish the landmark building [Colonial Gardens]“.

We at Restore Colonial Gardens are unsurprised by this action as we have understood all along that it is the developer’s prerogative to exhaust all appeals in the landmark process.  We support due process under the rule of law.

It appears however that this latest request is being considered to be without merit by the landmark commission staff:

In a report filed July 6, city landmarks supervisor Dave Marchal recommended the committee deny the application because demolishing the building would be in “direct contrast” to landmark guidelines.

Read more »

On Tuesday, July 14, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed Historic Preservation Incentives legislation into law.

The legislation brought about changes to the Kentucky Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program, which is administered by the Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office. The key change was increasing the cap on tax credits the program offers from $3 million to $5 million a year.

We at Restore Colonial Gardens believe this presents an excellent opportunity for the ultimate re-developer of the Colonial Gardens building.

“These changes will provide more incentives to individuals, businesses and governments to invest in preservation projects,” said Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Marcheta Sparrow.  “This means jobs for craftsmen, construction workers, architects and others who work in historic preservation.”

Conversion of this fine historic landmark into something productive for Kenwood Hill and the surrounding neighborhoods is now not nearly as off-putting as it once was.

The Courier-Journal is reporting that Colonial Gardens was “designated as an Individual Local Landmark by the Louisville Metro Landmarks Commission this morning.”

Especially interesting is this development, as reported:

At today’s meeting, the commission decided to vote on landmark status before hearing the 90-day report because the county attorney’s office said it would be considered new information, which is inadmissable after the public comment period ended Aug. 19.

There had been a concern 90 days ago as to the legality of new information being accepted after the end of the public comment period, and this development is certainly welcome and reaffirms the rule of law.

The official landmarking of Colonial Gardens is fantastic news, especially since the South end has only a small offering of properties of such significant historical status.  Preserving the history of this structure is thus paramount to preserving the culture and integrity of the South end itself.

At any rate, we at Restore Colonial Gardens soberly look at this as only the beginning to restoring the historic Colonial Gardens building.  Much work lies ahead, and this blog will be used in talking about that work as the road to restoration is pursued.

The Louisville Metro Landmarks Commission will be issuing their 90-day report and likely decision on whether Colonial Gardens will be landmarked or not on Thursday, November 20 at 8:30 AM.

The meeting will take place in the Hearing Room in the Old Jail Building, 514 West Liberty Street in downtown Louisville.

Southend Investment Group’s 60 Day report to the Landmark Commission

On Thursday, October 16, 2008 the Southend Investment Group (SEIG) presented a 60 day report to the Landmark Commission as required by their agreement. SEIG has been working with one of the Landmark Commissioners, Charles Cash of Planning and Design, and Dave Marchal, during the 60 day period. The report was given in two parts, the first part by Chris Stone, the architect for SEIG, and the second part by Jeff Rawlings, the architect on behalf of Tom O’Shea.

Based on the agreement, SEIG was to investigate the feasibility of saving the defining features of the original building. Chris Stone was skeptical about the possibility of saving the façade due to the platform construction. He felt it was too unstable to remove the floor and just save the wall. Mr. Stone had no structural engineer’s report and no advice from contractors. He provided this information as his personal opinion only.

Read more »

Between 1784 and 1840 the Phillips family acquired 1,200 acres of land seven miles south of the river. The tract included two largely wooded hills and surrounding slopes. In 1864 Benoni Figg purchased most of Kenwood Hill, (then known as Cox’s Knob), from the Phillip’s family. In 1876 Benoni Figg sold 126 acres of the North Slope to his son-in-law, Charles Gheens.

(Reference: “A View from the Top, The Neighborhoods of Iroquois Park and Kenwood Hill”)

With the Panic of 1893 Mr. Figg found it necessary to sell off more land. He had his daughter and son-in-law (Katie and Richard Delph) buy some land and to give Mr. Figg a mortgage. On September 14, 1892, Fredericka Oswald bought from Benoni Figg the section of land that Colonial Gardens now occupies.

(Reference: Deed Book 399, Page 289-290, sale of land to Oswald; Deed Book 271, Page 628-629, mortgage to Delph)

Read more »

I would like to address to question of why designate the Colonial Gardens building as a landmark. I am a member of this community. I serve on the Board of Directors of the Iroquois Neighborhood Association and Civic Club. I am committed to helping make our neighborhood a better place.

In 2004 Stefanie Buzan and I began research on what would become the book A View from the Top, the Neighborhoods of Iroquois Park and Kenwood Hill. This two year process involved numerous oral history interviews with long time residents. It was so delightful to hear the stories of what the neighborhood once was like. I began to see what used to be here, how people lived and how the neighborhood developed.

Read more »