The 45th Annual Preservation Awards will be held on Wednesday, May 26th at 6:00 p.m. Awards will be presented to winning properties nominated in the categories of Residential, Infill, Monuments and Memorials, and Commercial architecture. The virtual program will air on Metro Nashville Network’s online streaming channel MNN2.
Along with celebrating exceptional preservation projects, the Metropolitan Historical Commission (MHC) will present eight special awards during the ceremony. MHC will recognize the contributions of Michael Gray and Robert Mather with the Fletch Coke Award and will present Achievement Awards to Ann Eaden and Dr. Jane Landers. The MHC will present Commissioners’ Awards to The Nashville Retrospect, Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Nashville Conference on African American History and Culture and will recognize Bob Allen with the Leadership Award in History. See invitation for more details.
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MHC News
May is Preservation Month! Be sure to check our Facebook and Instagram pages for posts every weekday in May. MHC will also present a virtual historical lecture with Davidson County historian Dr. Carole Bucy on Wednesday, May 12th at 6:00 p.m. "Nascent Nashville: The Strength of What Remains" will explore preservation of both the tangible and intangible historic memory of early Nashville. The lecture will be hosted live via WebEx and played on Metro Nashville Network (Channel 3). Finally, the 45th Annual Preservation Awards will be held on Wednesday, May 26th at 6:00 p.m. We hope you will join us!
Hopewell Baptist Church (908 Monroe Street) continues forward with their rebuilding process from damage sustained during the March 2020 tornado. Staff has offered technical guidance and support to the church regarding preservation and salvage plans. Allard Ward Architects donated their services by creating the existing floor plans and elevations. MHC discussed with the church leadership about the possibility of using donated salvaged historic bricks from a contact in West TN. The church plans to complete bathroom modernization and improve ADA access in addition to repairs of its historic features.
Staff continues to attend regular meetings of the statewide coalition working on a state historic tax credit. While the Governor's amended budget did not provide for a state historic tax credit program, it did set aside a $5 million allocation for grants to historic properties. The National Trust for Historic Preservation and AIA-Tennessee are helping the coalition advocate for legislators to include the grant program in the state's overall budget which will be considered in the next few weeks.
Community discussions regarding 2nd Avenue recovery continue. On April 23rd, the Urban Land Institute made a public presentation about their recommendations for the area. View the video and information on other resources here.
MHC staff recently met with staff of the Tennessee Historical Commission to discuss new survey procedures, including an online survey application (Survey123) that we can use out in the field on tablets or phones. Staff completed “test” surveys with the THC and reviewed guidance about the new technology, which will allow for easier, paperless surveys.
Staff have been working with American Baptist College to research John Lewis' time at the college, in preparation for a grant project proposal that would install interpretive signage and preserve the dorm room in Griggs Hall where Lewis lived. The college is also working on upgrades and an addition to McClure Library which will improve ADA access and provide additional lavatories. The college was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.
Griggs Hall, American Baptist College. Credit: U.S. Civil Rights Trail.
MHZC News
At the April public hearing, the Metro Historic Zoning Commission completed a 2.5 year project and adopted a revised set of consolidated design guidelines for the majority of the neighborhood conservation zoning overlays. The project was funded by the Tennessee Historical Commission and the Metro Historical Commission Foundation in partnership with Council members and the Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University. The purpose of the project is to provide clarity to users and the Commission and to address how Nashville has changed in recent years. Each district has its own chapter to ensure that guidelines specific to that district, as well as their individual maps and histories, are retained.
The MHZC’s next public hearing will be held in person on Wednesday, May 19th at 2:00 p.m. at Sonny West Conference Center, Howard Office Building, 700 2nd Ave S.
View the MHZC meeting schedule and application deadlines here. Access archived videos of the MHZC meetings on the Metro YouTube channel anytime!
The Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU is funding a summer intern for the MHZC. Meredith Funderburk will be primarily working on an architectural study for the Cleveland Park neighborhood. Originally from Phenix City, Alabama, she is a graduate student at MTSU studying Public History with a concentration in Historic Preservation. Meredith earned her bachelor's degree in history with a minor in political science from the University of Montevallo in 2020. In her free time, she likes to crochet and listen to podcasts. Welcome, Meredith!
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Several new changes have been made to the new Nashville Conference on African American History and Culture website! A photo gallery with scenes from many of the conferences are now posted, along with conference archives for each year. The recently completed Second Edition of Profiles of African Americans in Tennessee (originally published in 1996) is also now available on the website. Profiles are linked within the Table of Contents for easy access and many virtual resources also link from the bibliography. We will continue to add content to the website, thanks to skillful technical assistance from Belmont student Aidan McKernan!
Belmont Mansion is now hiring for a part time Historic Interpreter. Responsibilities for this role include giving tours of the mansion, sharing history about the mansion, museum collection and furnishings with guests, and assisting with other daily operations. Previous museum experience is preferred, see job announcement for more details. Interested parties please direct any questions, resumes, and cover letters to mansioneducation@belmont.edu.
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A new exhibit on the Morton Family opened at Grassmere Historic Farm in early April. The exhibit tells the story of Frank Morton, his son Albert and daughter Maude, and their contributions to the success and existence of Grassmere between 1919-1973. It is housed in the cabin where Frank Morton lived, located behind the Croft House at Nashville Zoo. There will be a grand opening and dedication of the new exhibit on Juneteenth (June 19th).
Interpretive signage at Morton Family Exhibit, Grassmere Historic Farm. Credit: Nashville Zoo.
The Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) is now accepting applications for its Home Repair and Weatherization programs through a new online application portal, Neighborly.
The Home Repair Program is designed to assist property owners in the rehabilitation of substandard property to be made available for lease to tenants with incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Every unit that receives assistance through MDHA's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Rental Rehabilitation program is subject to rent controls designed to ensure that rents remain affordable to qualifying individuals and families.
MDHA’s Weatherization Assistance Program helps low-income households create a more comfortable energy-efficient home. Some weatherization items include insulation of attics, walls or floors, caulking and weather-stripping.
More information about these and other home repair programs can be found on the MDHA website.
A recent article in the Nashville Scene spotlights some of the instances of environmental racism that happened in Nashville's past, in historic neighborhoods, and which continue to affect residents of historic properties today. Some examples of environmental racism in Nashville include urban renewal efforts that destroyed the historically African American enclaves called Black Bottom and Hell's Half Acre; air quality issues at the James A. Cayce public housing in East Nashville; and the alignment of I-40 through North Nashville, which demolished 626 homes and 128 Black-owned businesses (80% of those in Nashville).
Aerial view of Cayce Homes project site, c. 1941. Credit: Metro Archives.
Now, the city is looking at ways to rectify this damage and revitalize African American communities who suffered from these historical wrongs--such as a current initiative to revitalize and reconnect Jefferson Street and North Nashville using a $72 million grant, and potentially use funding to construct an interstate cap. Urban Green Lab (UGL) and Tennessee State University have partnered to create the Nashville Environmental Justice Initiative, which focuses on issues of environmental racism and educates and empowers residents who are affected by these issues. UGL's Patrick King spoke at the 2021 Nashville Conference on African American History and Culture about NEJI's work--see his presentation here.
1957 Sanborn fire insurance map showing Jefferson Street businesses and homes that were destroyed by the construction of I-40. On file at MHC.
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