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MHC News
At the November MHC meeting, Tennessee Historical Commission (THC) Executive Director and State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) Patrick McIntyre presented to the commission about the programs of the THC. MHC and THC have historically partnered on numerous preservation projects and initiatives in Nashville--including federal historic preservation grants, historic tax credits, and Section 106 reviews--and MHC Vice Chair Linda Wynn serves as THC's Assistant Director of State Programs. Many thanks to Mr. McIntyre for this informative presentation.
On a related note, THC's Assistant Director of State Programs and Deputy SHPO Claudette Stager retired in November after 37 years of service with the THC. MHC would like to thank Ms. Stager for her assistance and guidance on countless preservation projects in Nashville and across Tennessee. We wish Claudette all the best in this new chapter of her life!
MHC voted to approve the removal of the National Register listed property, The Hibbettage, at the November commission meeting. Listed in October 1998 for its significant Colonial Revival style architecture, the residence was noted for being a replica of President Andrew Jackson's Hermitage. It included a 1938 section, designed by architect George D. Waller, a 1948 main section, and a 1972 rear ell and garage. Sadly, the property was demolished beginning in June 2020 and is no longer extant. The Tennessee National Register State Review Board will vote on removal before final action is taken by the National Park Service.
MHC staff have been working with state historian Dr. Carroll Van West, MTSU doctoral student Jennifer Ruch, and MTSU Center for Historic Preservation Fieldwork Coordinator Savannah Grandley on a National Register of Historic Places nomination for beloved Rock Block music venue Exit/In. The MTSU team crafted the nomination and MHC staff has provided initial feedback. The nomination draft has been submitted to the Tennessee Historical Commission, where it will likely be reviewed and voted upon at the May 2022 State Review Board meeting. Learn more about efforts surrounding NRHP listing in a recent MTSU News interview with Ruch.
MHZC News
The MHZC’s next public hearing will be held in person on Wednesday, December 15th 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!
In November, Metro Council approved three pieces of legislation that will further preservation goals in Nashville: expansion of the Bowling House District; a moratorium on permits within potential overlays once the application has been filed, which will provide more protection than the current legislation; and a Historic Landmark overlay for signage. The overlay provides for a new tool that allows for the landmarking of a sign only, rather than a sign landmarked along with a building.
Elizabeth Levine has been volunteering to scan case files for the Metro Historic Zoning Commission. This has been an ongoing project for several years with the help of staff and interns. Once this project is complete, it will enable staff and the public to access previous design review case files quickly and will free up office space.
The Metropolitan Historical Commission is now accepting nominations for the 46th Annual Preservation Awards program, honoring Nashville's best preservation projects. Anyone may nominate buildings or structures that have been restored, rehabilitated, or carefully maintained over time. The awards also recognize well-designed new construction that harmonizes with a historic environment. To be considered, nominated properties must be in Davidson County and have an original construction date no later than 1972. Infill projects should be no older than 2020. All projects must have been completed within the past two years. Previous winners may be eligible if the work is significantly different.
Nominations are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 11, 2022.
The awards ceremony will take place in May 2022 in recognition of National Preservation Month. For more program details and submission instructions, please visit our Preservation Awards page!
On November 16th, Metro Council confirmed Dr. Jane Landers as our newest commissioner. Dr. Landers earned a B.A. in Hispanic American Studies and an M.A. in Inter-American Studies, both from the University of Miami. She also earned a Ph.D. in Latin American Colonial History from the University of Florida and has authored and edited multiple distinguished publications. Since 2000, Dr. Landers has served in multiple positions at Vanderbilt University, including roles as the Director of the Center for Latin American Studies, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Science, Grants Officer for the International Office, and Director for the International Initiative for the Study of Slave Societies. Landers has served as the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of History since 2011. For the last six years, she has served as a member of UNESCO’s International Scientific Committee Slave Route Project and in that capacity was instrumental in attaining Fort Negley's designation as a Site of Memory that helped deter development at the site. Welcome to the MHC, Dr. Landers!
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In mid-November, MHC and the DISTRICT held a second and final workday focused on salvage activities for remaining debris from the 2020 Christmas Day bombing. A group of volunteers from EOA Architects, Moody Nolan Design, Metro Historical Commission Foundation (MHCF), the Mathews Company, and Dave Johnston of STG Design located numerous bricks and a few architectural remnants that will aid in reconstruction efforts and/or be used in exhibits. A special thanks goes out to the Nashville Department of Transportation (formerly Metro Public Works) for their assistance in moving materials and clearing the lot, which made this work much more feasible.
Group of volunteers at Second Avenue salvage workday. Credit: MHC.
MHC Executive Director Tim Walker works to remove lime mortar from bricks. Credit: MHC.
A ceremony of reflection will be held Thursday, December 16th at 6:00 p.m. on the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. This ceremony is an opportunity for residents, business owners, employees and first responders of the December 25, 2020 Nashville explosion to come together and have an opportunity to reflect on the impact and recovery of the event. The ceremony will include an invocation, music and keynote. The community is invited and encouraged to attend. Parking available in Lot R, Nissan Stadium. Contact Valerie Craig with Tennessee Voices for Victims with any questions.
Are you involved with an historic cemetery site or group? Or, is there a particular Nashville cemetery you've researched? If so, the Association for Gravestone Studies (AGS) wants to hear about it. AGS recently issued an open call for article submissions to be included in their forthcoming quarterly publications. This is a wonderful opportunity to share the history of Nashville cemeteries, ongoing cemetery preservation programs, or to spotlight site-specific restoration and fundraising efforts to a national audience. There are no deadlines and articles will run in the order in which they are received. AGS requests pieces that are roughly 2,500 words with captioned images. Questions or draft articles may be sent to the current AGS Publications Coordinator, Andrea Carlin.
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The National Trust for Historic Preservation held its annual PastForward conference in early November. For those who were unable to attend, the Trust has posted numerous videos and conference materials that touch on topics related to themes of Latinx cultural heritage, African Americans and preservation, social and environmental justice, climate change, LGBTQ+ history and technical guidance on preservation law, National Register amendments, and window restoration. In addition to 16 videos on those topics, NTHP also released "Leading the Change Together: A National Impact Agenda for the Preservation Movement," a framework and call for broad, structural changes to the preservation movement to make it more inclusive and sustainable.
The National Trust or Historic Preservation's Telling the Full History grant program provides $25,000 and $50,000 grants for humanities-based work to interpret and preserve historic places of importance to underrepresented communities for projects including interpretive history, research and documentation, training development and implementation, and preservation planning. Applications are due December 15th.
Applications are now open for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Preservation Assistance for Smaller Institutions grants program. Funding through this program can be used to to help small organizations address preservation needs, secure professional services, purchase supplies and equipment, and numerous other institutional needs. Awards range up to $10,000 and 250th anniversary-related projects qualify for up to $15,000. Applications are due January 13th, 2022.
The Tennessee Historical Commission (THC) is now accepting applications for 2022-2023 cycle historic preservation grants. Funding for this program comes from the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service and the THC. Qualified projects include restoration of National Register-listed properties, architectural and archaeological surveys, preservation planning, and pre-development activities. Grants are reimbursed and require a 40% local match to a 60% federal share. More information on this program and application instructions can be found on the THC Preservation Grants page. Applications are due February 1st, 2022.
Former MHC commissioner Kay Louise Snyder Simmons passed away on November 12th. As a fundraiser by profession, she served as a development officer for numerous educational institutions and community agencies in Nashville. In 2003, she became the founding executive director of the Nashville Alliance for Public Education, now the Nashville Public Education Foundation. She worked in 2007 and 2008 as the Special Assistant to the Director of Metro Nashville Public Schools. From 2009 to 2012, she served on the Board of Directors of Metropolitan Nashville Board of Public Education, representing District 9. She also served on many non-profit and government boards and commissions, including Metro Greenways Commission, Metro Parks and Recreation, and on the Metro Historical Commission from 1994-1998.
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