The 2004 State Preservation Awards was a celebration of our close partnership with the National Trust, and featured an elegant and exciting event.  Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, DC, was the Special Guest for the evening and helped present the awards. The ceremony took place November 4th in the newly-restored Silver Ballroom of the Read House Hotel  in Chattanooga.  The year's honorees included:

Sunnyside

Nashville, Davidson County

The major restoration and rehabilitation of this 1852 mansion represents a centerpiece for the joint efforts of Metro Council, the Mayor’s Office, and the Metropolitan Historical Commission.  Overcoming many structural problems, the restoration has been completed to the stage of occupancy as offices for the Historical Commission.  From a vacant building in the middle of a city park, the mansion has been transformed to an anchor structure in an “up and coming” neighborhood.  The building provides an opportunity for Nashville preservationists to “live their message.”  The presence of such an investment within the confines of the park is a significant message to neighborhood preservationists of Nashville.     

Preservation Achievement Awards

The French Broad River Corridor Project  

Knox County

The represents a collective effort by private citizens, foundations, regional government initiatives and local government to preserve the nature of environmentally and historically significant watershed area of the French Broad River within the confines of Knox County.  The groups include the Knox County government, Knox County Metro Planning Commission, Seven Islands Foundation, French Broad Preservation Association and landowners Earl and Cherie Cruze. The aggregation of groups coming together toward a single goal can serve as a model for future collective efforts on large scale projects that encompass sometimes overlapping and potentially competitive interests. 400 acres of land have been conserved as part of a natural area, and the Cruze’s donated a conservation easement on their historic 425 acre dairy farm. 

Andy Smith

Chattanooga, Hamilton County

Andy Smith, an architect in Chattanooga, is a founder of Landmarks Chattanooga who has been active in preservation work for over 20 years.  He was instrumental in the restoration of the Walnut Street Bridge.  The downtown preservation work has led the city to now invest over 120 million dollars in the redevelopment of the city’s historic waterfront.  Andy’s skill as a communicator and love for preservation has led him to the teaching discipline as well.  He has taught at Auburn’s School of Architecture Urban Renaissance Symposium, the Center for Architecture and Urban Studies, University of Tennessee Chattanooga College of Architecture and Girl’s Preparatory School in Chattanooga.  Having served on the Governor’s Committee for the Restoration of the Tennessee State Capitol in the 1980’s, he has been a lifelong contributor to preservation not only in Chattanooga but the State.

Friends of Moccasin Bend National Park

Chattanooga, Hamilton County

This group, established in 1995, is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Moccasin Bend on the Tennessee River near downtown Chattanooga.  The Friends Group was instrumental in keeping the issue in the fore of citizens’ and governments’ minds and their unflagging efforts paid off. This advocacy group has persevered in their efforts to gain designation of the area as a National Park, which was accomplished in 2003.  In 2004, their efforts were successful in getting the transfer of lands to the National Park Service for lasting preservation and interpretation. Rep. Zach Wamp was responsible for getting this initiative pushed through.

Restoration Awards

Don and Terry Swartz

Old Hickory, Davidson Co.

This couple has been active for the past 5 years in the restoration and preservation of the Village of Old Hickory.  The village, originally part of the Dupont complex began in 1918 when the firm located a smokeless gunpowder plant on the property and built housing for their employees in a hierarchal social structure reflecting management of the plant. Now recognized as a National Historic District as part of their efforts, the Schwartz’s have been active in the Old Hickory Neighborhood Association Board and have worked tirelessly to gain historic zoning protection for the Village from the county. Additionally the Schwartz’s have personally purchased and restored  eight of the homes in the village.

Uptown Square

Memphis, Shelby County

The first public housing complex in the city of Memphis known as Lauderdale Courts was de-densified and renovated by a public private partnership involving the Henry Turley Company, Belz Enterprises, and the Memphis Housing Authority.  As a result of the combined efforts, the significant historic buildings were retained and the landscaped mall was adaptively reused as open parking spaces.  The complex went from 443 to 347 units and a variety of new floor plans are now available ranging from studios to 3 bedrooms.  The renovation design was by Looney, Ricks , Kiss and enlivened the entire area.  Notable as part of the restoration is the preservation of Elvis’ apartment at 183 Winchester that is open to the public and is furnished with period furniture.

Historic Rugby, Inc.

Rugby, Morgan County

A sustained effort  led by Historic Rugby, Inc.and dating back over 37 years has guided the remarkable restoration of this unique historic village. Historic Rugby, Inc. has purchased and restored most of the original homes remaining in the community since it was organized. In 2003, the group purchased the last unrestored original house in the village and is currently working to rehabilitate it. Afterwards, it will be resold to new owners under a protective easement. The group also purchased a large tract of land this year containing another original house to protect it from development.  Established in the 1880’s by English social reformer Thomas Hughes, Rugby and Historic Rugby, Inc. are notable for their outstanding record of preserving and building upon the Utopian ideals that Hughes set forth when the colony was founded.    

Board Awards

Center for Historic Preservation, MTSU
This award recognizes the Center for Historic Preservation’s long-term commitment to the state’s historic resources and its outstanding track record of partnering with preservation groups around the state. The Center provides leadership for heritage issues in the state including the Heritage Development Institute, the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, the Century Farm program, and its undergraduate and graduate education programs. In 2003-04, the Center partnered with TPT by detailing a graduate assistant to the organization for nine months at 20 hours per week. This collaboration resulted in a comprehensive survey of Civil Rights sites in downtown Nashville, and a forthcoming economic impact study detailing the contributions of the state’s historic resources to the economy. 

Evergreen Place

Memphis, Shelby County

A new neighborhood in Memphis of 20 single family houses in the Evergreen Historic District  along N. Willett Street, developed by Hansom Homes, Inc and the Cowles Company with designs by Lavelle Walker. Stopping the Interstate development, left over 400 vacant lots available for infill.  By adding a dead-end street, a 20 lot area was created and by having a  single designer, the homes have a consistent mix that is consistent with the period and include bungalows and four squares.  The results of the designer and builders are a highly livable and will be desirable for many years to come