Building a Local Preservation Ethic in the Era of Urban Renewal: How Did Neighborhood Associations Shape Historic Preservation Practice in Lexington, Kentucky?

Abstract

The federal urban renewal program had wide-ranging consequences for American cities of all sizes and locations. Among the most consequential was its catalyzing effect on the historic preservation movement nationwide. While preservation practice at the dawn of the urban renewal era emphasized historic monuments, by its end in the mid-1970s, preservationists were much more concerned with neighborhoods, districts, and larger swaths of urban fabric, thus, becoming relevant to all manner of future city shaping and revitalizing efforts. While this expansion took place nationwide, the paths taken by individual cities varied considerably. Because of its large number of historic downtown residential neighborhoods, and its long involvement with historic preservation, Lexington, Kentucky, provides an ideal case study to explore this transformation, highlighting the ways in which neighborhood associations and local preservation organizations collaborated to set the stage for widespread adoption of local historic districts in the 1970s.

Inheriting and Restoring Historic Structures in Urban Renewal: A Study of "Jiangcuo and Lucuo" in Xiamen, China

“…history tourism-led urban redevelopment endeavors to preserve history, enhance the urban landscape, and stimulate the local economy via the restoration and interpretation of historical and cultural aspects [5].When undertaking urban redevelopment and adaptive reuse of ancient structures, it is crucial to address the issue of property rights [30].The uctuating availability of urban roadways in historical city centers poses issues associated with uneven growth and the need to strike a balance between plot accessibility and the preservation of the spatial framework [31].The eld of preservation has shifted its emphasis from just preserving historic monuments to now include neighborhoods, districts, and the broader urban landscape. This shift is driven by the recognition that preservation is crucial for de ning future cities and revitalizing urban areas [32].Urban management undertakes large-scale renovation initiatives to rejuvenate the physical and functional features of cities and enhance the quality of life for citizens [33].Revitalizing established communities is crucial for urban improvement and assessing the quality of the residential environment [34]. Tourism in historic and cultural places enhances cultural enrichment, facilitates the preservation, protection, and transmission of cultural resources, and disseminates historical knowledge to the general public [35].…”

Research on Factors Influencing the Style of Chinese Historic Districts Based on the Mask R-CNN Deep Learning Model

“…On the positive side, spontaneous space construction has a long history and can be traced back to the initial formation of historic and cultural districts [47]. This construction style has contributed to preserving the most authentic and local cultural atmosphere and historic imprint within these districts.…”

Rebuilding or refurbishing: Heterogeneity effects of urban renewal strategy

“…Examples include the Toronto industrial park redevelopment (de Sousa, 2002), Beijing urban village demolition (Zhang et al, 2016), and Hong Kong Tonglou renewal (Zheng et al, 2020). However, urban renewal led to the removal of many old buildings, which raises concerns about historical and cultural preservation and doubts about the necessity of renewal by demolition and rebuilding (Ahlfeldt, 2011; Noonan & Krupka, 2010; Poole & Appler, 2018). More importantly, another recent trend in urban renewal practices is transitioning from rebuilding to refurbishing by restricting rebuilding in historic districts.…”