We were honored to be invited to present a session on “New Landscapes: Youth and Communities” at the Appalachian Regional Commission Fall Conference in Florence, Alabama in 2014. Case studies were provided of successful community development efforts in Middlesboro, Kentucky, and Decatur, Alabama. Presenters: Isaac Kremer with Crystal Brown, Director of Business Development, Decatur-Morgan County … Read more
So you want to transform your downtown but only have a shoestring budget. Or your volunteers are willing to help out but the last thing they want to do is sit through endless meetings to make ANOTHER plan that will never translate in to results. What is any self-respecting Main Street manager, public official, or … Read more
When our electrical contractor told us that the fixtures in the hall were not salvageable because of their old wiring, that left us heartbroken. One of our reasons for purchasing the house to begin with were the beautiful historic lamps. After a bit of research on the Internet we discovered that rewiring lamps could be … Read more
Deed research provides one of the most valuable insights in to the history of a house. Understanding that, we undertook this research shortly after buying the house. Once the names of the previous owners of the house are known, it is possible to conduct additional research. Knowing the owners and the approximate time the property … Read more
The South Loop Trail System is 40 miles of trail through city, county, state and private land connecting parks, neighborhoods, schools and natural areas. It is a part of Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness – 1,000 acres of parks, trails, forests and historic sites. The South Loop is the 12.5 mile main route that returns back to … Read more
One of our greatest discoveries yet was finding this tiger wood mantel. All that it required was about twenty hours over a week or two removing the paint. Then we covered the wood with three coats of polyurethane. The results are remarkable. For the fireplace portion we removed the 1950s insert that had been … Read more
The reforming tactic is on display here, with signage visible along the sidewalk edge, likely where a building once was before. This also creates a gateway and a sense of arrival. Distinctive buildings like this one give a good presence to the street. With some creativity and financing the potential for adaptive reuse is strong. … Read more
The Westside Provisions District provided a fun walkable area with several businesses to enjoy. Jeni’s Ice Creams was one of our favorite ice cream shops by far. The unique flavors like Bangkok Peanut made it well worth the wait. Efforts at place branding were reflected in attractive circular brass plaques, and also in the sandwich … Read more
Providence provided a nice opportunity for a return visit in June 2014 after I completed my training with the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Historic Real Estate Finance. The location of the state capitol, I was pleased to have an opportunity to visit and be given a behind-the-scenes tour. Waterplace Park was built by … Read more
