PreservationNation

Nominations are now open for the 2012 Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Awards. We’ll be highlighting a few of our favorites from last year here on the blog to give you a sense of what’s won in the past, and hope to see some of your projects here when the winners are announced at the 2012 National Preservation Conference in Spokane, Washington, on November 2!

Thompson Falls High Bridge – Thompson Falls, Montana
2011 Honor Award

Spanning 588 feet between the towns of Cherry Creek and Island Park, Montana, the 80-foot high Parker-Pratt-style Thompson Falls High Bridge has connected two remote communities on opposite shores of the Clark Fork River for nearly 70 years. The structure remained a local link until it was closed to motorized traffic in the early 1970s due to significant deterioration of the wood deck. The bridge was closed to bicycle and pedestrian access in 1979.

For the next 30 years, county leaders patiently saved Transportation Enhancement funding and secured federal, state and private grants, while rallying local support by forming a “Bridge the Gap” steering committee. The bridge was finally renovated during the winter of 2009 and 2010, and is now open once again for pedestrian and bike access between the neighboring towns.

Each year the National Trust for Historic Preservation celebrates the best of preservation by presenting the Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Awards to individuals and organizations whose contributions demonstrate excellence in historic preservation. We invite you to nominate a deserving individual, organization, agency, or project for a Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Award. The nomination deadline for all awards is March 15, 2012.

Nominations are now open for the 2012 Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Awards. We’ll be highlighting a few of our favorites from last year here on the blog to give you a sense of what’s won in the past, and hope to see some of your projects here when the winners are announced at the 2012 National Preservation Conference in Spokane, Washington, on November 2!

Rockhill Creamery – Richmond, Utah
2011 Honor Award

What is now known as Rockhill Creamery began as the Burnham Farmstead in 1895 in Utah’s rocky Cache Valley. It functioned as a family farming operation until it was sold to Pete Schropp and Jennifer Hines in 1986. The new owners saw an opportunity to open a micro-dairy and artisanal cheese operation on the premises, and over the next 20 years, rehabilitated seven of the farm’s historic structures.

Now, the egg-cooler building houses the cheese parlor, where cheeses are handmade in small batches and aged. The hay barn hosts a summer farmers market, and the 1940s granary serves as the farm stand and tasting room. The farm’s historic charm, its commitment to local, sustainable food production and its outstanding artisanal cheese have made it a community hub and a popular tourist attraction.

Each year the National Trust for Historic Preservation celebrates the best of preservation by presenting the Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Awards to individuals and organizations whose contributions demonstrate excellence in historic preservation. We invite you to nominate a deserving individual, organization, agency, or project for a Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Award. The nomination deadline for all awards is March 15, 2012.

Nominations are now open for the 2012 Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Awards. We’ll be highlighting a few of our favorites from last year here on the blog to give you a sense of what’s won in the past, and hope to see some of your projects here when the winners are announced at the 2012 National Preservation Conference in Spokane, Washington, on November 2!

Minvilla Manor – Knoxville, Tennessee
2011 National Trust/HUD Award

In the early 20th century, Fifth and Broadway was just a streetcar ride away from the bustling heart of Knoxville’s commercial center, and the 13 Minvilla townhomes were the height of sophisticated living for the city’s growing middle class. By the 1960s, however, the townhomes had been converted into the Fifth Avenue Motel, a magnet for crime.

In 2006, just four years after the building was condemned by the City of Knoxville, a private social services agency purchased the old Minvilla development and made it the flagship project of the city’s pioneering Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. Using a complex mix of public and private funds, the agency enlisted the help of local craftspeople to meticulously repair and reconstruct the building’s historic features. The notorious motel was reborn as Minvilla Manor: 57 studio and one-bedroom units of permanent supportive housing for the formerly homeless - all of which meet ENERGY STAR standards. The restoration is part of a larger revitalization in the area, and it has set an example for new commercial and residential development in the surrounding area.

Each year the National Trust for Historic Preservation celebrates the best of preservation by presenting the Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Awards to individuals and organizations whose contributions demonstrate excellence in historic preservation. We invite you to nominate a deserving individual, organization, agency, or project for a Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Award. The nomination deadline for all awards is March 15, 2012.