Fall 2012 | Preservation Matters | Fall 2012 | 3
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e Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation 253 Market Street Lexington, Kentucky 40507 Plans are well-underway for the BGT’s 2013 Antiques & Garden show at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena! The 2013 show dates are March 8, 9, 10, with the Gala Preview Party on ursday, March 7. We are pleased to announce our three keynote luncheon speakers will be world-renowned garden designer and Kentucky native Jon Carloftis, Interior Design Hall of Fame designer Laura Bohn, and food experts Christopher Hirsheimer and Melissa Hamilton of Canal House Cook books. We will again feature a great array of daily complimentary lecturers, a new batch of vintage cars on the Arena floor, outstanding antique and garden booths, delectable food at our Gala and Luncheon lectures, and so much more! The BGT’s 2012 Antiques and Garden Show co-chairs Foster and Brenda Pettit did such an exemplary job, we asked and they have agreed to serve in the same capacity again this year. We look forward to seeing you again in March 2013 for the best BGT Antiques and Garden show ever! For sponsorship or ticket information, please call the Trust at 859.253.0362 Jon Carloftis, 2013 Antiques and Garden Show Keynote Speaker BGT-newsletter-9-27-2-print-Q3:Layout 1 10/2/12 11:26 AM Page 3 Message from our President: The Blue Grass Trust Heritage Society Greetings from Market Street Have you ever visited communities that have Olmstead (Senior and Junior) designed the no planning or zoning laws or regulations? neighborhood. But, they know it is a special e Heritage Society is a special You might find three nice residences sand- place and want to retain its unique character- group of individuals who made a entucky has traditionally been a fierce wiched between a service station and a fast- istics for decades and generations to come. commitment to the future of the BGT 2012 - 2013 proponent and protector of private food restaurant. ere may be no curbs, gutters It can hardly be argued that the establishment Blue Grass Trust for Historic property rights. There is absolutely or streetlights and each piece of commercial of other historic districts in Lexington has been Preservation by naming the Trust Board of Directors Knothing wrong with this tradition. People work property might have multiple ingress and anything other than a resounding success. Cur- as a beneficiary in their wills or Linda Carroll, President hard to acquire property and they have every egress points, further congesting an already rent citizens and visitors alike marvel at these whose estates include gifts, revocable Tom Meng, Vice President right to expect that their use of their prop- congested and haphazard traffic flow. Adver- 14 little pockets of history and architectural or irrevocable, to the Trust. All too Jessica Case, Secretary erty will not be adversely affected by unrea- tising signs of every shape and size clutter the integrity (1,851 structures). Almost without often such gifts go unrecognized sonable rules or regulations. landscape. Without question, each individual exception, the property values within these his- Randall Miloszewski, CPA, Treasurer because they come at the end of the property owner is doing just as they want to toric districts have increased or at least main- donors’ lives. The Heritage Soci- John Darnell “Unreasonable” is the key word here. e idea do with their property but the overall effect is tained while the overall market for real property ety was created to honor these in- Andrea Gottler that one has an absolute and unfettered right to negative and “injurious to the community.” has declined. dividuals for their generosity and Marcia Gray own and use his/her property without any re- support. eir patronage enables the John Hackworth strictions has never been the law of this land. is leads me to a discussion of the current ef- But, it does not mean that these neighborhoods Trust to continue its mission of fort by the South Ashland Neighborhood As- remain completely unchanging or stagnant. Joseph Hillenmeyer education, service and advocacy. As the United States Supreme Court sociation to expand the H-1 overlay. In initial There are great examples within almost every Please consider including the BGT Barbara Hinkle announced in a 1908 opinion: meetings of resi- historic district in your estate planning and join the Hart James Linda Carroll, dents of this of creative and growing number of those whose Bill Johnston We think it a settled principle, growing out beautiful neigh- distinctive new legacies benefit the Trust. For of the nature of well-ordered civil society, Blue Grass Trust Board President borhood, it ap- Mike Meuser buildings and more information please call us at that every holder of property, however ab- pears that a additions to ex- (859)253-0362. Andrew Moore solute and unqualified may be his title, holds it legitimacy of zoning laws that would prevent majority of the isting buildings Tom Moore under the implied liability that use of it may be a coal burning power generation plant from residents support which have Dr. and Mrs. Gayle V. Alexander Pamela Perlman so regulated that it shall not be injurious…to being plopped down in the middle of the the inclusion of been woven into Ms. Jane Hamilton Blachly Maureen Peters the community. Ashland Park neighborhood? What about al- more property in the existing his- lowing a homeowner to raise hogs in his/her the South Ash- toric fabric. It Mrs. Hazel Bush Fran Taylor But, as Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said, backyard on Lansdowne Drive? And, should land H-1 district. might surprise Ms. Rose Jewell Collier Phillip Tibbs, MD “e general rule is that while property may be property owners be allowed to park their Understandably, people to know Mr. and Mrs. Richard DeCamp Barbara Tilghman regulated to a certain extent, if regulation goes boats or trailers in their front yards? some owners of that Lexing- Dr. and Mrs. Elvis Donaldson, Jr. too far it will be property in this ton’s historic Mr. and Mrs. Joseph G. Floyd Advisory Board recognized as a My only point is neighborhood are preservation of- Mr. and Mrs. John Hackworth taking.” And, if My only point is that we all live that we all live concerned about fice and the Barbara Hulette, Chair Ms. Liz Harper a restriction on with the burdens but enjoy the with the burdens the restrictions Board of Ar- Mrs. Gail Hendrickson Hart Clyde Carpenter property use but enjoy the ben- that will be chitectural Re- Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hulette Richard DeCamp constitutes a benefits of appropriate zoning efits of appropri- placed on their view discourage Ms. Norma Jean Gibson taking, then the ate zoning laws property. In the the construc- Ann Garden laws that reasonably regulate the Mr. Charles Jones Gay Darsie Glenn Fifth Amend- that reasonably last edition of Preservation Matters, we an- tion of copycat or “faux historic” buildings or ment to the use of our properties. I believe regulate the use swered twenty questions about the H-1 process additions within historic districts. Mr. and Mrs. William Johnston John Hackworth Constitution re- that the zoning laws and regula- of our properties. and what it means to own property in an H-1 Mrs. Zee Faulkner Kurfees Nancy Iliff quires that the I believe that the overlay. e gist of the H-1 overlay regulations I hope that the residents of Ashland Park are Mr. Jim McKeighen Susan Jackson Keig property owner tions in Lexington have struck a zoning laws and is to impose reasonable restrictions on the alter- given a fair hearing before each and every gov- Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Milward Zee Faulkner Kurfees be compensated. reasonable balance and have regulations in ations that can be made to the exterior of the ernmental body that must review and approve Mr. Tom Moore Gloria Martin Lexington have properties in order to maintain and preserve the of their application for historic district status. I Dr. and Mrs. William N. Offutt IV So to those of made Lexington a wonderfully liv- struck a reason- historic integrity of the entire district. understand that there are naysayers who simply Mr. and Mrs. H. Foster Pettit Mike Meuser, Esq. the “Don’t tread able community. able balance and do not think that it is appropriate to impose Mr. Gay Reading Joyce Ockerman on me” persua- have made Lex- People have acquired homes in the Ashland restrictions on property owners who are not Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Rowland Foster Pettit sion or the “It’s ington a wonder- Park neighborhood because they find these in favor of those restrictions. However, as I Mr. Jeff Ritzler my property and I’ll do what I want” philoso- fully livable community. I believe zoning, homes and the entire neighborhood to possess have tried to explain in this editorial, everyone Sharon Reed Mr. David Stuart phy, I say “right on” but understand that there planning and good governance lead to culture, some universal but unique quality that has lives with certain restrictions and those that are Daniel Rowland Prof. and Mrs. John R. Thelin should and must be limits to that philosophy. society and civilization, as evidenced long ago been preserved since its creation in the early imposed on properties within other Lexing- James Thomas when Lexington was defined as the Athens of 1900’s. They may not be aware that the fa- ton historic districts have proven to be fair, rea- Ms. Joyce Vanlandingham Vivian Weil For instance, does anybody really question the the West. mous landscape architects, Frederick Law sonable and successful.