Historic Preservation Plan, City of Middlesborough, Kentucky, 2014-2018

Oehlerking, Marie

From introduction: "Middlesborough is the economic and cultural anchor of southeast Kentucky. With a colorful history, central location with Tennessee and Virginia just over the border, diverse businesses, and many recreational opportunities most notably with the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, the city attracts residents from three states and tourists from throughout the nation. Middlesborough maintains much of its historic fabric. From commercial buildings to private residences, a large number of Middlesborough's historic structures are still intact and being used today.These historic buildings and sites are tangible reflections of the community's rich history, but they are also important assets for the community's future. Historic buildings visually differentiate Middlesborough from other communities, giving the city a distinctive identity. In most cases, they are easily adaptable to new uses. They are located in walkable districts and enhance the walkability of those districts by creating visual interest and a sense of enclosure on the street. Reuse of historic buildings yields sustainability benefits by diverting waste from land fills and providing a more environmentally friendly development option than new construction. For all these reasons and others, historic buildings are important economic development tools for Middlesborough's future. Unfortunately, Middlesborough's historic buildings are often overlooked and underappreciated as the valuable resource that they are. There is a direct correlation between commercial sprawl and downtown blight. Since the early 1980s, Middlesborough has seen increased commercial development along US-25E. Although this has been beneficial to the community from a tax basis and by providing services and amenities, downtown Middlesborough has taken a hard hit. When commercial activity takes places outside of downtown, there is less demand for downtown buildings. This in turn lowers the rent and diminishes the funds that owners of historic downtown building owners have to maintain and rehabilitate their buildings.This challenge along with several others has inhibited preservation in Middlesborough. This preservation plan is intended to help unlock the intrinsic economic value of historic buildings, and to create civic and social benefits through their restoration. Historic preservation, in final analysis, has the power to connect our past and present with a bright future we desire and want for our community." Funding for this project was provided in part through a fiscal year 2014 Historic Preservation Fund grant to the City of Middlesborough (project number KY-14-107) administered by the Kentucky State Historic Preservation Office (grant number P14AF00195) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Middlesborough, Kentucky is a Certified Local Government.

Historic Preservation Plan, City of Middlesborough, Kentucky, 2014-2018

Collections