5/1/14 - Garden District Neighborhood Foundation Meeting - Tonight at the Jewish Temple

Our Post-War Suburbs Historic District is part of the area served by the Garden District Neighborhood Foundation (GDNF).  It was a productive meeting last night, attended by over 50 people.

(Select image for newsletter and agenda)

More info about the GDNF on Facebook. 

Historic House Fair on White Street

On a beautiful Spring morning, the Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission sponsored the Historic House Fair in the 1900 block of White Street in the National Register Garden District.  Booths along the street provided information about old homes, preservation, antique wood, historic Bolton High School, several non-profits, researching your old home, open houses, tax credits, and other topics. Hundreds of neighbors attended and enjoyed the festive occasion accompanied by jazz and period music and guided trolley tours of the historic Garden District.

View videos of a trolley tour guided by Jackson Sleet, member of the Historical Association of Central Louisiana:

• Part 1 (14:02)
• Part 2 (14:05)
• Part 3 (4:39)

and a quick tour along the block (1:04).

 

Visit AHPC on Facebook for many photos.

Preservation Resources

The National Park Service provides some excellent and detailed resources for preserving, rehabilitating, and restoring historic buildings.


Preservation Briefs provides nearly 50 publications on topics such as roofing, windows, siding, architectural character, painting, exterior additions, and many more.




Preservation Tech Notes provide practical information on traditional practices and innovative techniques for successfully maintaining and preserving cultural resources.  There are numerous case studies on categories such as doors, windows, masonry, finishes, and more. 

Preservation continues in Alexandria

Bolton Avenue in Alexandria is being renewed by the city as part of the Special Planned Activities Redevelopment Corridors (SPARC) initiative as highlighted in a recent newspaper article.  Tomorrow, Friday 8/16, at 10 a.m. the city is holding a press conference in front of the Bolton Avenue Community Center.  Be there if you can.

Also, visit the Pill Box Pharmacy at the corner of Park Avenue and Bolton Avenue.  It is in the former Greyhound Terminal which was originally the Park Avenue Branch of the Guaranty Bank.  The building has been restored and was listed in January on the National Register of Historic Places.

 You may read a copy of the nomination to the National Register here.  This building is described as being highly influenced by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Celebration Photos and News

We celebrated in style with a great block party!  So many people from within the district and from the community enjoyed the morning.  We had great tours of the district on the A-Town trolley led by Paul Smith, preservation consultant; approximately 150 people had the opportunity to enjoy the guided tour, seeing the historic houses and learning of the architectural elements of the houses.   Self-guided walking tours were also available.  

Taking It 2 the Street provided outstanding entertainment by highly talented local artists

Young entrepreneurs provided lemonade and popcorn

Photos of the event - album
Article from The Town Talk - .pdf
Mayor Roy kicking off the celebration - video
Michelle Willis - Taking It to the Streets - video
Ashleigh Klein - Taking it to the Streets - video
Mackenzie Lynn - Taking it to the Streets - video

We thank the City of Alexandria, the Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission, Taking It 2 the Street and the talented performers, and all who helped make this celebration an event to remember!  We thank the residents of the historic district for preserving these very special homes.  We thank all who attended the event. 

The Celebration is History

What a special day it was as we celebrated the historic district.  If you were there, you  were a part of history.  Neighbors throughout the district came together, and we were joined by friends throughout the community and other parts of CENLA.  Thanks to all for being a part of it!  And special thanks to Megan Lord and the Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission for making it happen!

Watch for photos and videos of the celebration.

Post-War Suburbs Celebration presented by the Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission

The celebration will recognize the listing of the Alexandria Post-War Suburbs Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. Residents of the district and the Alexandria community will be celebrating Louisiana’s first mid-century modern National Register historic district.  Be a part of it!

When:            Saturday, 7/13, 10 a.m. to noon
Where:          In the district gathering on Kimball Ave. near the corner of Madonna Dr.
Activities: 

• Welcome Remarks – The Honorable Jacques Roy, Mayor of the City of Alexandria
• Guided tours on the trolley bus departing about every 30 minutes (approx. 25 passengers). The route starts on Kimball near Madonna, then west on Madonna, south on Pierson, west on Elliott, north on Maryland, east on Pershing, and south on Kimball.
• Walking tours available – Self-guided throughout the district; brochures will be available or you may download.  For detailed descriptions of the houses on the tour, view or download here.   Use caution on streets.  Homes are not open; please do not go on properties.
• Entertainment – Taking It 2 the Street will host a ‘block party’ 
• News coverage - TV, radio, and newspaper

Coming to the celebration from outside the district?  To avoid congestion, consider parking outside the district as there will be trolley tours and self-guided walking tours within the district.  If driving into the district, consider turning from Texas Ave. on to Stimson Ave.


We expect to have traffic blocked (except to residents) in these areas:

• on Kimball from the corner of Pershing to around the corner of Madonna and Pierson
• on Elliott from Pierson to Maryland

View TV coverage from KALB-TV from July 5.

A-Town trolley

Banners in the District

 Today the city completed hanging ten banners around the district.  A few were hung on Friday, and it was pleasing to hear so many people comment about how nice they look and how meaningful it is to have this district listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Thanks to the Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission and the City of Alexandria for supporting the district in so many ways including these fine banners!

Stand by for an announcement in coming days about an upcoming celebration.

Compliments to those who made it happen!

Now that the Alexandria Post-War Suburbs Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, I want to thank and compliment some of those who made it happen.   The Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission (AHPC) has been so important leading the effort to prepare and promote the nomination.  I’ve had the opportunity to work with Megan Lord, Director of the AHPC; Joe Betty Sterkx, Chair of the AHPC, and Paul Smith who has provided historic preservation consulting to the AHPC.

Megan’s leadership has been so important throughout the process.  Through her and the fine members of the commission, what were several neighborhoods have now been recognized and brought together as this historic district.  The model that the commission followed to make this happen will be beneficial in the future to other historic areas in Alexandria.

Joe Betty’s energy and enthusiasm for preservation along with her humor and congeniality have benefitted residents as we were informed through community meetings during the nomination process.  As a result of Joe Betty’s urging participation from the neighborhood, Robert “Bubba” Jones along with my wife Judy and I volunteered to help in communicating between the AHPC and the residents of the neighborhood.

Paul’s expertise and belief in preservation have been quite beneficial as he has informed us about the important architectural elements that are so prevalent and unique to so many homes in the district.  The information he has shared about preservation tax credits creates awareness for homeowners of the benefits and opportunities to preserve our legacy.

The nomination for listing on the National Register was prepared for the AHPC by Donna and Jonathan Fricker.  They walked the neighborhood, analyzed records, and prepared the successful proposal.  We had the opportunity to hear Donna present to the State Review Board in Baton Rouge in March, resulting in unanimous approval.

It has been a great team resulting in a great achievement for this great city!
                                                                                      - Dave Curry

The Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places!

Today the Director of the National Park Service announced for the National Register of Historic Places that the Alexandria Post-War Suburbs Historic District was listed on June 6, 2013.  Read the announcement.

More information is available about the listing on National Register of Historic Places website. 

Let's celebrate Louisiana's first mid-century modern historic district!
(Mark the tentative date of July 13 on your calendar.  More to come.)

Photo credit:  Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission