Knox Heritage Annual Meeting to Feature “Fantastic 15” Preservation Awards and Conversation with Mayor Haslam

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—Knox Heritage will hold its 2006 Annual Meeting and Preservation Awards Ceremony on Thursday, November 9 at the Knoxville Museum of Art. The event is free and open to the public.

This special evening begins at 5:00 p.m. with a reception followed by the Annual Meeting and Preservation Awards from 6:00 p.m. until 7:45 p.m. Everyone interested in preserving our community’s heritage and revitalizing historic neighborhoods is welcome to attend. Please call Knox Heritage at (865) 523-8008 for more information.

This year’s program features Mayor Bill Haslam moderating a lively and frank discussion on the state of preservation in our community and the challenges ahead. Audience members will hear from the experts how preservation has progressed over the last 10 years and how we can keep that momentum going while expanding its impact. Joining the discussion will be:

Ann Bennett – Metropolitan Planning Commission Preservation Planner
David Dewhirst – Owner, Dewhirst Properties
Matt Edens – MetroPulse “Urban Renewal” Columnist
Tom McAdams – Attorney, Bernstein Stair & McAdams
J. Finbarr Saunders – Knox Heritage President
John Leith-Tetrault – National Trust Community Investment Corporation

Following the discussion the “Fantastic 15” Preservation Awards will be presented to businesses and individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding contribution in the field of historic preservation. Winners will be recognized for a variety of projects and efforts including:

Preservation Through Maintenance
Residential Restoration
Commercial Restoration
Compatible Infill Construction
Corporate Leadership
Preservation Leadership
Outstanding Media Coverage

Knox Heritage also recognizes our community’s most endangered historic places each year in May. During National Preservation Month the organization releases its list of the “Fragile 15” in order to increase the public’s awareness of our most fragile historic places and initiate action to save those important places.

Knox Heritage is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the preservation of places and structures with historic or cultural significance in Knoxville and Knox County, Tennessee. Learn more at www.knoxheritage.org.