Saturday, January 13, 2007

Saving Silvercrest? The effort is underway.

In coming weeks, you’ll be hearing much more about the future of the hilltop wonder known as Silvercrest.


For now, it’s enough to be aware that there are people in our community who are diligently working toward imaginative and adaptive strategies to preserve and protect the city’s historical heritage. Newspaper coverage comes first; see below for further links.

Sides debate historic value of Silvercrest, by Eric Scott Campbell (News and Tribune).

Local preservationists have persuaded the state to take private developers’ bids for the former Silvercrest Children’s Development Center and postpone its application for demolition.

New uses sought for Silvercrest; Former child development center could become apartments or offices, by Dick Kaukas (short shelf life for Courier-Journal links).

About 30 developers, preservationists, government representatives and others toured the buildings and grounds of the former Silvercrest Child Development Center in New Albany yesterday.

They reached no conclusions about what to do with the property but talked about a range of possible uses, including offices or apartments in the five-story main building.


For further reading:

The New Albany Historic Preservation Commission’s history of the Art Moderne and Art Deco Silvercrest Hospital: An Architectural Treasure in the Hills of New Albany.

Full Text of NAHPC Letter to County Commissioners.

Images of Silvercrest and Silvercrest: Can It Be Saved?, at the Diggin’ in the Dirt blog. Posted by Picasa

2 comments:

The New Albanian said...

Photo credit: NAHPC.

SBAvanti63 said...

It's hard to ignore the fiscal realities associated with this property, but what an absolutely awesome building! Just the few photos available clearly demonstrate the need for preservation. Am not sure who, how or for what use, but there has surely got to be someone(s) with the vision and the capital to make this treasure work. Demolition would be an incredible shame!!