A project sponsored by the City and by DFI involves a field survey and building inventory of historic properties within downtown Frankfort and the preparation of an updated National Register of Historic Places historic district nomination for the area. The National Register component will include the combining of the Old Statehouse Historic District, the Corner in Celebrities district, the Frankfort Commercial district, and the South Frankfort neighborhood district into a single new overlay National Register district. These earlier historic districts were listed in the National Register as early as 1971.

Historic preservation can play a role in community and neighborhood development and in the downtown revitalization process. National Register designation imposes no control of private property rights but does make available significant state and federal financial incentives to assist those interested in rehabilitating properties within the district. The presentation will illustrate the various ways in which the preservation and rehabilitation of downtown Frankfort’s historic architecture can contribute directly to an improved overall quality of life. Historic preservation is often a major component in the economic and tourism development strategy for a community or region.

Te consulting firm of Taylor & Taylor Associates has been engaged by Downtown Frankfort, Inc. to undertake the project, which was funded by a Certified Local Government grant from the Kentucky Heritage Council.