Bowling Green preserving its historic buildings

Look how Bowling Green is taking advantage of a 1921 gas station to celebrate its history with the automobile... http://www.bgdailynews.com/articles/2010/05/17/news/news4.txt

SURVEY: Future of the Owensboro Armory

The Owensboro Armory on West Parrish Avenue at Moreland Park has been used for both military and community activities since its opening in 1949.

In 2002 it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, along with several other armories across Kentucky. The Owensboro Armory's Modern Movement-style architecture is a significant physical representation of the National Guard in Kentucky during the period 1934-1952. It possesses integrity of location, setting, materials, design, and is recognizable as an armory.

A new Kentucky National Guard "readiness center" (what armories are called today) is being constructed near the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport. It should open by March 2012. The city is purchasing the old Armory, and will lease it back to the state until the Guard moves to the new readiness center.

The city has not determined the future of the old Armory, once it is vacated by the Guard. Since late 2009 the city unveiled a conceptual plan that would demolish the building and replace it with a storm water detention facility to reduce neighborhood flooding and keep storm water from overwhelming the combined sanitary sewer system.

In 2008 the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs declared the old Armory and grounds surplus property in anticipation of the new readiness center project. The state began the process of disposing of the old Armory and it discontinued all but basic maintenance. A window replacement program that had previously been started was dropped before the front windows were replaced.

The building appears structurally sound and in generally good condition. Of course, it needs some updates. But, it is still a functionable structure and could house a variety of uses, if the city chose to preserve it.

Preservation Alliance of Owensboro-Daviess County would like to know your opinions about the future of the Armory. Take the survey here... http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XYRLV27.

Thank you for your interest.