City Approves Seeking Local Landmark Status For Former Armory
The Harrodsburg Herald/Robert Moore
The City of Harrodsburg took the first step towards designating the Harrodsburg Armory—currently the home of the Harrodsburg Community Center—as a local historic landmark.
Robert Moore
Herald Staff
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The City of Harrodsburg took the first step towards designating the Harrodsburg Armory—currently the home of the Harrodsburg Community Center—as a local historic landmark. Officials hope the designation will protect the historic structure, which is one of eight armories built by the Works Progress Administration from 1941 to 1942, according to the Kentucky Heritage Council website. At the same meeting, City Attorney Norrie Currens also announced the city has finished a draft lease, which Currens said she is sending to the Harrodsburg Community Center.
At their regular meeting on Monday, July 8, the commissioners heard from Joni House, coordinator for the Harrodsburg Architectural Preservation Commission, which is requesting to start the process of designating the armory, the home of Company D of the I92nd Tank Battalion, the Harrodsburg Tankers, as a historical landmark. Horn said the building—because of its connection to the Tankers and for its architecture—is already a national landmark. Unfortunately, House said the national designation has no teeth as far as preserving the building. She said the armory is eligible for landmark status.
“It is one of the few buildings in Mercer County that still has those Art Deco and Art Moderne features intact,” House said. The armory belongs to the city, which needs to grant permission before the process could move forward.
“It doesn’t freeze the building in time,” she said. “It protects that building from being torn down.” She said the spaces inside lend themselves to rehabilitation.
In addition to protecting the building, the designation could possibly attract investment. It could also attract tourists, who, she said, “want to see things that are uniquely American.”
If it was named a landmark, the building could still be sold or leased. The owner would also be able to make additions and alterations as long as they were appropriate, which House said applies only to the exterior.
“We are making a recommendation to you, the city commission, that the building is elegible for landmark status,” House said. With the city’s approval, the architectural preservation commission could hold a public hearing. After the hearing, the city could send the application to the Harrodsburg-Mercer County Planning and Zoning Commission to apply a historic overlay. Then it would be brought back to the commission for them to designate the armory a landmark through an ordinance.
Once the armory is designated as a landmark, it would become eligible for tax credits of 30 percent from the state actualized over five years, and 40 percent from the federal government tax once the project is completed. House said the tax credits could be sold to investors. In addition, House said there are several grants, including a brick and mortar grant of more than $700,000, that could become available if the armory is designated as a landmark.
Anything connected to the Harrodsburg Tankers is fraught with emotion. They were sent to the Philippines in 1941 and fought against the Japanese Army until ordered to surrender on April 9, 1942. The men who surrendered were forced to march as part of the “Bataan Death March.” Of the 66 Tankers, 29 perished overseas. Lee Gentry, whose father and uncle were members of the Harrodsburg Tankers, recalled his uncle weighing just over 100 pounds after being freed from captivity.
Gentry encouraged the commissioners to pursue landmark status for the armory.
“It is the only remaining remnant of the Tankers,” Gentry said.
Commissioner Kerry Anness said he had an uncle who did not make it back. Aneess asked about social media posts, including one that he insisted said, “Do not let Harrodsburg officials destroy another landmark.”
“None of that is true,” Anness said. “We haven’t destroyed another landmark.”
Currently, only South Main Street has historic protection. House said this would be the first expansion. City Attorney Norrie Currens said she drafted a one year lease and was in the process of sending it to the Harrodsburg Community Center.
“The community center is a great thing, but it’s not a revenue-producing thing,” Currens said.
“If we could alleviate some of the financial worries,” Currens said. “That would go a long way towards a lot of things that could be down with the building.”
Mayor Bob Williams said it sounded like a good zone for investors looking for tax credits.
“We just celebrated 250 years. It wouldn’t be a good idea to turn around and start tearing down buildings,” Williams said.
“What’s it going to cost us?” asked Commissioner Marvin “Bubby” Isham.
“Nothing,” House said.
“We’ve got to pay somebody,” Isham said.
“You pay me,” House said.
Isham asked how long it would take.
“It will take four or five months,” House said.
Mayor Williams moved to recommend starting the process to designate the armory a historic landmark. Commissioner Charlie Mattingly seconded. The motion passed unanimously, but that was not the end of the discussion.
Jack Mattingly, a Vietnam veteran and a leading advocate for veterans, said he backs the effort to have the armory designated as a landmark 100 percent.
Mattingly approached the city commission last year about armory possibly serving as the future home of the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame. He again asked about using the building as a museum and as possibly a place for returning veterans to receive counseling and assistance with applying for benefits.
“We owe our veterans for what they have given us,” Mattingly said. He said he’s received phone calls and questions about the community center being closed. Mattingly also said the building is not ADA compliant, and it was the city’s responsibility to enforce that.
“You’re not enforcing the law,” Mattingly said.
“The reason it’s not open today is because we have not signed the contract with them,” Isham said. “We’re not breaking the law.”
Using funds available from the Veterans Administration, Mattingly said he could install an elevator at no cost to the city. He said the building would be generating revenue within two years.
“We have someone presently in there,” said Commissioner Missy Banks. “I don’t know how we take something from somebody who already has it.”
Mayor Williams said he had been given the impression that the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame had not endorsed Mattingly’s plan.
“As a veteran, I’m very strongly tied to that building,” Williams said. “I think every veteran here feels that way.”
“What is your outcome goal?” Williams asked.
“I’m trying to save the building. Period.” Mattingly said. He said Harrodsburg was forgetting the Tankers and their sacrifice. “Harrodsburg is not veteran friendly.”
“I disagree with you there,” said Commissioner Charlie Mattingly.
Jack Mattingly also said he is filing an official complaint about violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The Harrodsburg Community Center is looking for partnerships. They’ve begun offering yoga with instructor Sherman Fracher on Mondays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. They are hosting free preview dance classes by Precision Dance. Precision Dance on Saturday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to noon.
“That’s a big building,” Currens said. “Is there a way we can come up with a way to make it beneficial to our veteran population and to our kids?”
“I’m not against a community center,” Mattingly said.
“I think we need to have a sit down,” Williams said.
“They need to be able to intermingle and not be so territorial,” Williams said. “We’ve got to learn to work together to get anything accomplished.”
“Throughout the US,” Mattingly said.
“We’ll start right here,” Williams said.
Reached for comment Tuesday, Trevor Short, executive director of the Harrodsburg Community Center, said he loved the idea of the armory being named a historic landmark. Short said he had not received the draft lease yet.
“We’re just kind of waiting,” Short said.
