LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Activists hoped to save a group of homes in the Merriwether neighborhood by designating them as historical.
The group filed the Old Jail Auditorium for the Historical Landmarks and Preservation Commission meeting. They were holding signs that said, “Save Lawton Court.”
Lawton Court is made up of several shotgun homes off South Preston Street.
Metal fabricator CEPEDA Associates backs up to the area and has bought several of the homes so they could be torn down and expand their business.
A spokesperson for the company said they believe the area doesn’t meet the criteria for a historic landmark because "it more closely meets the definition of a district than an individual landmark,” but neighbors disagree.
“It's the only walking court composed of shotgun homes meant for working-class families in a historically working-class neighborhood. The first homes of Lawton Court went up in 1909, 114 years ago,” one neighbor said.
Tuesday night's meeting lasted several hours and while support was strong for the motion, a spokesperson from Louisville Forward said the historical designation failed because it needed 7 votes but only got 6.
The Lawton Court group has 30 days to appeal the decision, otherwise the spokesperson said the decision stands.
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