• Most Beautiful Towns (Rand McNally Best of the Road 2011) • Most Romantic Main Street (National Trust for Historic Preservation 2010) • Distinctive Destination (National Trust for Historic Preservation 2009) • Top Ten Great Neighborhood (American Planning Association 2009) • Top 10 Places to Retire (Money Magazine 2003) • Great American Main Street Award (1995) Franklin is a thriving, vibrant community with a high quality of life for residents and corporate citizens. Today, the city contains 45 square miles and about 93,000 residents. Franklin offers 21 public parks (ten of which are historic) and has seven local historic districts. It is among the safest cities in the country and widely recognized for its outstanding quality of life and an attractive place to build a business and raise a family. The Value of Preservation INTRINSIC VALUE OF PRESERVING OUR PAST Historic Preservation is the practice of identifying, protecting, and celebrating the buildings, sites, landscapes, and cultural stories and traditions that tell the story of a community. In Franklin, preservation is a community value, woven into the fabric of everyday life, from Civil War battlefields to historic landscapes and sites, from historic downtown storefronts to century-old neighborhoods, Franklin’s rich heritage is visible, tangible, and vital to its continued success. At its most practical level, historic preservation protects resources of architectural, historical, and cultural value. It includes tools like local historic districts, landmark designations, design guidelines, and incentives that help property owners reinvest in historic structures. But preservation is also about memories, stories, and meaning. In Franklin, historic preservation creates a sense of continuity and belonging, offering opportunities to engage with the past, reflect on who we are, and shape how we move forward. Preserving Franklin’s historic character is essential to maintaining the city’s identity and community character. Historic buildings are home to businesses and cultural venues, drawing visitors, and contributing to a distinct sense of place that cannot be replicated elsewhere. Franklin’s historic neighborhoods, significant parks and open spaces, and cultural landscapes – such as the Franklin Battlefield sites – help to tell the story of Franklin’s rich heritage. In short, preservation helps Franklin remain Franklin. 10 FRANKLIN, TN | PRESERVATION PLAN
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