1 2 3 Preserving neighborhoods amid development pressures Telling Franklin’s Full Civil War Story Preserving a Historic Franklin for All Franklin’s housing costs are high and long-time residents and younger families feel priced out. At the same time, smaller older homes, typically among the more attainable options, are increasingly targeted for demolition and large infill development, accelerating price increases and altering neighborhood character. Without stronger protections and a more proactive housing strategy, Franklin risks losing both historic and social fabric. Franklin’s Civil War story reaches back to the pre-Civil War period through Reconstruction, the New South period, and the Civil Rights Movement. In telling Franklin’s Civil War history, interpretation should reflect an inclusive narrative that encompasses the full depth of Franklin’s past. This includes presenting and interpreting the home front experience and the stories of women, African Americans, and everyday families during the War. Questions of equity, affordability, and gentrification emerged repeatedly. The city’s early preservation efforts focused on the downtown commercial core, but many African American, workingclass, and immigrant neighborhoods like Natchez Street and Liberty Pike are increasingly vulnerable, as are now-historic mid-20th century neighborhoods. A holistic approach to preservation must protect not just historic architecture, but the people, cultures, and stories that have shaped Franklin’s identity across generations. Engagement Themes 174 FRANKLIN, TN | PRESERVATION PLAN
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