The start of the Partnerships and Policies phase of preservation was driven by the same bold vision and executed by both private and public organizations. In 2000, a community visioning organization, Franklin Tomorrow, was founded. In an effort to create a 20-year Visioning Plan focusing on the growth and development of the City of Franklin, Franklin Tomorrow led public discussions on the City’s future. Chief among the outcome of those discussions was the fact that preservation of the City’s historic assets and open spaces was recognized by the community as a top goal for the City’s future. The efforts by Franklin Tomorrow marked the first time that historic preservation was acknowledged by the general public as important to the overall fabric of Franklin. The ethic of preservation no longer was being pushed by a small group of passionate citizens. Its importance was now supported by a large portion of the general public. The importance of preservation became part of a local political movement. Prior to 2003, historic preservation had a minor role in City politics. Up until that time, voters in the city had elected only a few officeholders who openly advocated for historic preservation. In 2002, when discussions were being held about where to locate the County’s new Library, preservationists (who opposed the proposed Library location) were told by Jim Lighthizer, then President of the Civil War Trust, that if they wanted to be effective about preservation, they needed to get involved in politics and elect preservation-minded officeholders. That message resonated with preservationists, and they set out to change the political landscape. As a result, in 2003, for the first time in Franklin’s history, voters elected a Mayor and a majority of members of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen who publicly advocated for historic preservation. From that time forward, historic preservation has been at the forefront of values touted by those seeking to hold office within the City. The recognition by the local community that the preservation of Franklin’s historic assets, stories, and places is central to the well-being of the City has been central to the preservation story in Franklin. This change can be seen in a variety of local governmental initiatives taken over the past 25 years, as well as in the remarkable number of partnerships and the depths of citizen advocates. Many of Franklin’s preservation successes in the 21st century would not have been possible- or would have been more difficult- without the alignment and joint participation of the public and private sectors in a fashion that was unique to Franklin. The capacity that had been built among private nonprofit preservation organizations, preservationminded citizens, and pro-preservation City leadership all coalesced to bring resources and policies together. The result of Franklin’s unique public-private coalitions resulted in significant changes in Franklin’s preservation history. The results can best be seen in three distinct areas: (1) enhanced government tools and policies favored by local voters and brought into existence by government directives, (2) the national success story surrounding Franklin’s Civil War preservation initiatives, and (3) a growing preservation movement broadening preservation assets and initiatives such as African American history, historic parks and open spaces, historic cemeteries, cultural heritage, and human stories. It is difficult to summarize all of the work that has taken place so far during the Phase 2 of the preservation movement. Of course, all of these efforts overlap, but by discussing them separately, the enormous change that took place in the past 25 years is more easily understood. Phase 3: Partnerships and Policies: 2000–2025 80 FRANKLIN, TN | PRESERVATION PLAN
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