From the purchase of commercial properties for battlefield reclamation, to the restoration of Hayes House and Harlinsdale through public-private partnerships, the purchase of and restoration of the Merrill-Williams House and the McLemore House to provide community resources, and continued investments by countless individuals in the community who continue to seek to preserve the resources that create and contribute to the character of Franklin. WHAT’S NEXT IN THE PRESERVATION STORY OF FRANKLIN? Franklin faces new challenges. Some of these challenges are already present while others are sure to emerge in the years ahead. Some of the challenges are specific to Franklin; others are commonly faced by communities across the country but require a response unique to Franklin. Having saved so much of the city’s character and having invested so much effort and money over generations, this new preservation plan presents an opportunity not only to think about the future but to earnestly question whether the tools and systems that brought Franklin to this point are the right tools and systems to tackle the issues ahead. The preservation challenges ahead are as numerous as the preservation challenges of the past, but some of them have a very different characteristics. For example, in the 1980s the national Main Street program began to shift the preservation movement away from stately homes and toward the preservation of vernacular architecture; in the 1990s, the preservation of African American history began to shift the way we tell stories of our past. Franklin’s new preservation challenges will cause shifts in perspective and approach, too. Future planning should be grounded in the foundational principles that have led to Franklin’s preservation success, which include these key themes: 1. Cultural Change Drives Policy Success: Franklin’s transformation from a city that regarded preservation as a nuisance to a city that embraces preservation began as an incremental movement that grew to become a civic identity. It was the result of persistent advocacy, visible success stories, and deliberate efforts to engage the public in valuing historic places. Future initiatives must continue to nurture this cultural foundation. 2. Partnership is Franklin’s Competitive Advantage: The reciprocal partnerships among the City, nonprofits, individuals and civic leaders, and state agencies are not incidental — they are the backbone of Franklin’s preservation infrastructure. This ethic must remain central as new challenges arise, from development pressures to climate resilience. 3. Investment in Preservation is Investment in Quality of Life: The financial investments in preservation – $70 million just since 2003 – is more than an investment in structures and landscapes. It continues to drive expanded tourism revenue, job creation, enhanced property values, and a strengthened sense of place. Future planning must continue to position preservation as both a cultural and economic imperative. 4. Inclusive Storytelling is Essential: Efforts to interpret and contextualize the people, events, and historic structures of the past – Franklin’s entire story – have redefined what preservation means in Franklin. These initiatives must continue and expand to ensure the preservation of intangible cultural heritage alongside physical resources. 5. Planning Must Anticipate New Threats and Opportunities: Franklin’s successes, especially over the last 25 years, are characterized by broad, systematic, and proactive thinking about how the city’s past will be carried forward in the future. As development accelerates and new technologies emerge, the next phase of preservation must integrate sustainability, adaptive reuse innovation, and digital interpretation tools to remain relevant and effective. 97
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