The Louisville Metro Landmarks Commission has granted local landmark status to the old Colonial Gardens building in south Louisville.Some nearby residents asked for the designation after a group of developers proposed tearing down the 106 year old stucture to make way for a commercial center.Louisville Historic Preservation Officer Richard Jett says any future building development plans must be taken to the city's Architectural Review Committee."What we're trying to do is work with them to develop a strategic plan if you will that will allow the building to be preserved for current and future use of folks in our community, but also to meet their needs as investors," Jett said.A member of development team, the South End Investment Group, tells the Courier-Journal that future plans for property are unclear in light of the designation.Colonial Gardens, which has been a beer garden, restaurant and nightclub over the years, has been closed since 2003.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.