By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Like humans as they age, old houses suffer from aches and pains – like peeling paint, sagging roofs, wet basements.
As Bowling Green continues to work on salvaging the older homes and businesses in the community, the visit of some “physicians” is being planned.
The State Historic Preservation Office is being asked to bring a Building Doctor Clinic to Bowling Green.
The clinics are designed to answer questions about how owners of historic properties can keep them maintained.
Each Building Doctor clinic lasts two days. The first day features a free seminar on topics like peeling paint and failing plaster, wet basements, deteriorating masonry, windows, wood issues and bringing pre-1955 buildings up to date without sacrificing historic integrity.
The second day is hands-on, with the Building Doctors touring ailing buildings within five miles of the city center to examine problems and prescribe cures. They will visit all kinds of pre-1955 buildings, including schools, churches, factories, stores, offices, farm buildings and homes.
“That will be another great program to provide our community,” Chris Mowen, chairperson of the Bowling Green Historic Preservation Commission, said during a meeting of the group earlier this week.
“It could be one building that has lots of things to check off,” or multiple sites looking at a variety of issues like masonry and windows, Mowen said.
The commission decided to check on dates in July or October when the Building Doctors could visit.
“I could take you over to my house, if you want to work on filling cracks,” said commission member Wil Roudebush, who lives in a historic home. “I need a building hospital,” he said with a smile.
More details will be made available once the program has been scheduled.
The Historic Preservation Commission also discussed the need to create easy-to-read information about how property owners and the community can benefit from historic districts being designated throughout Bowling Green.
“We’re not here to make things cumbersome,” Mowen said. “We’re just here to make sure our historic fabric is celebrated.”
For example, the commission will not tell historic home owners what paint colors are permitted.
“I don’t want someone to be scared off because they don’t have information,” Mowen said.
