Historic Nashville, Inc (HNI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit that has been keeping Nashville unique since 1975. An all volunteer organization, our mission is to preserve the historic buildings that represent Nashville’s amazing past and make our city one of a kind. Our efforts to achieve this mission are threefold.
Preservation Easement Program
In 1982, HNI founded the first preservation easement program in the state of TN. With an easement, the owner of a historic property grants the rights to their property’s facade to Historic Nashville, Inc (by donation). Once attached to a property, the easement becomes part of the property’s chain of title and usually “runs with the land” in perpetuity, thus binding not only the owner who grants the easement but all future owners as well. We currently own 17 preservation easements on properties across the city and manage the buildings’ protection from demolition in perpetuity.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRESERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM
Revolving Fund
One of newest efforts in our fight to keep Nashville unique, Historic Nashville Inc. established the Preservation Revolving Fund in November of 2014. The revolving fund exists with the goal of saving endangered historic properties through purchasing them (or having them donated) and re-marketing them with easements attached.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE REVOLVING FUND
Advocacy and Education
Throughout the year, HNI’s volunteer board, and its members, are active in staying on top of developments that impact Nashville’s historic neighborhoods and properties. We have successfully spread the word and organized the community to speak on behalf of our city’s voiceless properties. In addition, HNI’s annual Nashville Nine program gives area residents an opportunity to nominate properties that they care most about saving. Once the Nashville Nine are selected, HNI spends the following year focusing their advocacy and education efforts on these properties.
