(WHAS11) – The future of Whiskey Row is still uncertain but closer to becoming a historical landmark.
For the past few weeks, preservationists have been trying to find a way to prevent the 100 block of Main Street from being demolished.
And now, they may be one step closer to that goal.
On Thursday Preservation Louisville announced that all of Whiskey Row is now on their top ten most endangered places list.
It's the first step towards making Whiskey Row a historical landmark. And if that happens, these buildings cannot be torn down.
Drivers and pedestrians are told to stay at least 20 feet away and behind the chain-link fence because of falling debris from Whiskey Row.
The dilapidated buildings which once served as the headquarters for bourbon distilleries, are crumbling which is why a developer has been trying to tear them down.
But for the past few weeks, petitioners have been trying to prevent that from happening collecting more than 1,000 signatures.
And now local preservationists are also stepping in.
"Louisville's downtown has the second largest collection of cast iron storefront facades in the entire nation, second only to New York City,” Bob Griffith, Executive Director of Preservation Louisville, said. “And some of those are in the 100 block of East Main Street."
That is why Preservation Louisville made Whiskey Row number one on their "Top Ten Most Endangered Places" list a first step towards placing these Main Street buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.
If that happens, they will not be demolished.
"It buys time to slow down the demolition process and work with property owners to find the best solution for these buildings, which we hope, will result in them being preserved," Mark Dennen of Kentucky Heritage Council said.
But not all Main Street business owners are happy about that.
Bridget Pizzonia, co-owner of Prime Lounge says the buildings deter customers.
"I think it's an eyesore and something needs to be done,” Bridget Pizzonia said. “I think we need shopping, some kind of retail, something going on there."
Preservation Louisville has asked that Whiskey Row be given historic landmark status.
They expect to have a decision by June 24.
