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This program is funded in part by AIA Tennessee.

Visit aiatn.org for more information.

In April 2021 the Tennessee General Assembly developed the Historic Development Grant Program and allocated $4.8 million to renovate and preserve the State’s historic buildings. The legislators recognized that historic buildings and their preservation expand the state’s economy, create new employment opportunities, revitalize and renew communities, create an environment for investment, and promote tourism and rural economic development.

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced that applications are now being accepted for the Tennessee Historic Development Grant Program. Learn more about how AIA Tennessee worked within a coalition of organizations to influence this popular incentive and plans for future advocacy efforts to pursue a state Historic Tax Credit. Learn more about the grant program at www.tn.gov.

Objectives

• The history of the federal and state historic preservation tax credit programs
• The history of advocacy and AIA leadership in promoting a tax credit program for Tennessee
• The evolution of a tax credit bill to the adoption of the state historic preservation grant program
• The specifics of qualifying and making application for the grant program and continued need for advocacy by the AIA members

Biography

Practicing architecture in middle-Tennessee for forty years, Cyril Stewart has a wide variety of experience in office, healthcare, hospitality, and historic architecture.  He specializes in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and designing facilities that fit into their community context.  His work in urban and community planning and visioning serves as a foundation to all he does. 

He is very active in Franklin and Nashville community engagement.  He serves on the Historic Zoning Commission in Nashville, is the Chair of the Historic Commission’s 2nd Avenue Rebuilding Task Force (formed to lead the way in charting the rebuilding and visioning for a better than ever 2nd Avenue district following the Christmas Day 2020 bombing), chair of the Building Healthy Places Action Council of the Urban Land Institute, immediate past president of the Civic Design Center Board, and past president of the Middle Tennessee Chapter AIA.  In Franklin he is on the Transit Management Authority Board and served on the City’s Infill Planning Group.  He is a graduate of Leadership Franklin.  He served two terms on the board of the Heritage Foundation (historic preservation non-profit), including three years as President.  Cyril was the Foundation’s Owner’s Representative for the Franklin Theatre and President and project leader for the acquisition and renovation of the Old, Old, Jail, a 1943 art deco jail now serving as the foundation’s headquarters. 

In his twenty-five years at Vanderbilt University Medical Center facilities expanded by ten million square feet.  As Director of Planning he led hundreds of projects, including a masterplan for the 21st Avenue Historic and Central Campus, project leader and master planner for the One Hundred Oaks Campus, and led community engagement initiatives.