Besides becoming downtown eyesores, it also appears that the deteriorating buildings are affecting nearby business along the Main Street corridor.

From WFPL:

Tom O’Shea is the owner of several bars and restaurants in Louisville, including the new Patrick O’Shea’s on Main Street. He says barriers have recently gone up near his property to keep people away from the area known as Iron Quarter – in the 100 block of West Main. The developer there, Todd Blue, is seeking to demolish the buildings, but preservationists are trying to block the effort.

As we pointed out previously, May is National Preservation Month and coupled with the new downtown arena opening later this year, the eyes of city officials, developers and preservationists are focused on East Main Street buildings and what will happen next.

Historian/City Councilman Tom Owen is giving a free Germantown and Schnitzelburg neighborhood history talk on Friday, July 24 from 7-8 p.m. at The 930 at 930 Mary St.

Photographer Joseph De Sciose is conducting a Garden Photography workshop on Saturday, July 25 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Yew Dell Gardens, 6220 Old LaGrange Rd., Crestwood, 241-4788. $75 members, $85 non-members.

Textile artist Valerie White is teaching the fiber class, “New Surface Design Materials” (part of “Summer Sunday Series of Six”) on Sunday, July 26, 1-4 p.m. Louisville Visual Art Association. 3005 River Rd., 896-2146 ext. 100, $60 per class. Fee includes all necessary art supplies and lunch from the Cheddar Box.

Preservation Louisville has named Louisville’s “Top 10 Preservation Successes” and “Top 10 Endangered Historic Places.” Some of the successes are the U.S. Marine Hospital, Corbett’s Restaurant and the Henry Clay building. Endangered places include shotgun houses, the Park Hill district and the Iron Quarter.

The 33nd Annual Old Louisville Holiday House Tour is selling tickets in July. Regular price is $25; on July 11 & 12, the tickets are $15. Purchase at the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum in St. James Ct. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 718-2764 for more information.

Local independent filmmaker Brent Humes has made a short documentary about Historic Locust Grove. Go to www.locustgrove.org for more information.

May is National Preservation Month. We have a lot to celebrate as Louisville has over 14,200 historic structures.

Preservation Louisville is co-sponsoring a Preservation Month Event with the Louisville Historical League called “Preserving Louisville’s Past, Present & Future.” Speakers include Marianne Zickuhr, Executive Director of Preservation Louisville and Bob Griffith, President of the Board of Preservation Louisville to talk about the present and future of preservation in Louisville. Refreshments and self guided tour of The Brennan House Historic Home is included.

Sunday, May 17 at 2 p.m. at The Brennan House Historic Home, 631 S. 5th St., $6; members of Louisville Historical League and Preservation Louisville, contribution $5. For more information please call 540-5146 or e-mail Marianne Zickuhr at director@preservationlouisville.org.