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  • Pictured from left are State Rep. Ed Clere, R-New Albany, New Albany City Councilman Greg Phipps, Facelift Awards panelist Vicky Nugent, Greg Sekula of Indiana Landmarks and New Albany Community Housing Initiatives Director Carl Malysz after it was announced the Cardinal Ritter Birthplace Foundation had been chosen as a Facelift Award winner. Clere, Malysz and Sekula are members of the foundation. Staff photo by Daniel Suddeath

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May 19, 2012

Facelift Awards recognize historic restoration projects in New Albany

Once-popular awards have seen a resurgence after dormant years

By DANIEL SUDDEATH daniel.suddeath@newsandtribune.com

NEW ALBANY — Five Facelift Awards were recently handed out to New Albany residents, business owners and organizations for their work in restoring the charm to historic buildings and homes in the city.

The Facelift Awards are a product of the New Albany Historic Preservation Commission, and were quite popular in the 1960s until they were discontinued about 40 years ago.

This year’s winners are: Christopher McCarty, Julie Janes, the Cardinal Ritter Birthplace Foundation, Paul Collings and Larry and Ann Ricke.

The Rickes were acknowledged for the refurbishment of their home, historically known as the Conner-Terstegge-Marquet House at 917 E. Elm St.

“Thank you for being a huge part of the Midtown renaissance,” Floyd County Historian David Barksdale, who was one of the panelists that choose the award winners, said to the couple during a ceremony Wednesday.

He credited them for the attention to historic detail in refurbishing the home, as well as the other aesthetically appealing additions to the yard and house that were completed.

“The astounding structure was transformed into one of the most elegant residences in the city,” Barksdale said.

Paul Collings was awarded for his efforts to redevelop a once dilapidated house at 1102 E. Oak St. into an apartment building. Collings invested in the building due in part to the progress made in improving the S. Ellen Jones neighborhood by the city.

Collings is director of business development for JonPaul Inc., and the company remodeled and rebuilt seven homes in the SEJ area, including another Facelift Award-winning structure, the Cardinal Ritter Birthplace.

The Cardinal Ritter Birthplace Foundation garnered an award for overseeing the redevelopment of what is considered one of the anchor buildings in the S. Ellen Jones neighborhood.

The building, at 1218 E. Oak St., was improved along with several other houses in the Midtown area through a $6.7 million federal grant. The foundation deserves credit for pushing for the building’s refurbishment and for “rescuing this very important piece of New Albany history,” Barksdale said.

Julie James received a Facelift Award for the upgrades made to her Silver Hills’ house at 1310 Ridgeway Avenue.

Vicky Nugent, former commission member and a Facelift Award selection panelist, said James maintained the historic integrity of the house though she wasn’t required to because she doesn’t live in a preservation district.

“It was a true labor of love,” Nugent said.

Christopher McCarty was recognized with a Facelift Award for the restoration work he oversaw at the Parthenon building located at 203 E. Main St. He purchased the building in 2008, and has since made several improvements to it, including repairs to the columns, roof and skylight.

This is the fifth consecutive year the Facelift Awards have been given out, and winners receive a plaque to display on their property.

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