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479 Main Street

479 Main Street

On July 7, 2022, Mountain Association purchased a three-story building at 479 Main Street in downtown Hazard, Kentucky.

We were inspired to purchase the building given the substantial downtown revitalization progress made in Hazard over the past decade.

InVision Hazard, a citizen-led revitalization group founded with Mountain Association support in 2014, has led much of Hazard’s work towards a vibrant community downtown. In 2019, these efforts led to the City of Hazard and the Perry County Fiscal Court jointly hiring a Downtown Development Coordinator who has overseen record growth in downtown businesses in recent years.

former first Federal building is shown at the intersection of lovern and main streets

We are looking forward to adding to the momentum with this redevelopment project.

The 11,000 square-foot building has anchored Main Street for decades, but has been unoccupied since First Federal Savings & Loan moved locations in 2016 after being in the building since 1960.

Built at the corner of Lovern Street and Main in 1940, it is in need of major repair, including a new roof. We plan to work with local contractors on a complete remodel of the building to develop spaces for business and residential use. Our Hazard office, currently located within the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky building at 420 Main Street, will move to the new space once complete.

@mtassociationky

Big news 🎉 Yesterday, we purchased this three-story building in downtown Hazard!We’ve been inspired by the substantial downtown revitalization progress made in Hazard over the past decade, and are excited to add to the momentum with this redevelopment project.Built at the corner of Lovern Street and Main in 1940, the building has been vacant since 2016 when First Federal Savings & Loan moved locations. It is in need of major repair, including a new roof. We plan to work with local contractors on a complete remodel to develop spaces for business and residential use. Our Hazard office will move to the new space once complete.We will share regular updates on the remodel progress here, on our website, and through community partners such as InVision Hazard and the @CityofHazard . Learn more: https://mtassociation.org/479main/ #HazardKentucky #HazardKY #EasternKentucky #606 #PerryCountyKentucky #Appalachia #downtownrevitalization #EastKentucky

♬ I Know Where I’m Going – The Judds
See more of our TikToks about the building here.

We will be sharing regular updates on building progress on this webpage, social media, and through community partners such as InVision Hazard and the City of Hazard.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact Les Roll at les@mtassociation.org.

January 6, 2025:

Roof leaks were repaired in December. Our goal is that by Spring 2025 we will finish the design and other administrative work that has to happen before construction can begin.

June 10, 2024:

We’ve spent the past several months getting organized to move forward. We are doing basic maintenance projects to ensure the building is safe and dry. We continue to discuss possibilities with Deco regarding design plans.

August 23, 2023:

More than 75 community members came out to share input at our Community Kickoff held on August 9. Check out what we learned here in this event recap.

July 20, 2023:

Announcing our Community Kickoff event! Over the next few years, we will be redeveloping the building to create spaces for business and residential use. We are now working with award-winning architecture firm Deco Architects on the design work, and are thrilled to invite you to join us to talk about this process! Come learn about our goals for the building, discuss the design process, and ongoing downtown revitalization. This event will be Wednesday, Aug. 9 from 5:30-7:30PM at 420 Main St. in Hazard, KY. Refreshments & delicious snacks provided!

Questions or accommodation needs: Les Roll (859) 302-2073 or les@mtassociation.org

June 6, 2023:

After reviewing the request for proposals from architecture firms interested in designing the building’s future, we are happy to announce we have officially selected Deco Architects, a firm based in Somerset, Kentucky, to guide the process. Deco is the group behind the City of Somerset’s recent $2 million remodel of the historic Virginia theater, as well as a number of other historic building remodels and innovative projects in Kentucky in recent years. The restoration of The Virginia theater recently won the Kentucky History Award for excellency in its preservation and envisioning. Their team recently visited Hazard to complete their initial measurements needed to make a model and begin the design process. We will soon work together to plan a community input session on what area residents would like to see in the space!

February 1, 2023:

We officially released our Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking an architect for the redevelopment. We look forward to reviewing proposals over the coming weeks and sharing more about that process.

November 1, 2022:

Work officially started this week at 479 Main! First, an environmental abatement company is addressing some issues identified with the flooring and walls. Following the abatement, a contractor will do some maintenance work to assure the building remains in good shape over the coming months of our design phase and architect selection. Additionally, Martin Signs in Hazard will be hanging signs out front very soon. Stay tuned in the new year as there will be opportunities for community members to weigh in on the uses and spaces within the building!

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History of Lovern & Main

an old picture showing horses and wagons and old building
A look at Lovern Street. The street was originally known as Fleet Street, but was renamed in 1954 after former Hazard Commissioner E. B. Lovern.

Thanks to Shane Sparkman with WSGS radio station in Hazard, we have important history and photos that document how this space located at the intersection of Main Street and Lovern Street has been used over the decades.

an old picture showing a crowd of children stand on main street
Taken in September 1917, this picture shows people gathered on Main Street to honor Perry County men drafted into the Army. This shows the Lovern Street intersection and the wooden structures that later burned down.
an old picture of main street with wooden buildings and people in hats
The wooden structure on the left was an old country store at Lovern & Main owned by D. Y. Combs. It was built in 1899.

An old photo of main street with wooden buildings, old signs and awnings. The streets are crowded and their appears to be a parade.
On March 13, 1937, the D. Y. Combs General Store (marked by the arrow) burned. It was the last wooden structure on Main Street.
An old photo showing the building built in 1940 with old cars on the street.
On March 1, 1940, the Salyer Building was dedicated at the corner of Main and Lovern Streets in Hazard for occupation by Citizens State Bank and Hazard Insurance Agency. The building was covered in white tile, unique at the time, and was named after K. N. Salyers who was one of the principal stockholders in the bank. Attorney D. G. Boleyn’s office was located on the second floor when this photo was taken.
An old photo of main street showing the new temperature and time sign installed in the 1960s
First Federal Savings and Loan moved into the building in 1960. On December 13, 1967, a huge ultra-modern “time and temperature” sign was installed on the side of the building.
A modern photo of first federal saving and loan. There is snow on the street.
The First Federal building was remodeled, which removed the original white tile, added awnings and more, in the 1980s. First Federal Savings & Loan would stay in the building until 2016 when they moved down the road to a new location.
A group of people stand in front of the former first federal building with an american flag in the background. Pictured: Les Roll (Mountain Association), Bailey Richards (City of Hazard), Betsy Whaley (Mountain Association), Jaime Coffey (First Federal Savings & Loan), Robin Gabbard (LKLP, Mountain Association Board Chair), Peter Hille (Mountain Association)
On July 7, 2022, the Mountain Association purchased the building from First Federal Savings & Loan. The building will be completely remodeled over the next several months.
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Pictured: Les Roll (Mountain Association), Bailey Richards (City of Hazard), Betsy Whaley (Mountain Association), Jaime Coffey (First Federal Savings & Loan), Robin Gabbard (LKLP, Mountain Association Board Chair), Peter Hille (Mountain Association)