The city of Guthrie is a small rural community in southern Kentucky that once played a significant role in the expansion of the country's transportation network in the early 1900's through the construction of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad line. After a period of economic decline, the city has recently been the focus of renewal efforts to revive its downtown core. As the first development to be completed within a broader vision plan for the city, the project addresses several overlapping community interests: To structurally stabilize, preserve & rehabilitate two historic brick storefront structures that were in an advanced state of decay and partial collapse To create a facility to welcome visitors and share the story of Guthrie's role in the early development of the country's railroad industry To provide a multi-use venue as a place for the community to gather With a modest budget funded solely through neighborhood block development grants and federal transportation stimulus funds, the design process was guided by a collaborative team comprised of the entire community, the Kentucky Heritage Council, and state & federal agencies.