Anchorage · 40223
Home remodeling in Anchorage, KY
Victorian country houses, estate homes and 1970s–90s customs on large wooded lots, remodeled with the care Anchorage's historic district and tree rules demand.
- Type
- Home-rule cityIncorporated 1878
- Homes
- About 850Population about 2,500
- ZIP code
- 40223About 15 miles east of downtown
- Review
- Zoning, historic, treesCity approvals before Metro permits
Keystone in Anchorage
A historic town under the trees
Anchorage is unlike anywhere else in Jefferson County: a small railroad town of country houses and estates, planned with the help of the Olmsted firm, under a canopy of old trees. Most of the city is a National Register historic district, and the city protects its character with its own zoning code, a Historic Preservation Commission and some of the strictest tree rules in the region.
Remodeling here rewards a contractor who plans ahead. Additions, garages and visible exterior changes need city approval and, in the historic district, a Certificate of Appropriateness. Every construction project needs a tree preservation plan. Keystone prepares those submittals alongside the design, so approvals don't hold up your schedule.
Know the place
Hobbs' Station, a riverboat captain and an Olmsted plan
The Louisville & Frankfort Railroad reached the area in 1849, and the stop was first known as Hobbs' Station, after surveyor Edward D. Hobbs. The town took its name from "The Anchorage," the home of riverboat captain James W. Goslee; his anchor still sits in a locomotive wheel in the center of town.
Anchorage incorporated in 1878 and became a retreat of summer houses and estates, reached after 1901 by the interurban. Distiller Isaac W. Bernheim championed a 1914 plan by the Olmsted firm, which gave the town its stone bridges and triangular intersections. Large estates were gradually subdivided, and the number of houses nearly doubled between 1977 and 1997.
Three generations of houses
Anchorage's housing spans late-Victorian and Gothic Revival country houses, early-1900s revival-style homes, and 1970s–1990s custom homes built on subdivided estates. Lots are large and wooded, commonly from under an acre to several acres.
The Anchorage Historic District was listed on the National Register in 1982 and expanded in 1992 to cover most of the town, and Anchorage is a Certified Local Government with its own preservation commission.
The houses
Anchorage homes and what they need
From 19th-century country houses to late-20th-century customs.
Victorian & early-1900s homes
Period kitchens and baths rebuilt inside historic houses, with old systems replaced and exterior changes designed for historic review.
1970s–90s custom homes
Formal layouts, dated kitchens and baths, and unfinished lower levels on generous lots. Prime candidates for whole-home updates and walkout basements.
Large-lot additions
Primary suites, family rooms and garages placed to protect trees and satisfy zoning and preservation review.
Our services
Remodeling services in Anchorage
Everything we do, planned around Anchorage's review process and wooded lots.
Kitchen Remodeling in Anchorage
Period-sensitive kitchens in historic homes and updates to 1980s customs.
Kitchen details
Bathroom Remodeling in Anchorage
Spa primary baths in historic and newer custom homes.
Bathroom details
Basement Finishing in Anchorage
Walkout lower levels on wooded, sloping lots.
Basement details
Home Additions in Anchorage
Additions designed for the Historic Preservation Commission and tree plan.
Home details
Whole-Home Remodeling in Anchorage
Historic and 1970s–90s homes renovated under city review.
Whole-Home details
Garages & Conversions in Anchorage
Carriage houses and garages approved under city zoning and historic review.
Garages detailsPermits & approvals
The most thorough review in our area
Anchorage approves construction under its own Land Development (Zoning) Code before Louisville Metro issues building permits.
Rules change. We confirm the current requirements for your address before design is finished. How permitting works in Louisville →
City zoning approval
New construction, additions and accessory structures must meet Anchorage's zoning code and be approved by the city. The Zoning Officer also reviews driveways, fences, sheds, sidewalks and decks.
Certificate of Appropriateness
In the historic district, additions, visible alterations, new homes and demolitions need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission.
Tree preservation plan
Every construction project needs a construction and tree preservation plan, and removing any tree 3 inches or more in diameter requires a permit and replacement.
Other site permits
Deep trenches, hardscapes and retaining walls need permits, and some properties also have HOA or deed-restriction approvals.
Louisville Metro building permits
Once city approvals are in place, building, electrical and mechanical permits come from Louisville Metro; plumbing from the state.
The 1900 Anchorage Railway Depot on Park Road, Anchorage, Kentucky. Photo: Nyttend, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Around Anchorage
Evergreen Road and the anchor
We work throughout the city, from the homes along Evergreen Road near City Hall, the gazebo and the anchor monument to the streets near Anchorage Public School, the Anchorage Trail and the churches that have anchored the town for generations. E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park sits just to the south, and I-265 makes the trip from Crescent Hill straightforward.
On wooded lots, we fence tree root zones before work begins, route trucks and equipment away from them, and plan foundations and utilities to avoid damage.
5.0 from 17 Google reviews
★★★★★
“The addition looks like it was always part of the house. Neighbors ask when we built it.”Home addition, Anchorage Sample text Read our Google reviews
Questions
Remodeling in Anchorage: questions
Do I need city approval to remodel in Anchorage?
For additions, accessory structures, new construction and visible exterior changes, yes. Anchorage reviews them under its own zoning code before Louisville Metro issues building permits. Interior-only remodels generally go straight to Metro permits.
Is my home in the Anchorage historic district?
The district covers most of the city. If your home is in it, additions and visible exterior alterations need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission. We check and prepare the application.
Can I remove trees for an addition?
Removing any tree 3 inches or more in diameter requires a city permit and replacement, and every project needs a tree preservation plan. We design to keep significant trees wherever possible.
Can you build a carriage house or detached garage?
Yes, subject to city zoning and, in the historic district, preservation review. We design it to suit the main house and the town's character.
How far is Anchorage from your office?
Our office is in Crescent Hill; Anchorage is a straightforward drive out Shelbyville Road or I-265.