LexRides

jkizzle · cutter Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 519 Location: I.L.L.

or even worse, a frank gehry building...

seicer · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:03 am Post subject:

I'd rather get that than some crap from Webb.
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jkizzle · cutter Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 519 Location: I.L.L.

id put them on the same level.

Christopher · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:34 am Post subject: Interesting article

...on Ball Homes style "communities" as slums of the new century in the Atlantic Monthly. Check it out.
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catamount · townie Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 163 Location: lex

There have been lots of opinions expressed here over the months since the initial post. Things are in motion with more building sales, closing of businesses on the block, etc. We all seem to of bracing for what the webb brothers do with the block. We all have vested interests because we care about downtown and the simple fact that several of the spots we all frequent are there.

So what I want to know is if there is any type of dialogue with the webb brothers currently happening? Is anyone trying to communicate with these guys - UK School of Architecture, Preserve Lexington, individual citizens? If it is going to happen it sure would be nice to see something other than the hideous 5th Third Bank building.

Maybe some open dialogue - not bashing would be productive. Maybe they don't care but maybe just maybe they would be open to fresh new ideas. It seems that it would be better to attempt this now than to later comment on some proposal they put before the city that they have vested lots of time and money into developing.
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alice · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:45 pm Post subject: I love B!

Don't worry. B and I worked out an evil plan over tequila shots this weekend. I have his number in my phone and am on standby to handcuff myself to the black dog statue at Busters. I'm thinking he will take the wine box, but the pony is still available.

Alice

jkizzle · cutter Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 519 Location: I.L.L.

well, the school of architecture cant really do much, the webb brothers want nothing to do with us, because we all love busters and the dame too.

im willing to bet they want nothing more than a recommendation of who to hire from us, but i will bring it up at the next student council meeting, which should be next week i think.

in other news, does anybody know what the bar is that is opening up on manchester street in a month or two? i know we are hosting beaux arts at it, but thats all i know...

DHB · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:10 am Post subject:

Wait, isn't beaux arts at the Old Tarr distillery again? So they're turning it into a bar?

jkizzle · cutter Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 519 Location: I.L.L.

well, we thought it was going to be there, then we thought it was going to be down at the pepper distillery a few blocks down (barry owns that too) and then when the fire marshall said no or something like that, this club or bar or something surfaced...

hopefully it is a big venue, as this should be by far the biggest ball yet...

seicer · Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:37 am Post subject:

Proposed Manchester Development (Old Tarr)

BTW, the meeting for the 40-story tower is March 4. Not for sure on the time yet.
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brokebike · cutter Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 2434 Location: local

there's some good discussion going on in that thread seicer posted a link to.

Including this link to a story from last weekend's H-L about why another proposed hotel (most importantly, a possible 40 story hotel tower) for Lexington is a bad idea...

the numbers just don't hold up
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jkizzle · cutter Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 519 Location: I.L.L.

from what i heard, it would be about 40 floors, but the majority would be converted to office and condo use after the fei games.

charlenemingus · hipster Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 50

"Preserve Lexington is committed to preserving downtown Lexington's historic fabric, voicing the interests of diverse groups and cultures, and promoting quality infill and design."

LATEST NEWS
01 March 2008

News and Thoughts Concerning the Proposed Webb Development

A couple of days ago Preserve Lexington met with representatives of the historic preservation, arts, entertainment and design communities to discuss the latest related to the proposed Webb development of what has become known publicly, and I think affectionately, as the Dame block.
While we have been thinking about and planning our response to this development for many months, this was the first time we had met with representatives of other groups with an interest in this issue.
Very soon you will be hearing more about our organizing efforts, as we reach out to the broader community for support and action.
But in the meantime, I just wanted to share a few news items, and a few thoughts as we begin a campaign to preserve one of the most important areas of our city.
We have heard many rumors of a pending public presentation from the developers. While the following may not be the initial public presentation, it is worth noting that Harold Tate of the Downtown Development Authority will be speaking about "Downtown Development" before the City Council Work Session on Tuesday, March 4 at 3:00 p.m.
We do not know if "Downtown Development" is code for a presentation of the proposed Webb development, but it will certainly be worthwhile to pay attention to this meeting.
You may hear from the developers or their representatives that the existing buildings on the block are not historically significant, and therefore not worth preserving. So I thought it would be helpful to pass on this bit of news.
The Kentucky Heritage Council, the State Historic Preservation Office, pursuant to Section 101 (16 USC 470a) of the National Historic Preservation Act, has determined the following properties eligible for the National Register of Historic Places:

119 S. Limestone
152 W. Main
156-160 W. Main
162-164 W. Main
126-128 S. Upper
116-118 S. Upper
120 S. Upper
109 S. Lime
111 S. Lime
137 W. Vine
The building at 100-104 W. Main (aka The Rite Aid Building) is potentially eligible if the metal slip-cover were removed and enough historic fabric remained.
The significance of this is two-fold. First, the state's preservation professionals and architectural historians have deemed these buildings historically significant. Second, these buildings are eligible for state and federal historic preservation tax credits, credits that greatly offset the cost to rehabilitate and reuse these buildings.
Many of you may have seen the recent editorial in the Kentucky Kernel concerning the Webb proposal. If not I encourage you to seek out a copy, either in print or at www.kykernel.com.
Joe Sonka has developed a site on facebook.com called Save Downtown Lexington. More than 700 people have joined this site because of their interest in the future of the Dame block. You may want to visit Joe's site and see what people are saying.
A closing thought. When you discuss this issue with friends, family, media representatives and public officials, remember these important points:
1) This a win-win situation. A great, contemporary infill project can co-exist with and complement the historic buildings and the pioneering entertainment district that already exist on this block. These things are not mutually exclusive. We can have our cake and eat it too.
2) The buildings are historically significant. (see above)
3) Right now we have a blossoming entertainment district in the heart of downtown. Is it perfect? no. Could it be better? sure. But it is REAL. To move this district outside of the downtown core is to defeat the purpose. To attempt to relocate it downtown is to risk the demise of these pioneering enterprises. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

4) This is not a done deal. Legal guidelines are in place that encourage contemporary infill, so long as that infill respects the existing architectural and historic context of this block. And these same LFUCG-authored guidelines place significant legal hurdles before any attempt to demolish the existing historic buildings.

5) A development that respects the historic, cultural and economic context of this block will be welcomed by all of Lexington. But, if the developers fail to incorporate into their plans the preservation of this historic block and its much-loved entertainment district, there will be a protracted and very public debate over the future of this city. A debate of this nature may have unforeseen consequences for downtown revitalization efforts, and may tarnish the city's image as the World Equestrian Games approach.
Stay tuned for more.
Hayward Wilkirson
Board Member, Preserve Lexington

brokebike · cutter Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 2434 Location: local

Does anyone know if there are plans for people to show up en masse at the meeting on Tuesday? "Show of support for downtown" type of stuff?

In situations where there are meetings on issues like this, those chambers get crowded as hell with opponents, supporters and the like... it would be awesome to see people absolutely flood the whole first two floors of the council chambers...
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charlenemingus · hipster Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 50

I'll be there... and Anna B prob too.