continued from old thread

I'm pretty satisfied with this. Too bad about the African American Heritage museum, but they said it will be completed anyway, just take longer, but I am really excited about the Lincoln memorial!!


Budget pays for arena, bridges, Lincoln memorial


Louisville would get an unexpected bonus -- $2 million for a statue of Abraham Lincoln and memorial site, probably on the waterfront.

But the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage in Louisville gets none of the $7.26 million it sought in the Kentucky state budget, disappointing backers of the partly completed project.



A pair of Ohio River bridges would be fully funded at about $185 million. Louisville's proposed arena would get $75 million.

And Louisville's Home of the Innocents would get $8.25 million to expand the overflowing facility for abused, neglected and medically fragile children.

They are among the projects and items contained in a compromise budget plan, announced about 5 a.m. yesterday after a final, all-night negotiating session by lawmakers. The full budget document was not immediately available yesterday.

It was unclear how many capital projects were funded. Senate President David Williams said that was being tabulated.

The General Assembly is scheduled to return to Frankfort on April 10 to vote on the budget, rather than today, as lawmakers had planned Thursday. That gives them no guaranteed time to override any vetoes by Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who by law has 10 days to veto budget items. The 2006 session, by law, must end April 15.

House Speaker Jody Richards said the legislature would likely stay in session for two or three days after convening April 10 to vote on other pending bills.

A spokesman for Richards, D-Bowling Green, said possible vetoes are a concern without time to override them. "But I think the general feeling is the governor is not going to want to come across as petty by vetoing a bunch of projects in Democratic districts," John McGary said.

Williams, R-Burkesville, said he's not worried about possible vetoes.

"This governor is not a vindictive sort of person," Williams said.

Fletcher praised the budget, especially for education initiatives. "From what I've seen in the budget, I'm actually very pleased," he said.

But he said he would keep options open for possible line-item vetoes in the budget bill.

'We're disappointed'
The budget plan spelled elation or despair for supporters of various items.

Without state funding, the African American center will still get built with federal funds but it will take longer, said Daniel Hall, chairman of the foundation overseeing the center.

But, he added, "We're disappointed."

Gordon Brown, executive director of Home of the Innocents, said the allocation was "great news" for the facility that serves children statewide.

Carter County science teacher Lynn Bates was pleased about teacher salary increases but most excited about extra money for school computers.

"I have one computer in my room, and it's right at 9 years old right now, and I can't run half the technology I want to run," she said.

Gas tax
To pay for road improvements, the plan includes a permanent 1.1 cent a gallon increase in the state gasoline tax that occurred last year.

That concerned John Cox, 57, of La Grange, who was filling up his gas tank in Louisville yesterday as gas prices continue to rise.

"It's like adding more misery to the people," Cox said.

But James Gore, 59, of Louisville, said he doesn't object if the state uses the money to repair roads he said are riddled with cracks and potholes.

Higher education
James R. Ramsey, University of Louisville president, said he was pleased by the $69.7 million in bonds for a new health sciences research building.

The budget includes $25.6 million in bonds for a health building at Jefferson Community and Technical College.

Lisa Brosky, a college spokeswoman, said the new downtown building will allow the school to consolidate its 12 nursing and allied health programs into one location, add labs, equipment and office space, expand the number of students in the programs, and offer more basic science courses.

"This will make a big difference to the services we can provide," Brosky said.

Schools
The budget sets aside $50 million for new computer workstations in public schools.

It includes a 2 percent raise for teachers in 2006-07, and a $3,500 increase in 2007-08. That helps pay for two added school days.

Bates, the Carter County teacher, said the extra time would help.

"I feel crunched every year to get in everything I need to get in," she said.

Lawmakers funded the highly skilled educator program, which assigns veteran educators to struggling schools to act as consultants, as well as a grant program that provides those schools with money to pay for additional staff and supplies.

All-day kindergarten funding, favored by the House, didn't make the final agreement. The state pays for half-day programs. More money was included for preschool funding, but it was not clear how much.

Lincoln memorial
Funds for the Lincoln memorial -- to be completed by 2009, the national bicentennial celebration of Lincoln's birth -- delighted some Louisville officials.

"I think it would be a very exciting component of Waterfront Park," said David Karem, president of the Waterfront Development Corp.

And lawmakers also seemed especially pleased about the memorial to the nation's 16th president, a Kentucky native known for freeing the slaves and steering the country through the Civil War.

Senate Majority Leader Dan Kelly, R-Springfield, said the monument would provide an overview of all Lincoln historical sites in Kentucky.

He said the Louisville site is important because Lincoln once wrote that he first thought about ending slavery while watching slaves work on the Ohio River docks.

"That will probably be the centerpiece of our preparation for the celebration of Lincoln's bicentennial and promoting our Lincoln heritage here in Kentucky," said Kelly, co-chairman of the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

Reporters Tom Loftus and Sheldon Shafer contributed to this story.

I'm looking foward to seeing the new Lincoln Monument, Louisville could use more monuments. With the exception of the African American Heritage Museum, the budget turned out very well, I was actually quite surprised with all that was accomplished for Jefferson County.

uofl is getting all this money but still raises tuition?...i guess somebody had to pay for the politicians trip to the NIT.

i dont think any of them took the offer, but yeah thats a bunch of bull

guess they have to pay for thier robotic library someway...

should the 75 million for Museum plaza be on here, or will that be later?

That is too bad for that African American Museum.. I was looking forward to that opening...But good news for almost everything else.. The Metro came out pretty good if you ask me!

I had been wondering what happened to this thing. I hope it gets going soon. I'm quite worried its gonna fall apart.

Council moves to authorize sale of land for downtown condos
First Fleur-de-lis units will be available by mid-2007


After extensive delays, the partners planning the $25 million, 82-condominium project called Fleur-de-lis across from Louisville Slugger Field are proceeding with the development.

The Louisville Metro Council introduced a measure Thursday declaring as surplus the 1.1-acre site on the southwest corner of Main and Preston streets and authorizing its sale to the developers for $662,850.



The city acquired the land in the mid-1990s in the deal that led to the ballpark's construction. The site long was occupied by the Brinly-Hardy Co., a lawn-equipment company that moved to Southern Indiana.

Metro Council member David Tandy, whose district covers most of downtown, said he expected the council will approve the surplus declaration, probably next month.

Tandy, D-4th, said the project "is another step toward making our urban core attractive to people looking to live downtown."

The partners in Fleur-de-lis are architect Henry Potter, whose firm designed the five-story project, and businessmen Dale Boden, Phil Scherer and David Bowen.

Potter said the first units should ready for occupancy by the middle of next year. The partners already have received nearly 50 inquiries from potential buyers, including young professionals, empty-nesters and "people just wanting to live downtown," he said.

The units will have 1,000 to 2,100 square feet of space and sell for $220,000 to $580,000. Interiors will be built to suit buyers, with hardwood floors, marble countertops, bay windows overlooking the street and patios. Underground parking will have 158 spaces.

About 20,000 square feet of first-level commercial space is planned, half of which probably will go to a restaurant, Potter said. He said the 18-month delay primarily was caused by the rising cost of materials and "trying to keep the project within our budget."

http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=B2&Date=20060328&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=603280363&Ref=AR&Profile=1008&MaxW=500&title=1

http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=B2&Date=20060328&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=603280363&Ref=V2&Profile=1008&MaxW=500&title=1

man thats been an ugly spot to look at for the last few months.

Museum Plaza will not be receiving 75 million dollars in the same way that the arena is getting 75 million.

The 75 million dollar figure for Museum Plaza is the value of the land that the developers want the city to donate, plus the city rebuilding 7th Street, the moving of the flood wall, the addition of sidewalks, plus a public promenade connected to the riverfront.

All of these improvements will be bonded by the city or the improvements will be added to the cities budget...the state will have nothing to do with public money for Museum Plaza.

$55 million reconstruction of expo center's East Wing begins


Work is beginning on a $55 million project that will see the complete demolition of the East Wing at the Kentucky Exposition Center and its replacement with a more modern, state-of-the-art exhibit facility.

The massive reconstruction effort will transform 215,000 square feet of outdated trade show space in the East Wing and a portion of the center's East Hall into what will be considered Class A space. Class A exhibit space has high ceilings, bright lighting, utility floor ports and relatively few support columns.

Both the East Wing and East Hall are part of the original Kentucky Exposition Center complex, which was constructed in 1956.

"We're going to take the East Wing down entirely, all the way down to the dirt," said Harold Workman, president and CEO of the Kentucky State Fair Board, the entity that oversees the center. "Everything will be gone."

New 35,000-square-foot lobby, pedway part of project
When it is completed in October 2007, the new structure, which is likely to be renamed, will have just eight columns compared with the current 96, improved lighting and higher, 27-foot ceilings. It also will have large reception areas and connect directly to Freedom Hall's concourses.

In addition, plans call for the construction of a "major pre-function lobby" on the site of what is now the exposition center's outdoor east courtyard and fountain, Workman said. The 35,000-square-foot structure will be "a signature piece" for the center and the "focal point" of its major trade show space.

The current East Hall lobby and five meeting rooms will be incorporated into the new pre-function lobby. The lobby will be connected by a pedway to a small building that will be constructed near the horsewalk behind Freedom Hall.

Workman said that will allow exposition center patrons parking in Lot E, north of the East Wing, easier access to events in the exhibit space or in the arena.

"It will be much more user-friendly," he explained.

Renovation work follows $52 million expansion
The reconstruction project is actually phase II of the Kentucky Exposition Center's master plan, which was updated in 1995 and called for the expansion and renovation of the complex.

Phase I, a $52 million initiative, saw the construction of the recently opened South Wing C, which added 166,500 square feet of Class A exhibit space and nearly 70,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. Money for the project's first phase was included in the budget approved during the 2003 session of the Kentucky General Assembly.

Phase II was funded through a bond issue approved during the 2005 legislative session. Of the $55 million, $50 million is coming from the state and $5 million from the state fair board, Workman said.

Once renovations are complete, the potential annual economic impact generated by the exposition center is expected to increase to $600 million a year from $400 million a year, according to fair board officials.

"It will allow us to compete with anybody across the country," Workman said. "It will allow us to bring in some higher-end trade shows and conventions. They're looking for that Class A space, which is what we didn't have."

Space will be more 'flexible' for heavy equipment
The new facility also will enable shows that already come to Louisville but require more space for things such as machinery, heavy equipment or trucks to expand, according to Jim Wood, president and CEO of the Greater Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

"The space will be much more flexible to use for them," he said.

Wood called the existing East Wing space "dated" and not up to the standards required by most meeting and convention planners.

"It's difficult to sell it the way it is today ... to some of the newer planners who are out there," he said. "With the renovations, they're all going to love it."

Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson lobbied for funding for the exposition center upgrades in front of the General Assembly. He called the renovation project "imperative" and key to the city keeping a "competitive edge" when it comes to attracting trade show business.

"To be able to stay competitive, you have to have modern facilities," Abramson said. "That wing needs to be refurbished. We've got to make that A space."

Hotel final part of master plan
As a result of the planned reconstruction, several upcoming shows and Kentucky State Fair activities will be reorganized and moved to new exhibit space in the exposition center's South Wing.

"It will be a little bit of a squeeze play," Workman said. But he added that the reshuffling will provide an opportunity to show off the new South Wing space to visitors and exhibitors.

When work is completed on the East Wing and East Hall, fair board officials will turn their attention to the final piece of their master plan -- the construction of a 500-plus room convention hotel at Gate 1.

Workman said that he expects work to begin on that project in January 2008 and be completed in spring 2009.

Fletcher forms BRAC task force

Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher has formed a state-level Base Realignment and Closure task force to help communities around Fort Knox prepare for an influx of thousands of military and civilian employees later this year.

Last year, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission decided to move an Army infantry unit and key Army human resources departments to Fort Knox.

Fort Knox and its surrounding communities will gain about 5,000 military and civilian employees and their families.

The economic impact is estimated at $250 million in additional salaries and about $500 million over the next three to five years in new construction, according to a news release.

The task force will consist of members from Fletcher's cabinet and community leaders from in and around Fort Knox. Fletcher has appointed Kentucky Rep. Ron Lewis (R-Cecilia) as the task force chairman.

Humana moves up Fortune 500 list

Humana Inc. again was ranked as the largest publicly held company in Kentucky, according to Fortune magazine's list of the 500 largest public companies in the United States.

The Fortune 500, which was released online this week at www.fortune.com, ranked Louisville-based Humana (NYSE: HUM) at No. 150, based on the company's revenue of $14.4 billion in 2005. Last year, the company was ranked No. 162, with $13.1 billion in revenue in 2004.

Covington, Ky.-based Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) was second-largest in the state at No. 239 with $8.86 billion in 2005 revenue. Louisville-based Yum Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM) was the third-largest company in Kentucky at No. 257, based on its $9.34 billion in revenue. Last year, Yum ranked No. 249 on the Fortune list, and Ashland was at No. 252.

The other Kentucky companies on this year's Fortune 500 list are: Covington-based Omnicare Inc. (NYSE: OCR) at No. 406 with $5.29 billion in revenue; Lexington, Ky.-based Lexmark International Inc. (NYSE: LXK) at No. 415 with $5.22 billion; and Louisville-based Kindred Healthcare Inc. (NYSE: KND) at No. 498 with $3.98 billion.

General Cable Co. (NYSE: BGC), based in Highland Heights, Ky., ranked No. 716 among Fortune's list of the 1,000 largest public companies. The company had $2.38 billion in revenue in 2005.

Louisville-based Brown-Forman Co. (NYSE: BFb) was the only other Kentucky company on the list at No. 735, with $2.31 billion in revenue last year.

It's going to be very interesting to see how Ft.Knox transforms within the next few year due to the huge increase in residents, maybe even sw Jefferson County can benefit from this a bit economically. Also great news on Humana, especially for me being a business major who will need a job in a few years.

It's going to be very interesting to see how Ft.Knox transforms within the next few year due to the huge increase in residents, maybe even sw Jefferson County can benefit from this a bit economically.

SW County used to be a place for Knox personnell to live, as I recall some neighbors and classmates with Knox connections when I lived in Valley Station. A 5,000 plus-up in staff is actually pretty big, which makes me wonder if the housing market around Knox can handle that...its already building up pretty good over there, esp with E-towns growth.

I would expect that their could be alot more housing going up from PRP, Valley Station, & Muldraugh, Also E-Town in the next few years..

People are also going to want to live near the major city.. so the area in SW county could actually benifit a great deal..when they say 5,000 more in ft. knox dont that mean that their are 5,000 more families moving to the SW Louisville- Fort Knox area. That could be in access of 12,000-15,000 more people on top of the growth already in place which is very slow, but noticible

Your're right, theres expected to be around 12,000 more residents all together moving to the area.

^^
Whoa.
Thats awesome. I hadn't realized this thing was so big.

^
It's massive.

I would expect that their could be alot more housing going up from PRP, Valley Station, & Muldraugh, Also E-Town in the next few years..

Muldraugh is landlocked by the post, so the way they would grow is via tear-downs and increased density (or if Knox decides to excess some real estate).

Whats been happening in Hardin is that Radcliffe is growing toward Vine Grove (or they are growing toward each other) and toward E-town.

There is also the opportunity to live in Mead County. Doe Run, over near Otter Creek Park, had some Knox people living there.

I figure the BRAC review took a look at the housing market as to whether or not the market can absorb this, and I guess they figured it can...having Louisville within commuting distance probably helped in the decision, as the military doesnt want to build new base housing, preferring to let the locat economy/private sector do this (except for certain ranks or positions)

That Fleur-de-lis development looks great, and I've been checking out Louisville on here every now and then, and it looks like such a shuper city!!!

Thanks for keeping a nice, organized thread guys... it's really neat to see what's happening in your city!

Now, off with me : P

Clarksville's Eastern Boulevard to get upgrades

More than 40 residents and business owners in the town of Clarksville sat elbow to elbow last night, offering ideas and comments for improvements to Eastern Boulevard.

Once the town's busiest corridor, Eastern Boulevard was described at last night's meeting as dirty and overcrowded. The group didn't need much prompting to come up with a list of concerns. Ashvin Padhya, who plans to build a 200-room hotel at Eastern and Auburn Avenue, said he wants to see sidewalks and a turning lane added.

He said the gradual deterioration of the corridor has reached a point where business owners won't improve their property before a significant public investment has been made.

Sidewalks were high on the group's wish list. Several people also pointed out the lack of landscaping on the road, while others said the speed limit could be lowered.

The architectural firm of Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf will compile the ideas into a conceptual plan to be presented to the town's Redevelopment Commission next month.

The company used a similar process for improvements in downtown Columbus, for the canal in downtown Indianapolis and for the Cardinal Park sports facility at the University of Louisville.

Eastern Boulevard's biggest challenges are its narrow width and the utility poles perched close to the road, said John Lindstaedt, an associate partner with the architectural firm.

But it also has some good things going for it, including tightly spaced shops that give the feel of a village, and a high traffic count. Clarksville has $500,000 to spend on the upgrades now. Town Council President John Minta said more money could be raised through a bond issue.

Minta said the Redevelopment Commission, which he heads, also must decide what to do with a recent bid for improvements to Eastern between Ettels Lane and Hallmark Boulevard. The bid was above the engineer's estimate for the work, he said.

Participants at last night's gathering were encouraged to consider public transit, safety and recreation in the proposed upgrades.

Doug Fisher, who owns a State Farm insurance agency on the corridor, said he'd like to see a renovation similar to the one recently completed on nearby Lewis & Clark Parkway.

"It's a showplace now," Fisher said.

A proposal to move Clarksville's Town Hall building to Eastern Boulevard from its current location at 2000 Broadway also surfaced last night. The Town Council decided earlier this year to study the possibility of selling the existing government center because of rising land values along Veterans Parkway.

Rick Dickman, the town's redevelopment director, said the idea is still being studied and no final decisions have been made.

THATS GOOD THAT THE ROAD IS GETTING MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS, LOUISVILLE NEEDS TO JUMP ON THE GUN AND GET PRESTON HWY.; DIXIE HWY; & POPLAR LEVEL ROAD(s. of I-264) SOME MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS.

Zoo’s polar bear exhibit added to get cool cash

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Louisville Zoo is one of the big winners in the final budget adjustments made privately by House and Senate leaders this week.

Zoo officials said last month they wanted to begin opening Glacier Run in 2009, but that goal depended on getting the $6 million from the state.

Senate President David Williams and House Speaker Jody Richards said yesterday that $6 million for the zoo’s proposed new polar bear exhibit is among the new projects added to the final version of the budget, which will be considered on Monday.

“This is a community development project that the House and Senate have agreed upon for Louisville. The zoo is a very important tourism and cultural aspect of the city of Louisville,” said Williams, R-Burkesville.

Unlike the Louisville arena, the Home for the Innocents and other major projects funded in the final budget, the money for the zoo was not in any previous versions of the budget bill.

“But it was always something that many people of Louisville considered a high priority,” said Richards, D-Bowling Green. “And the zoo is really a major highlight of tourism in Louisville — and this polar bear exhibit is really very nice.”

The state’s $6 million would help fund a $25 million improvement plan for the zoo. Most of that would be spent on an exhibit called Glacier Run, which would replace existing exhibits for polar bears and seals.

^^
FANTASTIC.
I always feel the Zoo's weakest spot is around the polar bear and sea lions. Very out-dated exhibit spaces. With brand new facilities for those, the Louisville Zoo is gonna be a lot nicer.
I'm very excited about this. :okay:

Two developments join mix along Main;add 60 new condos


Two major housing developments planned across from each other at Main and Campbell streets are expected to continue the momentum of improvements along the Main-Market corridor east of downtown.

Architect and developer Mark Isaacs and his Legacy Homes company plan to clear a tract on the southwest corner of the intersection to build 40 condos. The site is occupied by a truck-weighing facility.

In addition, real estate agent Dan Dunlevy and Robert Zax, a physician, plan to develop some new space and also renovate the historic DeHart Paint Co. building, to create a total of six condominiums and 14 apartments on the southeast corner of Main and Campbell streets.

The planned developments "show that all the good activity downtown is marching our way," said Butchertown activist Jim Segrest, also head of Neighborhood Planning and Preservation Inc. "This is exactly the type of developments we have been wanting. They are appropriate for the neighborhood and will help satisfy the demand we have for new housing units."

The preservation group two years ago opposed demolition of the old Brinly-Hardy complex on East Main near Slugger Field, where more than 70 new condos are planned. Segrest praised Dunlevy's commitment to renovate the DeHart building, which dates to the late 1890s and is on the National Register of Historic Places, saying the combination of renovation and new construction "is going to be great."

Here are details of the two projects:

Legacy Homes: Isaacs, whose projects have included Highland Terrace town homes on Baxter Avenue, has a contract to buy the nearly 1-acre site for an amount he wouldn't disclose from a group that owns it. He said he plans to remove the old truck scales and small building on the property.

The plans, still under design, call for a new three-story building, with ground-floor storefronts facing Main Street. The 40 condos would be on the upper floors. Some studio lofts will sell for $100,000 and larger units will go for as much as $250,000, Isaacs said.

He said the project will be energy efficient, with solar energy providing both hot water and some of the electricity.

The Metro Planning Commission needs to review the project, but Isaacs said rezoning is not required. He said construction should begin this fall and take about a year. He estimated the cost to be $8 million.

Isaacs sees a strong market for moderately priced housing in an area that he said has become vibrant with the recent development of new restaurants, galleries and residential projects. He said what has become "a pretty solid night life" has helped improve the neighborhood's security.

DeHart Paint building: Bill Weyland, who developed Glassworks and is converting the old downtown YWCA into apartments, is the project architect and development consultant. He said the DeHart building will be the first major development of Dunlevy and Zax, who own the three-quarter-acre tract just west of Lincoln Elementary School. The cost estimate is $4.5 million.

The financing plan will include use of federal historic-preservation tax credits, which are intended to bring down the developers' actual cost under a complicated formula that will involve a partnership with a lender, Weyland said.

The three-story DeHart building has been vacant for several years. Windows long bricked shut will be reopened and the structure's interior demolished and rebuilt. The ground floor will have three or four commercial spaces, and the rest of the structure will be redeveloped into 16 apartments, with average rents of around $750 a month.

A new four-story addition with commercial space and two condos will be connected to the old structure. A new detached, three-story building, designed as carriage houses, will be built in the rear. Four two-level condos will be built atop four parking garages. The six condos in the development will sell for $150,000 to $250,000, Weyland said.

Weyland said rezoning by the Planning Commission and Louisville Metro Council is needed but shouldn't be a major hurdle with what appears to be the neighbors' backing.

The development boom along East Main "has really cleaned up" the area, Weyland said.

Leasing office opens at Liberty Green

Liberty Green, the $233 million community being built on the site of the former Clarksdale housing development, has opened its leasing office.

Construction work on Liberty Green began in late 2004 and is expected to be complete by 2009.

The original public housing development was built in the 1940s and had 728 housing units.

Liberty Green will have 500 apartments and 200 homes and condos.

Prices range from $425 to $850 per month, based on income, for leased apartments and town homes and start at $120,000 for condominiums.

For more information, call (502) 569-6677 or visit www.libertygreen.org.

The exciting news today was that everything announced is affordable. Most of the condos so far have been $300k and up. Finally, something that someone right out of college could handle.

if there are any units left, i might get one after i get my MA

FIRST IN A SERIES OF REGULAR GATHERINGS
By Michelle Ku
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
Members of Lexington's Urban County Council and Louisville's Metro Council got together yesterday in the first meeting of the two groups since the merger of the Louisville and Jefferson County governments.

The meeting, at the Kentucky Horse Park, was intended to be the first in a series of regular gatherings to discuss issues important to Lexington, Louisville and Kentucky, said Councilman Jay McChord, who organized the meeting.

The two councils discussed the effect the 2010 World Equestrian Games will have on the state and tourism opportunities. They also got a better understanding of how Louisville's metro government and Lexington's merged government work.

For example, council seats in Louisville are partisan, and the Democratic and Republican caucuses meet before the official Thursday council meetings.

Lexington's council seats are non-partisan.

Seven Lexington council members and six Louisville council members attended the meeting.

A resolution on the formation of the group, called the Lexington Louisville Council Consortium, will be presented to Lexington Mayor Teresa Isaac at Tuesday's work session.

The group also plans to send a letter to U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., notifying him about formation of the consortium.

can't say i didn't see this coming..
----------------


Part of the funding for Louisville’s arena, the Museum Plaza complex and other Kentucky projects may be in jeopardy because of what state lawmakers didn't pass in Frankfort.


But the failure of a bill legalizing special local districts won't hurt a couple other projects as first thought.

Also Online
View this story

The idea is to use tax dollars generated by new developments to help pay off the debts on those projects. Tax increment financing, or TIFs, is the source of some debate and hand wringing involving funding for two big Louisville projects.


The debt on the Louisville’s new downtown Marriott Hotel is already being financed by TIF tax dollars through a special taxing district. On Thursday, there was concern that state lawmakers failure to formally legalize local taxing districts might put the Marriott deal in doubt. No worries Friday.


“The Marriott is not affected because it was enacted under all of the laws that existed at that time,” says Bruce Traughber of Louisville Metro Economic Development.


But Traughber says financing of two future Louisville projects could be hurt by the legislature's inaction -- one is the $380 million Museum Plaza complex, which plans to use at least $70 million in TIF money.


“The project will not be done without the TIF,” says Museum Plaza developer Steve Poe.


The arena is the other, needing $76 million in TIF money over 20 years to pay off the bonds on the project.


“The state would not, for any project, move forward and issue bonds the $75 million, without the assurance that the entire package is in place,” says Mary Lassiter of the State Budget Office.


And that's the potential problem. Bond companies won't finance Louisville’s big projects until they're absolutely sure of the financing plans. And Louisville isn't alone. Three projects in south central Kentucky and another in northern Kentucky were counting on the TIF bill passing.


Governor Fletcher is leaning toward calling a special legislative session this summer. He says the problem with the TIFs and local taxing districts could be fixed at that time.
http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/WHAS11_TOP_TIFs.364b5d2e.html

I GUESS FORGET BOTH PROJECTS RIGHT?????UHHH KENTUCKY JUST GETS ON MY NERVES WITH ALL THIS FUNDING NOT GOING TO LOUISVILLE...IT WILL ACTUALLY IMPROVE LOUISVILLE IN ITS DOWNTOWN AS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE...I CANT DO NOTHING ABOUT IT THO SO I GUESS LIFE GOES ON RIGHT>?

Read the last line, the govenor is the first I've seen in a while that actually has Louisville's issues in mind. I am pretty certain that the arena will go foward, like they said they wouldn't approve the 75 million without making sure it will get done, museum plaza is another story without the TIF. I have faith in the govenor to bring a special session together on this. The good thing is other projects across the state will be affected by this, meaning more will be on board to support it because it is not only directly benefiting Louisville. Overall I am concerned about this, but not extremely worried about this, especially when it comes to the arena. Museum Plaza's future is of greater concern, but in the end both are too important to the future of downtown and the rest of the city for city officials to simply give up on the issue. Plus with elections not far away I'm hoping the governor will work through this issue.

Oh, calm down.

The TIF District will happen. The governor has already said he may call a Special Session in Frankfort to correct the problem. If he doesn't, then the Legislature will reconvene in January and the will take up the issue then. This eally is not a huge problem. The mayor has already said that even if the TIF is not approved in a Special Session that he has been assured it will be one of the first pieces of legislation picked up in January and will have no effect on our projects.

oh, calm down nothing. it always starts as something, small then becomes a bigger problem in this state. I wouldn't be suprised if museum plaza gets toned down a few stories. but i'm still hoping it gets built, all 61 stories of it.

Only a portion of Musuem Plaza will come from TIF, this would be a very good investment, I would say even if they can't get the TIF (which I doubt), the developers would not have any trouble finding a few more investors to help with the rest of the project. Think about it, not only will it be a new tall, but it is a highly unique project. There is a high amount of excitement behind this project, it can potentially change a lot more than just the skyline, I know many people would love a piece of the pie. Maybe I am just being optimistic, but I don't believe there is anything to worry about here. We all worried the state wouldn't approve funding for the arena.... and what do you know they did. I honestly believe that Museum Plaza is such a potentially huge project in many ways that the mayor and the governor will pull all the strings they can to get this done...elections are right around the corner.

Oh, calm down.

The TIF District will happen. The governor has already said he may call a Special Session in Frankfort to correct the problem. If he doesn't, then the Legislature will reconvene in January and the will take up the issue then. This eally is not a huge problem. The mayor has already said that even if the TIF is not approved in a Special Session that he has been assured it will be one of the first pieces of legislation picked up in January and will have no effect on our projects.

I agree. Steve Poe is going to make sure museum plaza will happen.

when i see the ground break, i'll be convinced

Final link to Waterfront Park is acquired

11:26 AM EDT on Tuesday, April 18, 2006

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The last vestige of silos, scrap metal and sand piles along downtown Louisville's riverfront will soon be no more, as Mayor Jerry Abramson and Waterfront Park officials announced that Waterfront Park has cleared the final hurdle on its way to completion.


Waterfront Development Corporation on Thursday will close its purchase of 3.5 acres located at 903 East River Road. Currently owned by Lafarge North America, Inc., the property is the sole remaining property to be acquired for the planned 85-acre Waterfront Park.


"Securing this property is the final, missing link for Waterfront Park," Abramson said. "The Waterfront has turned yesterday's memories of sand and scrap into tomorrow's promise of continuous green space for this community's and region's recreational front yard."


Lafarge manufactured building materials on the site since the early 1900s. In 2004, the company announced it would sell the property to the city for $3.5 million to make way for Waterfront Park's third and final phase.


The signature icon of the third phase is the pedestrian walkway on the Big Four Bridge, connecting Louisville and Jeffersonville, Ind. Construction for the $21 million Phase III began in January 2005 and is expected to be complete in 2008.

The city began acquiring scrap yards and sand and salt storage lots along the river in the early 1990s, with Waterfront Park's Phase I opening in July 1999 and Phase II opening in June 2004. Annual attendance at the park exceeds 1.5 million people, with special events attracting hundreds of thousands of people at a time. Waterfront Park is home to successful events, such as Waterfront Independence Festival, Waterfront Wednesdays concerts, Kentucky Derby Chow Wagon and various community events.

kool

One Step Closer to Reality.......

Arena authority approves location near riverfront

04/19/2006

Associated Press


The Louisville Arena Authority said Wednesday that a new 22,000-seat arena should be built near the city's riverfront.

The site, which now includes a utility transmission station, has been the location preferred by Gov. Ernie Fletcher and Mayor Jerry Abramson.

Authority Chairman Jim Host said the 14-1 vote should settle any questions about the arena's location, an issue that divided state lawmakers. Legislators approved $75 million for the arena but did not specify where it should be built.

"The legislature was very key in saying that the decision was the authority's and we made the decision today," Host told The Courier-Journal of Louisville. "So from that perspective, it's over."

Two prominent businessmen — Humana Inc. co-founder David Jones and Papa John's International founder John Schnatter — had preferred another, less costly site a few blocks away near the Fourth Street Live entertainment district.

Meanwhile, the Metro Council would have to approve some of the arena-financing plan, including project bonds and the creation of a district that would use new tax revenues to offset its $381 million cost, the Louisville newspaper reported.

Officials are working on a "creative solution" to salvage the financing plan if lawmakers do not update tax-increment financing laws during a potential special legislative session, Host said.

A special taxing district would capture about $78 million in property tax growth over 20 years, but that is in jeopardy after lawmakers failed to pass an omnibus tax bill late in the 2006 session.

Work to revamp Camelot center begins

just a small thing that is good for the area...


The start of a $29 million project to revamp the faded Camelot Shopping Center at Westport Road and Lyndon Lane was announced Wednesday by the developer, Underhill Associates.

The upgraded center will be called Westport Village.

The renovation and redevelopment project is expected to take about 18 months, Colin Underhill said.

He announced six new tenants: Heine Brothers coffee shop, Campbell's Gourmet Cottage, Norton Healthcare, Thoroughbred Dry Cleaners, Gemelli Wines & Spirits and Glassworks.

The first new businesses are expected to open May 1 of next year.

“We just want to get the whole city and community excited,” Underhill said.

During a news conference at the site Wednesday afternoon, Metro Councilmen Ken Fleming and Glen Stuckel said they will allocate $80,000 from their neighborhood funds for sidewalks along Herr and Lyndon lanes adjacent to shopping center.

Underhill Associates has also been converting the more-than-30-year-old Camelot East Apartments into Westport Gardens condominiums across Herr Lane from the shopping center. Westport Road has been widened in the area and a new interchange with the Watterson Expressway is planned.

East Wing era coming to end at Kentucky Exposition Center


Fifty-year-old steel columns lie in twisted piles. Huge trash bins brim with debris. Jagged remnants of the roof hang down.

That's almost all that remains of the Kentucky Exposition Center's East Wing, which is being razed.



"It breaks my heart to tear up history, but we understand the need for progress," Jon Davies, owner of CRS Demolition, said amid the clang and clutter yesterday.

Demolition began in late March to replace the wing, said Kentucky State Fair Board president Harold Workman.

The old space worked poorly for exhibits, with low ceilings, poor lighting and 96 columns that obstructed the exhibits and vehicles, Workman said.

A new wing should open in October 2007. State government and the fair board have teamed up to share the issuance of $55 million in bonds, to be paid over 20 years from the state's general fund and fair board receipts.

Workman said he expects the new East Wing to pay for itself in eight to 10 years.

He expects to announce the signing of several new major shows or conventions that are coming, at least in part, because of the new wing.

Among those looking forward to the new wing are officials with the three-day Mid-America Trucking Show, which drew about 80,000 visitors in March and pumped nearly $30 million into the local economy, said Toby Young, a spokesman for Exhibit Management Associates, the show's producer.

The commercial exhibits for the next two State Fairs will be moved to the South Wing. Workman said disruption to foot and vehicle traffic during the fair, and nearly all events, should be minimal.

The East Wing project includes revamping some meeting-room space in the adjacent East Hall and building a glass-front entrance into the East Wing/East Hall complex near the ticket office. A 35,000-square-foot lobby will be built behind the entrance for registrations, receptions and other activities.

With the new wing, the fairgrounds still will have about 1.2 million square feet under roof.

The project is one of the last steps in an expansion plan that dates to the early 1990s.

great news about the Waterfront park. Does this mean that the residential development planned for east of there is going to happen?

Cory, from what I understand, the Corps of Engineers have snagged that one. I don't know if anyone here has ever had to deal with the C.O.E., but it doesn't really surprise me. They are a pain in the ASS. The project is still a go as far as the developer is concerned, but for how much longer is still in the air.

That sucks. I have had to deal with the ACoE for a wetland issue where I work. Their way or the highway!

Check out the Museum Plaza website www.museumplaza.net . They have changed it up a little bit. Check out the new video. It is the one they have running at their display downtown.

Zoo’s polar bear exhibit added to get cool cash

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Louisville Zoo is one of the big winners in the final budget adjustments made privately by House and Senate leaders this week.

Zoo officials said last month they wanted to begin opening Glacier Run in 2009, but that goal depended on getting the $6 million from the state.

Senate President David Williams and House Speaker Jody Richards said yesterday that $6 million for the zoo’s proposed new polar bear exhibit is among the new projects added to the final version of the budget, which will be considered on Monday.

“This is a community development project that the House and Senate have agreed upon for Louisville. The zoo is a very important tourism and cultural aspect of the city of Louisville,” said Williams, R-Burkesville.

Unlike the Louisville arena, the Home for the Innocents and other major projects funded in the final budget, the money for the zoo was not in any previous versions of the budget bill.

“But it was always something that many people of Louisville considered a high priority,” said Richards, D-Bowling Green. “And the zoo is really a major highlight of tourism in Louisville — and this polar bear exhibit is really very nice.”

The state’s $6 million would help fund a $25 million improvement plan for the zoo. Most of that would be spent on an exhibit called Glacier Run, which would replace existing exhibits for polar bears and seals.


VETOED:(

Check out the Museum Plaza website www.museumplaza.net . They have changed it up a little bit. Check out the new video. It is the one they have running at their display downtown.


yeah, i kind of forgot about museum plaza for a little while lol

kentucky universities really got shafted with these vetoes
http://www.courier-journal.com/assets/B226185424.PDF

Yeah, I read that the governor vetoed the 6 million dollar allocation to the Louisville Zoo, but what was heartening in the story was how the Zoo spokesman handled it. He said they were saddened to have their funding vetoed, but their timeline never included getting that money in the first place, so it is still expected to be completed in 2010, even without the state funds.

What did anger me the most was seeing how the governor still gave the University of the Cumberlands 10 million dollars, even though it is a private Baptist university, and the state constitution even states you cannot give to a private institution if it discriminates against any citizen. And the agency that give certification to pharmacy programs even said that they would not certify this university if they continued their discrimination...so why do it? And he was one Republican I thought wasn't too terrible...I was wrong.

Fourth Street to Get Splashes of Color

I have been away from Louisville for awhile, so has anyone seen these on Fourth Street? And are they tastefully done?


Mayor Jerry Abramson today said downtown is more colorful thanks to a partnership of government and businesses. With 66 new large pots of bright flowers, strategically located in groups of three along Fourth Street, between Liberty Street and Main Street, downtown will look like spring.
"Beautification is a big part of what builds pride in our hometown," said Abramson. "With the warmer weather, comes all kinds of events and festivals, and from now on, it will be nice to see splashes of color while walking or driving along a major roadway in downtown."

Private businesses along Fourth Street contributed $8,400 for the plantings, while the city contributed nearly $14,000 for the pots. Louisville Downtown Management District, which serves the core area of the Central Business District with safety and clean teams, will water the plantings, a service worth $8,000. Brightside also contributed $1,000 toward the purchase of the plants.

Louis Straub, of Chase Bank and a board member for Louisville Central Area who coordinated this project, said that he was very pleased with the results. "We had 100% business participation and everyone is excited about the improved look that will occur along Fourth Street. We hope that this project will be a catalyst for other private businesses to seek additional streetscape improvements in our community."

All pots will be planted with evergreen, surrounded by seasonal, colorful plants to be replaced on an annual basis, including hibiscus, petunia, gerber daisy, lantana, geranium and bougainvillea. Fall and winter plants will replace the annuals on a seasonal basis.

Two more phases of plantings are being considered for Spring 2007 and Spring 2008. They could include up to 120 additional pots of colorful and decorative plantings around the downtown area.

Private participants in the current plantings include JPMorgan Chase, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Aegon, Kentucky International Convention Center, US Bank, National City Bank and Metropolitan Sewer District.

Work resumes on Seminary Woods

I had wondered when they would resume...

Construction work has resumed on Seminary Woods, a $56 million upscale condominium project at U.S. Highway 42 and Seminary Drive in eastern Jefferson County.

When the development was initially planned in 2003, it was expected to be completed by summer 2005. But it was plagued by financial problems and opposition by the surrounding community. Last year, an Atlanta bank pulled out of financing the project, further stalling construction while developers searched for alternative funding, according to a news release.

Seminary Woods will include The Regency, a 14-story building with 61 luxury units and three levels of underground parking, and The Ambassador, a six-story building with 30 units and two levels of underground parking.

I take voice lessons at the Jewish temple across the street from Seminary Woods.
I was thinking that things looked slow-goin, but I hadn't realized it was at a full stop.

The crane is fun to see every monday in any case. :D

Ramsey is such a self-centered stupid asshole....

U of L’s wavering support threatens arena deal
By Mark Pitsch
mpitsch@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



The University of Louisville no longer is sure it wants to be part of a downtown arena after Gov. Ernie Fletcher vetoed $73 million in university construction projects.

President James Ramsey, who has spoken in support of a riverfront arena, said at a Wednesday news conference that U of L now “didn’t know what our position is at this point.”

Asked if the university still supported building a downtown arena that would be used by the university’s basketball teams, Ramsey responded: “We’re happy to play at Freedom Hall.”

The university’s shifting support threatens to undermine the arena proposal, officials connected with the project said.

“Without U of L being the main tenant, we don’t have an arena,” said Jim Host, chairman of the Louisville Arena Authority.

U of L and the arena authority, the group appointed to oversee construction, have been negotiating a contract under which the university would play at an arena at Second and Main streets. No agreement has been signed.

Ramsey told reporters Wednesday that the 2006-08 state budget has left U of L “abandoned by the very state we strive to serve.”

“At a time when we’re perfectly happy to play at Freedom Hall, our academic programs are made to suffer because an arena is more important than our academic priorities,” Ramsey said.

U of L received the smallest percentage of university base funding compared with the original request made by the state Council on Postsecondary Education.

Ramsey’s remarks came two days after Fletcher announced his vetoes.

At a news conference Monday night, Fletcher said one reason he cut $73 million in U of L projects from the budget was because the school would benefit from the arena that will receive $75 million in state bonds.

“If you add that to it, that’s the reason that we made some reduction otherwise,” Fletcher said. “We funded their priorities, and we looked at what their priorities were and we funded them.”

Brett Hall, a Fletcher spokesman, said Wednesday that the arena was not a factor in Fletcher’s veto decisions and that U of L “was not singled out.”

“There’s always another day and another budget,” Hall said.

Ramsey reiterated that he preferred having a new arena on campus and that a downtown arena was not a U of L priority. Ramsey also said that he didn’t want funding for an arena to affect academic and other projects at the school.

Host said he remains confident that an arena agreement “will still all come together, but it’s just another one of these blips in the road that this thing has continued to have.”

At this point I'm going to join the bandwagon on doubters. I won't believe till I see it.

At this point I'm going to join the bandwagon on doubters. I won't believe till I see it.

Believe me card I understand your frustration without a doubt. If you just take a minute to look at how this hurts the university. Those budget cuts killed alot of there programs and UofL gets no where near the state funding that UK gets. Yet they lost much more than any other University, while I am pro arena and I want one badly, we can't continue as a state to kill the education programs at all the universities. I mean the academic institutions suffered more than anybody, not just UofL but JCPS, KCTCS, I mean some of this stuff hits home for alot of folks. Kenucky already ranks 46th in education and yet the governor vetoes funding to our education institutions. I didn't get my degree from the university but I do realize the university is a vital component to the health of the city with the education they provide to the students. We need to attract more young adults to the city as well as high paying jobs, and UofL goes along way into bring those type of people and companies here. I can fully understand Ramsey's frustration as well as other collegiate institutions in the state. If its one thing we need in this state its BETTER education. When I see UofL and the city get the shaft the way they did in these budget cuts I just shook my head. Regardless the city has 75 million from the state which is very good news, so I guess we just have to move forward without UofL and maybe try to attract a Pro team. I was just not happy about all the education cuts at all. A top notch academic institution can only help the image of the city. Every college except UK and the city of Louisville were the biggest losers in the budget cuts. Kentucky politics is something else. :bash:
Back to the arena debate, I think this is going to get really ugly now, with the Mayor and governor responding to Ramsey's comments today. At this point it wouldn't suprise me at all to see this thing fall through the cracks(classic Kentucky and Louisville politics) or the city pass the bonds needed to build the arena and just build it without UofL. I'm really hoping cooler heads prevail, but for a college to lose 73 mil for there education programs is nothing to sneeze at however you look at it. As bad as I want to see the arena built and I'm kinda sad to see how our state really feels about education in this state.

Yeah, I read that the governor vetoed the 6 million dollar allocation to the Louisville Zoo, but what was heartening in the story was how the Zoo spokesman handled it. He said they were saddened to have their funding vetoed, but their timeline never included getting that money in the first place, so it is still expected to be completed in 2010, even without the state funds.

What did anger me the most was seeing how the governor still gave the University of the Cumberlands 10 million dollars, even though it is a private Baptist university, and the state constitution even states you cannot give to a private institution if it discriminates against any citizen. And the agency that give certification to pharmacy programs even said that they would not certify this university if they continued their discrimination...so why do it? And he was one Republican I thought wasn't too terrible...I was wrong.

That upset me to, how can you give 10 million dollars to a private institution that is clearly unconstitutional, but couldn't give Kentucky State money to build there nursing college? I swear this state is ass backwards, and even the schools like EKU and Morehead who get alot of kids from the eastern Kentucky and appalachia got shafted on alot of there premier programs. Coming from a family where both my parents where teachers is sickening to see. The funny thing is Fletcher is no different than the democrats before him, where he was talking about cleaning the mess in frankfort and funding higher education blah blah blah. Same story different tune, I know one thing Jake and that is the fact that all these politicians are cut from the same cloth no matter if they are democrat or republican. Atleast the home of the innocense got funded for there expansion.

The 75 millions dollars is already there for an arena and the 73 million dollars is already gone. No matter how much whiney baby Ramsey screams, it's a done deal. He either loses 73 million dollars in this budget, or he loses 148 million dollars in this budget...he is a cry baby.

And has anyone looked at where UofL lost these 73 million dollars? In construction projects to build things such as...a second basketball practice facility! (16 million) And a new parking garage! (26 million) And a dorm renovation! (11.5 Million) Give me a break, lost money for academic priorities? UofL is a second rate wannabe university, it never has striven to be great, but merely mediocre. They cry and whine yet never have any solutions for themselves. They want to build sports buildings and car depots and they cry and whine when there is always the next years budget to get your cash for BS projects. This arena is closer than ever and may not be this close again until Freedom Hall is 100 years old. So UofL really should choose wisely it's position, otherwise it will be not just be half screwed thjis year, but totally screwed. (As well as screwing the community it's mission is to promote in all area's)

The 75 millions dollars is already there for an arena and the 73 million dollars is already gone. No matter how much whiney baby Ramsey screams, it's a done deal. He either loses 73 million dollars in this budget, or he loses 148 million dollars in this budget...he is a cry baby.

And has anyone looked at where UofL lost these 73 million dollars? In construction projects to build things such as...a second basketball practice facility! (16 million) And a new parking garage! (26 million) And a dorm renovation! (11.5 Million) Give me a break, lost money for academic priorities? UofL is a second rate wannabe university, it never has striven to be great, but merely mediocre. They cry and whine yet never have any solutions for themselves. They want to build sports buildings and car depots and they cry and whine when there is always the next years budget to get your cash for BS projects. This arena is closer than ever and may not be this close again until Freedom Hall is 100 years old. So UofL really should choose wisely it's position, otherwise it will be not just be half screwed thjis year, but totally screwed. (As well as screwing the community it's mission is to promote in all area's)

Thank you!!! Ramsey is just trying to toy with the governor and mayor. UofL will support this arena no matter what the state does to its' budget. The things that were cut from the budget should have been cut, especially to try and avoid a $10 billion dollar debt. That's just what we need, $10 billion in debt. Ramsey can go f-off because he's just trying to get what he wants at the expense of Louisville. If the budget was for more teachers, better schools, etc. then maybe he'd have a reason to complain, but a parking garage and a second practice facility... give me a break.. Build the arena!

The parking facility isn't even at Belknap Campus, it's at the medical campus, the dorms do look like a prison, and the new practice facility...give me a break. I understand Ramsey a bit, he is right, the state does need to invest more heavily into education. I just don't understand why he would do something that would kill the arena. Either way you look at it the University will benefit greatly from the arena. Not only will it be a huge recruiting tool, but will earn extra revenue for UofL right off the bat. I remember reading in the paper that their revenue would double. Ramsey has a right and somewhat a duty to protest the Vetos to the Universities across the state but to single handedly kill the arena, is nothing but pouring salt on the wound.

we just had an expansion of ekstrom library, a new research facility in the middle of campus, a new natitorium, a new football practice facility, and a new baseball statium. why do we need more?....i feal more sympathy for the smaller schools like KSU and morehead state.

I agree Kentucky should elevate it's funding for higher education across the board. UofL really needs to achieve a high level of research funding if we really want it to become an economic engine of change for our city.

However, it always seems that UofL squanders it funds and chooses to build new athletic facilities over academic priorities. UofL and Louisville will benefit greatly from this new arena. UofL needs some new leadership, and I have believed that long before this latest debacle. Ramsey needs to step up and reorganize his university's priorities and possibly start thinking outside of the state for funding...really needs to start bilking private funders and rich alumni.

What did anger me the most was seeing how the governor still gave the University of the Cumberlands 10 million dollars, even though it is a private Baptist university, and the state constitution even states you cannot give to a private institution if it discriminates against any citizen. And the agency that give certification to pharmacy programs even said that they would not certify this university if they continued their discrimination...so why do it? And he was one Republican I thought wasn't too terrible...I was wrong.


I am furious as well over this. Can you impeach a gov.???

^ Yes, but it is rare. Why would you impeech him? Don't you want your children to have that education so that when the arena gets built, they can read the billboards inside advertising Budweiser and the casino's across the river?

we just had an expansion of ekstrom library, a new research facility in the middle of campus, a new natitorium, a new football practice facility, and a new baseball statium. why do we need more?....i feal more sympathy for the smaller schools like KSU and morehead state.

...of the five facilities you mentioned, two have a direct relation to education. If this was what was on UofLs wish-list in the past someone has their capital improvements priorities screwed up.

But you are correct about the smaller state schools All too often the smaller regional universities like the ones you mentioned are the red-headed stepchildren compared to UofK and UofL.








___

^ Yes, but it is rare. Why would you impeech him? Don't you want your children to have that education so that when the arena gets built, they can read the billboards inside advertising Budweiser and the casino's across the river?

I guess people really need to know WHAT IT IS that the governor cut from UofL. Again, he cut a parking garage, a basketball practice facility, a dorm renovation, and some funding from a dental research building. Of those cuts, the only one that is immediately important is the dental research building.

But what you don't hear is what UofL did get funding for..."in fact it got more than $82 million for new health science and predictive medicine facilities -- projects most directly related to the research that (Ramsey) says is a top priority."

So you know what, UofL got the money for the importnat academic stuff this year, and had the bullshit cut off this year.

I know Lexy is bitter about Louisville getting a new arena and feels that rural Kentucky is shortchanged, but should Nashville REALLY be talking about arenas and studiums? Nashville has 2 relatively new ones, and you know what, Tennessee didn't become part of the "New South" by redistributing it's urban wealth in stupid ways to the rural areas.

I guess people really need to know WHAT IT IS that the governor cut from UofL. Again, he cut a parking garage, a basketball practice facility, a dorm renovation, and some funding from a dental research building. Of those cuts, the only one that is immediately important is the dental research building.

But what you don't hear is what UofL did get funding for..."in fact it got more than $82 million for new health science and predictive medicine facilities -- projects most directly related to the research that (Ramsey) says is a top priority."

So you know what, UofL got the money for the importnat academic stuff this year, and had the bullshit cut off this year.

I know Lexy is bitter about Louisville getting a new arena and feels that rural Kentucky is shortchanged, but should Nashville REALLY be talking about arenas and studiums? Nashville has 2 relatively new ones, and you know what, Tennessee didn't become part of the "New South" by redistributing it's urban wealth in stupid ways to the rural areas.

I am not bitter at all. They just announced a plant opening in my home town of Central City that will employ over 300 people and fill up a 300,000 sq. foot abandoned wharehouse. Me bitter? Hardly. It's cloud nine for me right now. I got the expanding business' of Muhlenberg County to watch, a hockey playoffs game tomorrow, and the weekend off....again, it's all cloud nine over here on my pad. LOL!!!

But let's be honest here. Comparing Tennessee's rural parts to Kentucky's is like apples to oranges man. The two are so different that it's not even funny. The smaller, satellite cities of Tennessee Lawrencburg, Jackson, Oak Ridge, Bristol, Cookeville, & Cleveland just to name a few (like Hazard, Pikeville, Ashland, Madisonville, Hopkinsville in Kentucky) are much stronger and better funded than than their counterparts north of the boarder. Just simply graze through the news articles about them and you would see that. Just to compare the two states and their "feeder" towns is stupid. Tennessee has much more capitol investments in it's small towns than Kentucky ever will (and I hate that fact, but it's life). Kentucky is a piss poor state when it comes to taking care of the greater good of the state. Hence that hatred from the state toward the "Golden Triangle".


Now, on to another rant:
Coliseum Tenants 68,000:
Tennessee State Univeristy football (NCAA)
Tennessee Titans football (NFL)
CMA Music Fest (Weeklong concert series that sells the place out)

Gaylord Entertainment Center 17,113:
Nashville Predators hockey (NHL)
Nashville Kats football (AFL)
CMA Music Fest (Weeklong concerts series that sell the place out)
Other concerts through the summer and winter concert seasons
CMA Music Awards (winter showing)
Rotating SEC Basketball Tournaments (women and mens)



See a trend here? Tenants.
-------------------------------------------------
I like what they are doing in Kentucky about the arena. I could care less if it gets built cause it has NO TENANT, besides a handful of games played in the fall and winter. The state taxpayers have got to be concerned to a degree about that fact, and rightfully so. The place generates no money if nothing is going on. And setting there telling yourself that it will fill up with concerts, tractor pulls, circuses, and conventions would be fooling yourself. There just isn't that much going on to fill it up on a consistent basis. Take a look at the other cities around you with comparable sized arenas and you would see that, even Nashville for example. The GEC sits empty for most of the summer cause nothing is going on, aside from some concerts and maybe a convention of course. But overall, it is useless in terms of a generator for money during some periods. Does the city of Louisville, and more importantly, the state of Kentucky want that for them? To have to foot the bill later on down the road? I would hope not. Because in the long run, both the state and the city will lose out on the deal and get stuck paying for something that is a burden on the community and it's people. University of Louisville basketball isn't enough alone to justify a new arena. I'm sorry, but that is a fact. All of the mumbo-jumbo about other events is spin. Sure you'll get some, but not what they are promising, not that many atleast. The corporate suites are useless if they aren't used more than 15-17 (home basketball games) times a year.


LJ, you fail to mention that Memphis and Bristol both have new sports venues for NBA and NCAA basketball. MTSU, a stats school, has a relatively new football stadium upgrade as well.


BTW, these two venues (the GEC and the Coliseum) were built with either an understanding or an agreement that a professional sports team was filling them up. Look it up and you will find that to be true. The Coliseum was built to double as a MLS Stadium and a Football stadium and the GEC was built primarily for hockey, but was retrofitted during the design faze to be a NBA compliant arena as well.

I know Lexy won't like this since Louisville and NKY are stealing funds from Lexington per urbanplanet.LOL Just kidding Lexy I'm only pulling your chain, I always enjoy reading what you have to say. Looks like Fletcher and President Ramsey patch up there differences.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060503/NEWS01/60503030

There is a rumor going around that Mitch McConnel was chewing fletcher out about the Budget cuts for UofL. I know Mitch is like the 3rd or 4th most powerful Republican and UofL Grad. I heard he wasn't to pleased and had some not so kind words for ole Fletch. I don't know if that is true or not but its just a rumor.

The irony in this whole deal is that Ramsey was going on and on about funding education, but the one thing that wasn't funded after this meeting (the dental research building) is the one thing out of the four projects that actually has to do with education....Oh, well I'm feeling good about the arena again, and UofL did get more projects through.

Card I definitly agree, I'm just glad cooler heads prevailed in this situation, because the arena will be an asset to the community and state. Plus UofL will make 9 million a year in the new arena and that is something that I know Ramsey isn't stupid enough to pass up. Basically all this was a political game of cat and mouse. Everybody is just trying to flex there muscles when at the same time, too many people will make money off of this arena. Classic politics in its finest form, people making threats to get what they want. In retrospect its hard to say the arena was in jeopardy, its was just a bunch of folks trying to get what they wanted out of it. With the State bascially running the arena, they stand to make a bunch of money, so in reality I don't think anybody is dumb enough to kill it at this point and time. I'm just glad we can finally put all this BS to rest and get this arena moving forward.

I know Lexy won't like this since Louisville and NKY are stealing funds from Lexington per urbanplanet.LOL Just kidding Lexy I'm only pulling your chain, I always enjoy reading what you have to say. Looks like Fletcher and President Ramsey patch up there differences.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060503/NEWS01/60503030

There is a rumor going around that Mitch McConnel was chewing fletcher out about the Budget cuts for UofL. I know Mitch is like the 3rd or 4th most powerful Republican and UofL Grad. I heard he wasn't to pleased and had some not so kind words for ole Fletch. I don't know if that is true or not but its just a rumor.


LOL!! Thanks. Seriously though. I am all for the arena. I would just want a tenant for it thats all. If they can build it and get a promise, then awesome. In all fairness, I think this is a great growth tool that Louisville can use in the future. Here's to this thing getting built!

Agreed. What's good for one city is good for the Commonwealth and it will help us all move forward.

boy, they really did a good job shutting down "cruising" ;)

http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=B2&Dato=20060506&Kategori=DERBYFUN&Lopenr=605060822&Ref=PH&Item=1&MaxW=455
Annette Swain of Anderson, Ind., sported her Derby hat and video camera to tape the scene at 26th Street and Garland Avenue.

http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=B2&Dato=20060506&Kategori=DERBYFUN&Lopenr=605060822&Ref=PH&Item=2&MaxH=400
Joshua Howard, of Nashville, leaned out a car window as a vendor sold shirts. (By Michael Hayman, The Courier-Journal)

http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=B2&Dato=20060506&Kategori=DERBYFUN&Lopenr=605060822&Ref=PH&Item=3&MaxW=455
People and cars gathered on 28th Street at Howard Street.

http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=B2&Dato=20060506&Kategori=DERBYFUN&Lopenr=605060822&Ref=PH&Item=5&MaxW=455
Traffic was heavy at 28th and Garland. (By Michael Hayman, The Courier-Journal)

http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=B2&Dato=20060506&Kategori=DERBYFUN&Lopenr=605060822&Ref=PH&Item=6&MaxW=455
Drivers talked while stuck in traffic at 28th and Garland. (By Ross Mantle, The Courier-Journal)

http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=B2&Dato=20060506&Kategori=DERBYFUN&Lopenr=605060822&Ref=PH&Item=7&MaxW=455

http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=B2&Dato=20060506&Kategori=DERBYFUN&Lopenr=605060822&Ref=PH&Item=8&MaxW=455
Marsh'a Wade, 6, checked her reflection in the ice cream van of her grandmother, Victoria Wade. (By Ross Mantle, The Courier-Journal)
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060506/NEWS01/60506036

That's some interesting shots you got there.

Starks Building owner asks Colonnade to vacate by Sept. 30


The Colonnade Cafeteria, which has been serving breakfast and lunch to downtown workers for nearly 100 years, will close this fall, according to the restaurant's owners.

The Colonnade began operating in 1913 and has been in its current location in the basement of the Starks Building since 1926.

The exact closing date hasn't been decided, but Colonnade co-owner Chuck Krill said the building's owner, Northbrook, Ill.-based Allstate Life Insurance Co., sent a letter to Krill's attorney asking the cafeteria to vacate the site by Sept. 30

"We are negotiating that right now," Krill said. "Our lease is up Nov. 30 of this year, but we will not last that long."

Officials from Allstate and the building's leasing agent, CB Richard Ellis/Louisville, did not return calls seeking comment on plans for the site.
Plans for building unknown

According to Jefferson County Property Valuation Administrator records, Allstate bought the 346,000-square-foot Starks Building in June 2004 for $14.3 million. Business First reported in 2004 that at the time of the sale, 58 percent of the building was vacant.

The PVA Web site lists the assessed value of the property at $10 million.

Another longtime tenant has not been asked to leave. Susan Davis, wife of Seng Jewelers LLC owner Lee Davis, said Seng Jewelers was granted a five-year extension on its lease, which expired in December.

Neither Davis nor Krill are sure what Allstate's plans are, however.

"They have never said a word to us on what they are planning," Krill said. "I've heard rumors, but I honestly don't know what is going on."

Krill isn't sure what will happen to the Colonnade, he said, but he hopes to find another site for the eatery.

"We have looked downtown and are still looking," Krill said. "A few of the locations we've looked at are just too expensive for a breakfast and lunch operation."


The rumor I have heard is a plan for a 900 room new hotel in the tower to connect to the Hilliard Lyons building across the street...of course that is heresay, but it is amazing to see a downtown Louisville tradition forced to uproot so quickly...something big is gonna happen there.

900 rooms...that is insane. Can our market absorb all of it? That's bigger than the Marriott and almost the size of the Galt House. I would love to see some ground floor retail and some living units in that area. It's ripe for it with restaurants up and down 4th street. Ahhh...dreams.

"Cruising" ban backfires...i must say, this was one of the worst derby weekends i can remember in the west end.


From The Associated Press:

By ELIZABETH DUNBAR / Associated Press Writer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- The way Marilyn Bland sees it, the city’s effort to stop cruising along the city’s main drag over Derby weekend also stopped her business.

The owner of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken on West Broadway said Monday that she took in only $24 the whole weekend. During past Derby weekends, when people crowd the streets to watch souped-up cars cruise, Bland said has taken in more than $10,000.

Mayor Jerry Abramson and Louisville Metro Police announced this year that they would strictly enforce the city’s anti-cruising ordinance. They said safety concerns—including a homicide last year—prompted a decision to limit access and station officers at every intersection along the 51/2-mile stretch of Broadway.

But Bland and other business owners now wonder if the actions went too far.

“Nobody could get to us,” Bland said during a news conference held at the Justice Resource Center. Some West End businesses owners questioned the city’s approach to cruising in a letter to Abramson.

Police had distributed passes to businesses and residents who needed access to Broadway, but Bland said that didn’t bring customers.

Chad Carlton, a spokesman for the mayor, said the city is listening to feedback about the anti-cruising effort’s impact. As of Monday, the mayor’s office had heard from some businesses who were happy with the efforts and others who claimed they lost money because of it.

“The goal was to restore safety and security to neighborhoods that had been deprived of that for a number of years,” Carlton said, adding that city officials took business owners’ negative feelings about cruising into account when planning a strategy to stop it this year.

Though city officials believe the strategy was successful, they plan to fine-tune plans for next year, Carlton said.

“I’m sure the Derby plan for 2007 will be different. We’ll make improvements and try to address some of the concerns people had,” he said.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/WHAS11_tops_cruisingwrap.2083a2d4.html


-----------------------------------------

Cruising crackdown creates commerce crisis for some

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The traffic and the money are once again flowing on Broadway. But you can still find signs of this weekend's cruising crackdown.


Including these barricades, which could be a symbol of the divide between businesses here and elsewhere in the city.

Also Online
View this story

Two Louisville businesses; two very different Derby weekends.


“It couldn't have been any better for us,” says Marshall Grissom, a manager at Raw, a downtown sushi restaurant.


“I mean it was like a nightmare,” says Vincent Starling, a manager at Indi's a West End fried chicken eatery where there's a truck of chicken still sitting out back waiting to be sold.


“It's more than half full. I mean, that's a big loss.” Indi’s is on Broadway, which was blocked off on Saturday night in the effort to stop derby cruising, while Raw is just south of Fourth Street Live, which was not.


“I felt like I was close to the track because so many people were walking by,” Grissom says.


We chose the locally owned restaurants at random and asked both managers: Did the cruising crackdown go too far?


“Yeah they blocked the front entrance so you couldn't get in, couldn't get out,” Starling says.


“If it keeps people safer, it might be for the better. But at the same time, you've got a lot of businesses not making the money they should make,” Grissom says.


So how much did they make? The manager at Indi’s says they took in about ten percent of what they made last year. And on Saturday, Raw more than doubled what they make in a typical day.
http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/WHAS11_TOP_CruisingBusinessImpact.20eaab2e.html

Best Buy to move ahead with Bullitt County repair center

Not bad paying jobs either...another good impact from our UPS hub...

Best Buy Co. Inc., the Minneapolis-based retailer of consumer electronics and personal computers, has decided to go with Greater Louisville as the site for a computer repair center that will employ 550 people.

The company's "Geek Squad" subsidiary, a computer-support task force that's on call 24 hours a day, will operate the facility, which will be called Geek Squad City, according to a news release.

The repair center will occupy 165,000 square feet in the ProLogis 65 Business Park in Hillview, Ky.

Best Buy also considered sites in Mississippi and Tennessee.

The Bullitt County site's proximity to United Parcel Service Inc.'s Worldport air hub, located at Louisville International Airport, will help shorten Best Buy's turnaround time for repairs.

Best Buy received preliminary approval for up to $9.3 million in state tax incentives for up to 10 years at a March 30 meeting of the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority in Frankfort.

Best Buy is a Fortune 100 company that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BBY. It has more than 930 retail stores across the United States and Canada. There are two stores in Louisville, at 5024 Shelbyville Road in St. Matthews and 4251 Outer Loop. There also is a Southern Indiana store at 1025 Veterans Parkway in Clarksville.

Kennedy Bridge to get new painting contractor

So, maybe third time will be a charm???

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said Monday it will request bids for a new painting contractor for the Kennedy Bridge beginning in June.

According to a news release, the state has terminated its previous contract with Atlantic Painting after disputes over pace of the work.

The $17.7 million project is scheduled to be completed by fall 2008.

Under the contract settlement, Atlantic Painting will keep more than $2 million for work completed, plus $350,000 for the removal of equipment from the bridge. The bonding company, Hanover Insurance, also has been released.

Louisville's Kennedy Bridge has five truss spans totaling 2,500 feet. It was last painted in 1977.

^^
Probly not. :sleepy:

Not huge news but I saw where Starbucks is agressively expanding in the area. This includes stores in coffee underserved areas like Buechel which will open soon and on Dixie Hwy in PRP. Also look for them in Jefferson Mall and along Veterans in S Indiana.

Louisville does have a lot of good local places which may explain why there are only 20 or 30 Starbucks here compared to 40 or 50 in similar sized metros. I always thought those rankings that rated a city based on per capita Starbucks among other things was interesting.

Arena deal with U of L coming soon

An agreement detailing the University of Louisville’s role in a proposed downtown arena is expected to be signed by next month, the head of the Louisville Arena Authority said Monday.

Authority chairman Jim Host said he is optimistic that three other contracts necessary to advance the project will be finalized before the authority’s June 19 meeting.

The authority, which is overseeing the project at Second and Main streets, still needs to reach agreements with:

Louisville Gas & Electric and Humana, the companies that own buildings and property at the proposed arena site.

Louisville Metro Government, which has guaranteed about $7.3 million a year over 30 years in local taxes from a special taxing district and new parking revenues to help pay for the arena.

The Kentucky Finance Cabinet. Host said the agreement is needed for the authority to have access to $75 million in state-issued bonds the General Assembly approved for the project.

Host said attorneys are reviewing the agreements.

“I can assure you we are pushing as hard as we can,” Host said.

Purdue to put education/business complex in New Albany

Good to see Purdue beefing up it's presence in southern Indiana.

Forty acres of the most desirable land in New Albany has been given to the Purdue Research Foundation for creation of a high-tech education and business complex.

The complex, at the intersection of Charlestown Road and Interstate 265, will include classrooms to be used by the Purdue College of Technology, which is housed at Indiana University Southeast, and space for new, high-tech businesses.

“With support from Purdue and IUS along with the center’s location so close to Louisville, companies should find New Albany a prime location to nurture their businesses,” Victor Lechtenberg, Purdue University vice provost for engagement said.

“Once those businesses grow, they can then look to south central Indiana for their high-tech work force.”

The 40 acres given by John Shine, president of Samtec Inc., an electronic connector manufacturer in New Albany, has a value of at least $9 million, the Purdue Research Foundation estimated.

It is at the southeast corner of Charlestown Road and I-265 interchange, in an area of Floyd County that is developing rapidly. The land has been sought by developers for years, but the Shine family has maintained it as a farm until now.

The research complex will be modeled on the Purdue technology center in Merrillville, and like it, is expected to foster the growth of high tech businesses and high-paying jobs in Southern Indiana, said Joseph Hornett, senior vice president and treasurer of the Purdue Research Foundation.

Construction of the high-tech education and business center is to begin in June and is to be completed in fall 2007.

A formal announcement is scheduled for May 25 in New Albany, when Purdue President Martin C. Jischke is to visit the city.

Arena authority expects to complete several agreements soon

By Marcus Green
magreen@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



An agreement detailing the University of Louisville's role in a proposed downtown arena is expected to be signed by next month, the head of the Louisville Arena Authority said yesterday.

Authority chairman Jim Host said he is optimistic that several other contracts needed to advance the project also will be finished before the authority meets June 19.

"I can assure you we are pushing as hard as we can," Host said.

The authority, which is overseeing the project at Second and Main streets, still needs to sign agreements with:

Louisville Gas & Electric and Humana, the companies that own buildings and property at the site.

Louisville Metro government, which has guaranteed about $7.3million a year for 30 years in local taxes from a special taxing district and new parking revenues.

The Kentucky Finance Cabinet. Host said an agreement is needed for the authority to have access to $75million in state-issued bonds the General Assembly approved.

Host said attorneys are reviewing the agreements.

At next month's meeting, sports industry consultants from the Leib Group plan to release a study of the arena'santicipated local economic impact.

Leib Group consultant David Stone gave a glimpse into the report yesterday, saying the project will generate ten of millions of dollars in new annual spending inside the arena. That includes ticket sales, food, naming rights and other advertising.

A downtown arena will spur about $20million in new spending at local restaurants and bars and $9million in new retail sales a year, Stone said. A planned restaurant at the site will generate about $4.5million in sales annually.

"This arena will have a dramatic impact" on downtown and the larger metro area, Host told reporters after the meeting.

Arena authority officials caution, however, that the figures are preliminary.

Another study being conducted by Hunden Strategic Partners of Chicago will determine whether downtown can support a 500-room hotel on the arena site — especially with a 300-room hotel planned for the downtown Museum Plaza.

"Five hundred rooms may or may not be the right number," Rob Hunden, the company's president, told authority members. "It may be quite a bit less than that."

Hunden said demand for hotel rooms in Louisville was steady over a 12-month period ending in March, even with the addition of the Marriott, 21c Museum Hotel and Residence Inn by Marriott downtown.

"That's a pretty positive thing to be able to say," Hunden said.

Reporter Marcus Green can be reached at (502) 582-4675.

Is it just me, or can downtown support another mega hotel after they build Museum Plaza? Also, I cannot think of what hotel brands they will bring in that are not already downtown. Westin? I don't think it would be anything too high end at this point.

I really would like to see the arena built at the Water Co site, and have it connect to 4th st Live and an urban mall in the Starks and Hilliard Lyons buildings which are aggressively kicking out tenants for some odd reason. Remember that the Hilliard Lyons building was originally Stewarts department store, probably one of the finest in the South at its peak in the 20's and 30's.

Anyhow, has anyone heard any plans for the Starks or Hilliard Lyons buildings? I know Jake mentioned a hotel may go in one but that would just be overkill....no way downtown can support upwards of 2000 more rooms within the next 3 years!

As I've said before, I believe Museum Plaza is perfect for a Westin hotel. If Providence is adding 200 rooms to its Westin that was only built a couple of years ago, I'm sure Louisville can sustain one of 300 rooms. Also, if one's going to be built with the arena, I'd imagine it'd be something like Sheraton.

Another score for a city on the move. . . :runaway:

UPS hiring 4,900 in $1 billion expansion
By Wayne Tompkins
The Courier-Journal

UPS is planning a major expansion of its Worldport air cargo hub at Louisville International Airport that will add thousands of new jobs, a spokesman for Gov. Ernie Fletcher confirmed late Tuesday.

According to sources at UPS, the $1 billion expansion will add a reported 1,200 full-time and 3,700 part-time jobs to the facility.

“They’re good-paying jobs,” said Fletcher spokesman Brett Hall. “It’s a coup.”

The company is also planning a significant physical expansion at Worldport, and will do so without acquiring additional land, the sources said.

Work on the project is scheduled to begin in late July and will continue through 2010. Hiring will also be spread over that period.

Hall said Tuesday that Fletcher approved an economic-development package associated with the project. He said he was unfamiliar with the details.

The expansion is the result of UPS’ increase in international, domestic and express air cargo traffic as it takes advantage of an expanding global economy.

Jobs will range from operations managers and computer technicians to package sorters. The vast majority of the jobs will be locally generated, though a few employees may be transferred in from other UPS facilities.

An official announcement is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at UPS’ Worldport facility. Several top officials are planning to attend, reportedly including Gov. Ernie Fletcher and Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson.

Abramson would not reveal or confirm any details of a UPS expansion, but said he will be at a press conference Wednesday with UPS and state officials.

“Tomorrow will be a great day for Louisville, Kentucky,” he said late Tuesday.

Reflecting back on the decision in the 1980s to expand Louisville International Airport — to allow for UPS expansion as well as better passenger service — Abramson said UPS operations have “grown beyond any of our hopes.”

Officials at Greater Louisville Inc., the metro chamber of commerce, declined comment.

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority is scheduled to meet in Frankfort half an hour before the scheduled announcement to consider incentives for the project.

UPS is the largest private employer in the metro region, providing 18,000 jobs.

The company already is in the middle of an $82.5 million expansion that involves a 700,000-square-foot heavy-freight hub due to open next month. The company, as of last week, said it still needed to hire for 700 part-time positions related to that expansion.

The latest expansion is expected to begin late this year, sources at UPS said.

Paul Coomes, an economist at the University of Louisville, said the expansion to be announced Wednesday would be welcome.

“There has not been much voltage in the local economy on the job front in Louisville in five years,” Coomes said. “This would probably qualify as the biggest job announcement in Louisville since the late ‘90s.”

Coomes said Louisville’s job numbers peaked in 2000.
News of the pending announcement broke after the close of trading and UPS shares closed at $80.76, down 56 cents.

The Worldport package sorting complex is 4 million square feet — the equivalent of more than 80 football fields — and automates the express package sorting process with advanced, customized technology.

The hub’s sorting capacity is 304,000 packages per hour — or more than 84 packages every second.

UPS formally opened Worldport in 2002. Planning began in 1995 and construction began in 1999.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060516/BUSINESS/60516057

WOW!!! 5000 jobs. Amazing news for Louisville. This is gonna have a big multiplier effect as well with more distribution companies wanting to be near the biggest UPS hub.

Not huge news but I saw where Starbucks is agressively expanding in the area. This includes stores in coffee underserved areas like Buechel which will open soon and on Dixie Hwy in PRP. Also look for them in Jefferson Mall and along Veterans in S Indiana.

Louisville does have a lot of good local places which may explain why there are only 20 or 30 Starbucks here compared to 40 or 50 in similar sized metros. I always thought those rankings that rated a city based on per capita Starbucks among other things was interesting.

i live in the Prarie Village-Bridgegate- Stoneridge area in Southwestern Louisville now which is like the east end of this end of town which i like better w/ less traffic.. & i have been wondering and figured that starbucks would be going into Dixie Manor but i juss couldnt find the information on the internet anywhere?? Where did you find it?? J/W .. Oh and rumor goes that TGI Friday is looking at the Dixie Highway Area also for future Louisville expansion.. Beef O Bradys Is opening in Valley Station Road off of Dixie Highway also in the coming months.. Finally some transformation in the Southwest Part of the County...!!!!

i live in the Prarie Village-Bridgegate- Stoneridge area in Southwestern Louisville now which is like the east end of this end of town which i like better w/ less traffic.. & i have been wondering and figured that starbucks would be going into Dixie Manor but i juss couldnt find the information on the internet anywhere?? Where did you find it?? J/W .. Oh and rumor goes that TGI Friday is looking at the Dixie Highway Area also for future Louisville expansion.. Beef O Bradys Is opening in Valley Station Road off of Dixie Highway also in the coming months.. Finally some transformation in the Southwest Part of the County...!!!!

http://www.louisvilleky.gov/ipl/development/ePermitSearch.htm

Search for Building permits in the last month. Its the best way to find the latest news out for urban nerds like us before the CJ reports it :)

How do you like SW county JTSLou? Why does it say Indianapolis in your profile?


Oh, and is UPS adding 5,000 additionL jobs after the ones they have already added? The only thing is they are not based here (well UPS air is)...I worry we will become to reliant on them....lets coax them away from the traffic and sprawl of Atlanta and welcome them and thei rbig bucks home to the ville! If I was mayor Jerry that would be a huge priority.

It would make sense for them to move thier headquarters here, since it's going to big their biggest hub. If you count the jobs that they are currently adding (800), with the ones just anounced thats 6000 jobs within a year's time, then add things like the Humana expansion (around 1000) then Louisville has added over 7000 jobs with around a year! This is just talking about 2 or so companies, you wanna talk about growth, this is the way to do it. Add in all the projects downtown, the arena, and it's easy to see Louisville is on it's was up.

great news on the job expansion! These are the types of things that we need here in the region! "Our" location in this section of the country is only going to make logistics and distribution even more prominent, especially with the globalization of our economy!

Here's the latest on the expansion....


UPS to hire more than 5,000 in expansion
By Wayne Tompkins
and Robert Schoenberger
The Courier-Journal



UPS will increase the capacity of its Worldport hub at Louisville International Airport by 60 percent in an expansion expected to cost more than $1 billion and employ more than 5,000, the company said Wednesday.

In announcing the expansion Wednesday morning, UPS said it would hire 1,284 full-time workers and 3,787 part-timers to staff the expanded hub. UPS already employs about 18,000 in Louisville.

The full-time jobs will pay an average of $41.73 per hour before benefits and include additional pilots and executives, according to UPS’ application for state incentives. The part-time jobs don’t qualify for state tax breaks.

In Frankfort Thursday morning, the state approved UPS to receive $31.6 million in incentives, according to Donna Duncan, commissioner for the department of financial incentives.

Once the expansion is completed in November of 2010, UPS' Louisville hub will be able to handle 487,000 packages per hour, the company said.

WOW...and with the recently announced FedEx expansion here in Indy, the I-65 corridor will be over-run wqith UPS and FedEx trucks!

http://www.louisvilleky.gov/ipl/development/ePermitSearch.htm

Search for Building permits in the last month. Its the best way to find the latest news out for urban nerds like us before the CJ reports it :)

How do you like SW county JTSLou? Why does it say Indianapolis in your profile?


Oh, and is UPS adding 5,000 additionL jobs after the ones they have already added? The only thing is they are not based here (well UPS air is)...I worry we will become to reliant on them....lets coax them away from the traffic and sprawl of Atlanta and welcome them and thei rbig bucks home to the ville! If I was mayor Jerry that would be a huge priority.

Actually I thought it was going to be like a big change from Downtown then to the East End now Southwest County.. Now Its really not, I mean i walk out my door and people are running(excercising), homes around the area reach from the low 200,000's to the 800,000's in many cases.. the only thing i am far from WAS Starbucks, and shopping but i dont mind having to drive & when driving it is not uncommon to see MANY MANY BMW's; Mercedes; HUMMERS; Range Rover; Ect...This area is very different though and not to knock the western part of Dixie Hwy. But it is not NEAR as nice as the Eastern Side of the Highway.. & As far as the Indianapolis being on my profile,, I have been living their half and half w/ some family up in the Castleton Mall Northeast Indy area.

http://www.louisvilleky.gov/ipl/development/ePermitSearch.htm

Search for Building permits in the last month. Its the best way to find the latest news out for urban nerds like us before the CJ reports it :)

How do you like SW county JTSLou? Why does it say Indianapolis in your profile?


Oh, and is UPS adding 5,000 additionL jobs after the ones they have already added? The only thing is they are not based here (well UPS air is)...I worry we will become to reliant on them....lets coax them away from the traffic and sprawl of Atlanta and welcome them and thei rbig bucks home to the ville! If I was mayor Jerry that would be a huge priority.

I share your sentiment re: UPS's corporate headquarters. It might be a pipe dream, but it's nice to dream. And I don't know if fifteen years ago we would have had enough confidence in Louisville to have such thoughts. It's a good feeling--whether realistic or not.

After billions in recent investments by UPS, I think it's becoming impossible to be too reliant on the Brown. I think it just becomes a massive success begets success cycle that will lead to more Zappos, more Best Buys, more Cafepresses, etc. I've become more and more excited to read the C-J every morning. Great things are happening.

How about a new motto for Greater Louisville, Inc.? How about "Logistically Louisville"?

Anyways (and possibly more realistically), I cast my vote for Brown Arena.

WOW...and with the recently announced FedEx expansion here in Indy, the I-65 corridor will be over-run wqith UPS and FedEx trucks!

When I go up to Indy for business, I pass up more UPS and Fed Ex trucks than I do cars.LOL Its definitly good for this region and the transport of goods in the area. :)

City buys 94 acres along Floyds Fork for suburban parks


Metro Parks has purchased 94 acres along Floyds Fork near Interstate 64 to add to its massive suburban parks project, Mayor Jerry Abramson announced Thursday.

The $2.06 million purchase, which Metro Parks completed Wednesday, means the city now directly owns 845 acres that will be developed into new park land through the City of Parks initiative announced in February 2005, according to Metro Parks press release.

Additional acreage in the Floyds Fork area is being acquired and land-banked by two project partners — 21st Century Parks and Future Fund.

The property, largely to the south of I-64 along South Beckley Station Road, is primarily flat open space, with trees along its edges, according to the press release.

The Oesterritter family purchased the property in the 1940s, and operated a dairy farm on the site until 1990. More recently, the property has been used to grow sod.

Until the property is developed into parkland, a lease remains in place that will allow the sod farm to continue.

Metro Parks officials said the Oesterritter property would be ideal for sports fields.

The City of Parks initiative includes acquisition of thousands of acres of new parkland, investing millions to improve existing parks and develop a 100-mile paved metro loop path.

The initiative has $59 million in funding commitments from public and private sources.

This is one of my favorite things that the mayor has done for Louisville. When this is completed, our children will appreciate these parks much like we appreciate the Olmsted system we have now.

^^
I am really happy to hear that this thing is still in full-stride. I recall a lot of money left over from the state budget or something a few months back that was put into this fund. A lot of people thought it could have been spent more wisely, but the sooner this land is bought and this park system is put together, the better the city will age. Its really exciting that the city is paying attention to smarter, wiser growth like this.

Obviously, I'm all for more parks but I think there is a negative side effect that this could produce. The problem is that this leaves less land to develop in Jefferson County. That's one of the advantages that Louisville has over other cities that have become built up to the county line. They've run out of room to expand and more importantly have fewer options in increasing their tax base to pay for things like.....well, parks. The shift of power then begins to move toward the surrounding counties. Cincinnati is a textbook example of this.

I'm worried that these parks will look nice but be surrounded by typical low density sprawl that will actually promote even more sprawl in nearby places like Spencer and Shelby County. The problem is that the areas where these parks are located are in relatively undeveloped areas so any sort of truly urban developments will be shot down immediately. Good luck getting anything over four stories. Therefore the typical suburban crap will probably show up in it's place. Basically, whatever the devloper can get away with. With the lower density, the parks mean less room for people to live and work in Jefferson County but provide yet another reason for people to consider living in a nearby county.

Think about it. Why live in the city to be close to the fine city parks when you can live out your suburban fantasy surrounded by equally great parks? The fine parks are one of the few advantages that the urban city has over the suburbs. Not anymore......

It doesn't have to happen this way but it will take strict enforcement to keep this scenario from playing out. I just hope that everyone realizes that securing this parkland is only one part of a smart growth initiative. What happens around these areas is equally important and you only get one chance to do it right.

Well...look at it this way, with or without the parks that area will more than likely have that low density development your talking about. What the ring of parks will do is for one raise property values, therefore even if the development is low density it will atleast be of higher quality. I think developments like Norton Commons will become more and more popular as time goes on, yes they are still technically suburbs(and imo overpriced), but atleast they are more dense. Would you rather have these parks and have the development surrounding them resemble neighborhoods like Lake Forest, Norton Common, etc. Or would you rather not have the parks and have more development but have it resemble something that Dominion Homes would put up (neighborhoods where houses literally look the same and are all vinyl.) Thats the way I see it.
Sure once land is developed here Louisville's population growth will slow down significantly, but a lot of tax revenue comes from businesses, not individual property taxes (look at the problems Spencer county is having with its tax base). Anyway I don't see Jefferson county running out of developable land within the next 20 or so years (maybe 15 at the earliest), even with the parks. The reason I say this is that there is a renewed interest in the cities more urban neighborhoods such as Old Louisville and the Highlands, not just that but also in new urbanism type developments such as Norton Commons, and the new development planned for Herr Lane.
Your right on when you say there needs to be more restrictions to keep sprawl down. I really think/hope that the city is staying on top of this, the good thing is that people seem to be more aware of this problem and more likely to do something about it.

Actually I thought it was going to be like a big change from Downtown then to the East End now Southwest County.. Now Its really not, I mean i walk out my door and people are running(excercising), homes around the area reach from the low 200,000's to the 800,000's in many cases.. the only thing i am far from WAS Starbucks, and shopping but i dont mind having to drive & when driving it is not uncommon to see MANY MANY BMW's; Mercedes; HUMMERS; Range Rover; Ect...This area is very different though and not to knock the western part of Dixie Hwy. But it is not NEAR as nice as the Eastern Side of the Highway

One has to almost be from or lived in Southwest County to understand the variation within that part of the county, such as the east of/west of Dixie Hwy divide.

I'm pretty familiar with the area JTS is talking about as I grew up there and my folks still live there. In fact I'm going there tomorrow.

Techinically the area is part of Valley Station (zip code),...with the area north of Pages Lane being in Pleasure Ridge zip.

The east of Dixie area really varies sudivision by subdivision...there are some blue collar and I daresay "redneck subdivisions there, such as Villa Anna, and "235" subdivisions like Leemont Acreas and such, but also more middle class or better-payed blue collar areas like Prarie Village, Highview, and Timothy Hills (which also had a bit of a Fort Knox contingent).

Prairie Village is one of the oldest subdivisions in the area, dating from the early 1950s..(so is Villa Anna) but also has a newer part from the later 1960s. Local urban legend has it the basements in older houses there have thickened foundation walls at a corner so they can be turned into fallout shelters.

The first really upscale "East End" style sudivision in SW County was Windsor Forest, starting in the late 1960s. And also the early developement along Cardinal Hill Road leading to the resevoir. Windsor Forest probably remains the most ecologically sensitive development as it incorporates , a lake (probably an old paylake), and dedicated open space and a trail system which connects back into Waverly Lake. Some of the houses in back end of Windsor Forest, backing on to Wavery, are quite large: one made it into that Princeton Archtictural Guide to Louisville as an example of good modern house design.

That belt of hill country running from Iroquois Park, past Cardinal Hill, to Waverly Lake & Waverly Hills and dieing out behind JCC Southwest (north of Old Third Street Road) is really the center of this upscale development. The roads in this area are Arnoldtown, St Anthony Church Road, Manslick (?) and Pages Lane. Windsor Forest was the first, but during the 1970s and really during the 1980s the hills went underreally intense development, along Arnoldtown (Hardwood Forest), St Anthony Church Road, and then Pages Lane (Stonebridge) and the "flats" area up on top of Highview, which connects down to Old Third Street, behind James Hill Road.

That hill country is really great as its quite scenic, steep slopes, narrow hollows, forests, and distant views. Really special, actually, as the East End isn't quite as rugged.

One also see's minifarm or mini-estate development taking off on Blevins Gap Road and Bearcamp, up into valleys penetrating the Knobs s. of the Gene Snyder.

Even areas that used to be considered downmarket, like Leemont Acres, have seen new extensions that have fairly large houses. It is pretty amazing to a old-timer like me to see the intensity of development in Valley Station...areas that have been empty for decades (like some properties off Deering Road and the tract just west of Villa Anna) are going under development.

So its always fun to tour around the area to check out the new development. As for coffeehouses or upscale stuff...well, most people used to go to the east end for that. I seem to recall a coffeehouse on West Pages, just west of Dixie....dont know if its still in buisiness.

The area west of Dixie is just older 1950s suburbia (some of it actually dates from the 1940s and 1920s/30s)...and it was built as mostly blue collar housing for factory workers....yet there are some large properties tucked back in there, still. Even in that west of Dixie area one is seeing new "infill" developement on the remaining vacant land.

I know the hills your talking about, there is a lot going on up there. I've seen several new subdivisions and single houses as well. They also have some great views, driving along one of the roads you can see Caesers. One thing I always wonder is when it snows...how do they get out without sliding all the way down the hill.

I know the hills your talking about, there is a lot going on up there. I've seen several new subdivisions and single houses as well. They also have some great views, driving along one of the roads you can see Caesers. One thing I always wonder is when it snows...how do they get out without sliding all the way down the hill.

Well most of the neighborhoods on the hills have their own snow removal systems so the people dont slide or a whole lot of people wouldnt be going to work....

Well..an interesting visit. Got a tour of some of the new developments in Southwest County.

One of the interesting things is they moved that old Bethany Methodist Church to the Farnsley/Moreman historic site, from the original location at Dixie and Bethany Lane....apparently the site will will be the location of a new Cracker Barrell.

And an Outback Steakhouse is going in over at Dixie Manor.

It looks like development is proceeding at a nice clip over at the Pinnacle off Pages Lane, with a bunch of brand new "patio homes" built overlooking Bobby Nichols golf course.

As part of the trip my Dad took me over to the West End as he is there all week driving my nephew to and from Brandies Elementary....he showed me the this place called Maverick Steel near Brandeis, which was supposed to relocate to the Riverport but is going to Mexico, perhaps, instead.

And he also showed my the restoration work going on at the Marine Hospital in Portland. Reallly good to see that this very historicl old building is being restored , but Im not sure what for...my Dad thinks its a museum, but the construction sign didnt say that.

Also, as we drove through the West End I was noticing there was infill construction going on..new houses on empty lots and such, as well as some remodelling....

Probably the biggest change was noticing what happened to the Park-Duvalle Projects, which use to be visible from the Shawnee Expressway (which has been rebuilt, too)...these old barracks-like projects have been replaced with what looks like a "new urbanist" townhouse development. Very impressive.

Another thing I found out is apparently Metro Parks has bought the old Kennedy place in Valley Station, next to Jesse Stuart, and this old farmstead and property is going to be turned into a community center.

Good to hear they are saving another 19th century farmhouse down in Valley Station, as so much from that period has been lost.

City has big plans for Riverview Park

Nice redo of a southwest end park

Long-range plans to transform Riverview Park at Greenwood Road into a regional destination for recreation were disclosed yesterday by Mayor Jerry Abramson.

Abramson is including $250,000 in his new budget for a detailed master plan for Riverview that likely will include boat-launching facilities, trails, an enlarged playground and splash park, a dog run, a large promenade for throwing Frisbees and flying kites, picnic shelters and extensive parking.

A second phase will include ball fields.

“Riverview Park will become a spectacular recreational destination,” Abramson said.

Waterfront Development Corp., which oversees Waterfront Park, eventually will take over the planning, development and fund-raising for Riverview’s expansion

Jeff Ruby's Louisville restaurant will open Wednesday


You can get a look at what $3 million buys in a restaurant these days when Jeff Ruby’s Louisville opens Wednesday in the Waterfront Plaza at 325 W. Main St.

The upscale steakhouse, with its art deco decor and 32-foot “wall of wine,” is Ruby’s first venture outside the Cincinnati market.
The 58-year-old restaurateur is famous in the Queen City for his half-dozen top restaurants and a seventh at the Belterra casino in Vevay, Ind.

The Al J. Schneider Co. sought out Ruby to develop an anchor restaurant for Waterfront Plaza, an office and retailing center fronting on Main and connected to Schneider’s Galt House hotel complex.

The dining area and adjoining supper club, separated by a 1,200-gallon shark tank, seat 190, with another 65 seats in the Churchill Room and a 12-seat private dining room.

Entrees run from $18 to $55 (for a steak-and-lobster combo).

Jeff Ruby’s Louisville opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Reservations are suggested. Diners will be limited to about 50, Ruby said, to make sure the operation is running smoothly before a full opening.

Riverview park, in my time, was a place for us high school kids (in the 1970s) to go on dates to "watch the submarine races".

Well..an interesting visit. Got a tour of some of the new developments in Southwest County.

One of the interesting things is they moved that old Bethany Methodist Church to the Farnsley/Moreman historic site, from the original location at Dixie and Bethany Lane....apparently the site will will be the location of a new Cracker Barrell.

And an Outback Steakhouse is going in over at Dixie Manor.

It looks like development is proceeding at a nice clip over at the Pinnacle off Pages Lane, with a bunch of brand new "patio homes" built overlooking Bobby Nichols golf course.

As part of the trip my Dad took me over to the West End as he is there all week driving my nephew to and from Brandies Elementary....he showed me the this place called Maverick Steel near Brandeis, which was supposed to relocate to the Riverport but is going to Mexico, perhaps, instead.

And he also showed my the restoration work going on at the Marine Hospital in Portland. Reallly good to see that this very historicl old building is being restored , but Im not sure what for...my Dad thinks its a museum, but the construction sign didnt say that.

Also, as we drove through the West End I was noticing there was infill construction going on..new houses on empty lots and such, as well as some remodelling....

Probably the biggest change was noticing what happened to the Park-Duvalle Projects, which use to be visible from the Shawnee Expressway (which has been rebuilt, too)...these old barracks-like projects have been replaced with what looks like a "new urbanist" townhouse development. Very impressive.

Park Duvalle is a very nice neighborhood jeff. You would be pleasantly suprised how quite it is over there as I have friends who live in very nice homes over there. The only thing I don't like about the area is the stinch from rubbertown, the city really needs to address that. You can smell that stuff in peoples homes its so strong. From what I understand the Marine hospital is supposed to be a Museum.

Ha, Riverview parks serves the same purpose today in regards to teenagers.(atleast as of 2004 when I graduated) Although I didn't get to experience that aspect of the park because I went to school at Seneca High therefore all my friends lived in other parts of the city, however, I heard plenty of stories from friends who did live in southwest Louisville, funny how things never change. It's a great park with an awesome view of the knobs across the river. The plans look great, I look forward to seeing them come about.

Norton to demolish three buildings, top new parking garage with offices

Norton Healthcare will demolish three buildings and erect a 14-floor parking and medical office building as part of a major revamping of the Floyd Street portion of downtown Louisville’s medical center.

Norton officials said the project will create an open, campuslike atmosphere on Floyd between Broadway and Chestnut Street, with landscaping and green space replacing three half-century-old buildings.

Coming down will be two blue-paneled buildings on the west side of Floyd, Medical Towers North and South, and a red-brick building at the corner of Chestnut that once housed Children’s Hospital.

Eventually, Norton expects to put a new building on that corner, across Chestnut from Kosair Children’s Hospital, although plans aren’t final.

That building will include a pediatric outpatient center to give Kosair Children’s breathing room, and perhaps some added space for the adjacent Norton Hospital. A timetable for construction hasn’t been set.

Demolition will begin next February on Medical Towers North. Medical Towers South will come down in 2010. The brick building, known at the Norton Healthcare Service Building, will be demolished in 2009.

“The bottom line is, these buildings are worn out,” said Stephen A. Williams, Norton’s president and chief executive officer. “We either have to put a lot of money into trying to rehab them, or they have to be taken down and replaced.” Replacing them makes better financial sense, he said.

Tenants of the three buildings will be relocated into space in other Norton buildings in the medical center.

The new office and parking building will be just west of Medical Towers North, set back from Floyd. Construction is scheduled to start next spring.

The building will top an existing three-story parking garage on Gray Street just west of Floyd. Norton has surgery operations in its basement.

Norton will add four stories of parking, and a developer will build six floors above that.

The nonprofit company plans to lease three floors from the developer for conference space and administrative offices, while the developer will lease the other three to physicians. A developer hasn’t been chosen yet.

Norton estimates it will cost $24 million to demolish the buildings, build new walkways, create courtyards, add the parking floors and relocate tenants.

Its board of trustees approved the project earlier this month.

new tower?

-----------------------------------------------

Norton to demolish three buildings, top new parking garage with offices
By Patrick Howington
The Courier-Journal



Norton Healthcare will demolish three buildings and erect a 14-floor parking and medical office building as part of a major revamping of the Floyd Street portion of downtown Louisville’s medical center.

Norton officials said the project will create an open, campuslike atmosphere on Floyd between Broadway and Chestnut Street, with landscaping and green space replacing three half-century-old buildings.

Coming down will be two blue-paneled buildings on the west side of Floyd, Medical Towers North and South, and a red-brick building at the corner of Chestnut that once housed Children’s Hospital.

Eventually, Norton expects to put a new building on that corner, across Chestnut from Kosair Children’s Hospital, although plans aren’t final.

That building will include a pediatric outpatient center to give Kosair Children’s breathing room, and perhaps some added space for the adjacent Norton Hospital. A timetable for construction hasn’t been set.

Demolition will begin next February on Medical Towers North. Medical Towers South will come down in 2010. The brick building, known at the Norton Healthcare Service Building, will be demolished in 2009.

“The bottom line is, these buildings are worn out,” said Stephen A. Williams, Norton’s president and chief executive officer. “We either have to put a lot of money into trying to rehab them, or they have to be taken down and replaced.” Replacing them makes better financial sense, he said.

Tenants of the three buildings will be relocated into space in other Norton buildings in the medical center.

The new office and parking building will be just west of Medical Towers North, set back from Floyd. Construction is scheduled to start next spring.

The building will top an existing three-story parking garage on Gray Street just west of Floyd. Norton has surgery operations in its basement.

Norton will add four stories of parking, and a developer will build six floors above that.

The nonprofit company plans to lease three floors from the developer for conference space and administrative offices, while the developer will lease the other three to physicians. A developer hasn’t been chosen yet.

Norton estimates it will cost $24 million to demolish the buildings, build new walkways, create courtyards, add the parking floors and relocate tenants.

Its board of trustees approved the project earlier this month.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060523/BUSINESS/60523016

All this news is great...looks like the new condos, towers, and parks keep popping. Here is some news I have from Poe Companies regarding the huse RiverPark high rise development that you all may be interested in....

Poe Companies to Submit Final Plans for RiverPark for Approval by Waterfront Development Corp. May 24


Poe Companies will present its final plans for Phase I of RiverPark for approval before the Waterfront Development Corporation Board of Director’s meeting on Wednesday afternoon, May 24 at 4:00 pm. For the first time, digital renderings of the proposed development will be released to the public, as well as floor plans, architectural schematics and newly-released information about the upcoming development.

- Steve Poe, President, Poe Companies
- Waterfront Development Corporation Board of Directors
- Norman Berry, K. Norman Berry Architects
- Rob Chandler, Goody Clancy Architects

Wednesday, May 24, 2006, at 4:00 p.m.

Waterfront Development Corporation
Board Room
129 East River Road
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 574-3768

Keep in mind these renderings are only phase 1. The full scope of the project will add 900 additional condos for a total of 1500. The additional condos will be developed over the next 10 years, but phase one should have the first 600 units open in the next few years.

Notice the heavy density-two 16 story towers and the rest 5 story buildings. Additional towers will be constructed in later phases. Perhaps the most shocking thing is that they are marketing the condos at local market rate under 300k...this price range will sell like wildfire. This is also one of the largest waterfront developments in the country.

Wow, there are thousands of downtown and near downtown condos opeing in the next couple of years. Louisville has hit a boom. :eek2:

www.poecompanies.com gives better renderings



A new look for the city's 'front porch'
600-plus condos likely near Towhead Island

By Sheldon S. Shafer
sshafer@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



A $200 million plan to build more than 600 condominiums across from Towhead Island is expected to get the go-ahead today with ground-breaking occurring this fall.

The Poe Companies, led by local developer Steve Poe, will seek final design approval today from the Waterfront Development Corp. board. Later signoffs will be needed from the Metro Planning Commission and the Army Corps of Engineers, but Poe said yesterday that he expects to break ground by early fall, with first occupancy in spring 2008.



Poe said the group is developing "one of the country's largest mixed-use, urban waterfront developments."

The 42-acre site north of River Road, just downriver from Beargrass Creek, will "dramatically change our hometown's front porch," Mayor Jerry Abramson said.

The city has been holding the land for a housing development since the 1980s. A previous group called FallsHarbor lost the rights in 1999 after trying for years to develop the property once occupied by Thruston Park.

RiverPark Place will have two 16-story towers with 215 condos.

South of the towers will be four, five-story buildings with 408 more condos.

The condos will have one to three bedrooms -- and most will cost $139,000 to $299,000, Poe said.

The development agreement with the city calls for Poe to pay the city 4 percent of the proceeds from all condo sales for use of the land.

Developers have compiled a list of 250 people interested in purchasing units, he said.

The project also will include a 10,000-square-foot sales center and a public plaza between the two towers.

"It is intended as a congregating place, where you can sit and eat ice cream," Poe said.

Other features include a promenade along the river linking with Waterfront Park, an outdoor pool, 1,300 underground and surface parking spaces and a 144-slip marina.

Poe said the partners plan continuous construction in the next seven to 10 years once the first phase is complete. Later plans call for up to 900 more riverfront dwellings at the site.

Under an agreement with state historic preservation officers, Poe Companies is spending $450,000 to dig in four areas where old pottery shards, tool remnants and other artifacts were found in the early 1990s. Poe said the areas will be studied and any artifacts cataloged and saved.

Reporter Sheldon S. Shafer can be reached at (502) 582-7089

i don't see any renderings

click on the link in his post.

This development is going to be mammouth. That would totally change the waterfront all the way to damn near zorn ave. What is so amazing to me is all the infill this development will have. The mix of high-rise and mid-rise is amazing. I've been critical of city leaders and big pocket book folks, but man they are really stepping up and moving louisville forward. Louisville needs to continue to capitalize off the beauty of the riverfront. I know this is a place I might look into moving to. The arena, museum plaza, and this development and all of them being finish about the same time Wow!!!!! Louisville will look totally different in about 4 years. :)

So what is the deal with Museum Plaza? will it happen, whats the latest?

So what is the deal with Museum Plaza? will it happen, whats the latest?


The latest hasnt changed--it will break ground by early to mid 2007 and will be finished around 2010. One of the developers (steve poe) has just announced two twin 16 story towers just upriver as part of a larger 600 condo urban waterfront development (River Park Place). Check it out at www.poeproperties.com

Louisville's waterfront and downtown is booming and I do not see the highrise condo trend ending anytime soon. The 23 story luxurious Waterfront Park Place started the trend and it just seems to continue.

Defense plant may go on river near Zorn


Metro and state governments have stepped up efforts to attract BAE Systems' $41.7 million gun magazine plant to Louisville, and the company is considering a site on the Ohio River near downtown.

Yesterday, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority approved $765,000 in sales-tax rebates for the British company. The rebates could be applied to equipment and building-materials purchases for the 90-job plant. They are in addition to $1.5 million in income-tax credits that the state approved last month.

Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson said BAE is considering a site next to the Buddeke Co.'s River Road Terminal near Zorn Avenue.

In addition to the state incentives, Abramson said Metro government has offered to help finance the project through industrial revenue bonds and to let BAE keep half of the money raised from the 1 percent occupational tax on workers at the plant. BAE plans to pay workers more than $47,000 per year on average, making the occupational tax offer worth more than $200,000 over its 10-year lifespan.

"We've made our best offer," Abramson said. "We're hopeful."

Mike Seale, a BAE program director for homeland security, said competition for the plant is spirited.

"We are very close to making a decision," Seale said from company offices in Louisville.

On Wednesday, the Louisville Waterfront Development Corp. agreed to let its executive committee review BAE plant designs instead of having the plans sent to the full board. Mike Kimmel, deputy director of the waterfront agency, said that will speed up the approval process if BAE chooses Louisville.

The Waterfront Development Corp. has design oversight authority for land on the river stretching between Fourth Street and Zorn.

BAE employs 308 people at its naval gun plant in the Technology Park of Greater Louisville, formerly the Naval Ordnance Station. That factory is set to build BAE's Advanced Gun System starting in 2008. The system, to be used in the Navy's upcoming DD(X) destroyer line, will be able to fire guided ammunition as far as 80 miles.

The new plant would produce magazines to feed ammunition into the 155 mm guns.

BAE officials have said they need a site with barge access because both the parts and the finished magazines are extremely heavy, making them very expensive to ship by truck or rail.

Abramson and state officials said they want the plant because of its high-tech, high-wage jobs.


OTHER EXPANSION PLANS

Other projects approved for incentives yesterday by the state.

FKI Logistex
The automated material-handling company is considering an expansion in Louisville.
Jobs: 35. Payroll: $1.7 million. Average Salary: 50,000$ Incentives: $1.88 million.

Bolivar Specialties
The Louisville construction-industry supplier plans to build in Riverport.
Jobs: 2. Payroll: $100,000. Average Salary: 50,000$ Incentives: $72,000.

Travelex Currency Services
The company is considering a distribution center in Louisville.
Jobs: 23. Payroll: $740,000. Average Salary: 33,000$ Incentives: $480,000.

Bullitt may add two distribution centers

Two distribution centers that would add nearly 500 jobs are being considered for Bullitt County.

Fidelitone, which handles distribution for companies such as Black & Decker, is considering a 630,000-square-foot distribution facility that would employ 396, paying between $10 and $24 per hour, according to the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority.

Average pay would be $22,000 per year before benefits.

Johnson & Johnson is considering a 99-job pharmaceutical distribution center in Shepherdsville.

The full-time jobs are expected to pay between $15 and $31.25 per hour before benefits.

Fidelitone is based near Chicago in Wauconda, Ill., where it has a 316,000-square-foot facility. It also has a 150,000-square-foot facility in Hampstead, Md. The family-owned business was founded in 1929.

Fidelitone was approved by the authority for up to $5 million in incentives. Johnson & Johnson was approved for $3.96 million in incentives, and a company spokeswoman said she couldn't say whether the company had committed to the project.

Thanks for the update Jake, UPS is really really blessing Bullitt county. UPS is the sole reason why many of these distribution companies are moving to Bullitt county and it helps Bullitt County's tax structure. Good to hear more and more jobs moving to the metro.

It seems several new businesses open downtown each month:

Second grocery to open along East Market Street

By Martha Elson
melson@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



After years without a grocery, the up and coming East Market Street corridor will get a second new grocery next month -- with help from the city.

Clifton residents Joey Lester and Bob Joles plan to open The Bodega at Felice.



It will be a grocery, cappuccino bar, deli and meals-to-go establishment at the Felice Vineyard complex, 829 E. Market. Lester and Joles say they also plan to sell micro-brewed beers, international foods and pastries.

"We really expect to have a lot of walk-up business," Lester said.

The Market on Market grocery, deli and gourmet-to-go operation opened in March closer to downtown, at 445 E. Market, under the ownership of Page and Dustin von Wheeler.

"Right now we're holding our own," Dustin von Wheeler said last week.

The store's clientele is about evenly split between downtown residents and workers, he said, and he expects business to increase as more condominiums and other residences are completed in the area.

The owners of both stores received $50,000 forgivable loans from the city's Metropolitan Business Development Corp. Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson initiated the forgivable loan program two years ago as a way to spur business development in 16 underserved neighborhoods.

The city agency has committed $850,000 in forgivable loan money so far, said Drew Shryock, an administrator with the Metro Development Authority.

While the new grocery stores are within about a half-mile of each other, Shryock said, the second store will allow more options.

Charles Foree, another administrator with the agency, said Interstate 65 creates a dividing line between their two areas.

The East Downtown Business Association, formed in the early 1990s, has come up with a strategic plan for its membership area, which runs from Baxter to Preston avenues along Market, Main and Jefferson streets.

"There's going to be enough people down there that it will easily support what both of them (the groceries) are trying to do," said Bill Marzian, the business association's president and a property owner on East Market. "That is the gateway to the city from the east side of town."

Other businesses also are opening in the area.

The Blue Mountain Coffee House is planned by businessman Nicholas Arno at 400 E. Main St., also with help from a $50,000 forgivable loan. Arno, who lives in Indian Hills, said he hopes to open by midsummer.

Last week, the Metro Development Authority also approved a $50,000 loan for Toast on Market, a breakfast and lunch spot proposed by Amy Wepf at 736 E. Market, in a building owned by Marzian.

Bodega co-owners Lester and Joles, who have visited East Market during the First Friday Trolley Hops and attended wine tastings at Felice, said they had heard downtown residents say a grocery was needed.

Lester has worked at restaurants, including Captain's Quarters, and now is a sales trainer for Verizon Wireless. Joles has worked at a bank and at local department stores, including Jacobson's.

The Felice Vineyard and winery complex opened on Market near Campbell Street in 2003 in a 14,000-square-foot former office-supply company building, and Melillo's at the Piazza de Felice restaurant moved there in 2004.

Jeff Tatman said he and his wife had extra space in the building, which they bought for $362,500 after it had been vacant for about 10 years.

The Tatmans received a $30,000 low-interest loan from the city to improve the facade, he said.

Reporter Martha Elson can be reached at (502) 582-7061.

The new www.museumplaza.net is up and running. :applause:

The new www.museumplaza.net is up and running. :applause:

great looking website

The new www.museumplaza.net is up and running. :applause:
Whoa. Thats a slick website. :okay:
I had just checked museumplaza.org early today to see if the new site was up and it was not, so it had to have gone up this evening.

Awesome, 2010 is going to be a banner year for the city. 1 billion in construction to be completed. :)

The new www.museumplaza.net is up and running. :applause:

bout' fraggin time..

Developments planned for Irish Hill, downtown

Plans for two major Louisville developments will be unveiled in the next several days.

One involves converting two former scrap-metal yards on Lexington Road into a cluster of retail businesses — possibly including a grocery or home improvement store. It would be called The Crossings at Irish Hill.

The second is a $4 million condominium project to be located on the eastern edge of downtown on East Market Street and will be one of the first private investments in the area near the old Clarksdale public housing complex. It will be called Gallery Square Lofts.

The Irish Hill development is being spearheaded by The Poe Companies, headed by Steve Poe, who has a contract to buy two tracts if land along Beargrass Creek. Poe is expected to meet with neighbors to discuss plans on Monday. It will be the third such meeting.

Poe has asked the city to change the zoning at the site, which is at 1371 and 1373 Lexington Road, just west of Payne Street.

Construction on Gallery Square, a 21-unit, four-building condo development at Clay and Jefferson streets, is scheduled to start sometime in June and be finished by fall 2007

Would any of you guys be interested in hooking up with some Lexington forumers to help promote both our cities and the commonwealth? Possibly maybe meeting somewhere maybe in frankfort or somwhere in between? Its just an idea and there is nothing concrete as of right now but its just an idea. The idea basically stems from wanting to see the state as a whole prosper and also help promote our urban areas throughout the commonwealth. We already know the perception some people have throughout the state just about Louisville alone. With forwarding some input to frankfort we could possibly change some attitudes and mindsets. Just an idea if anyone is interested if not then thats cool.

Does anyone know whats going on with the loft construction behind the marriott on market? I thought they were suppose to start construction on that last summer. What is the hold up? Is it funds? That place is starting to become an eye sore.

Would any of you guys be interested in hooking up with some Lexington forumers to help promote both our cities and the commonwealth? Possibly maybe meeting somewhere maybe in frankfort or somwhere in between? Its just an idea and there is nothing concrete as of right now but its just an idea. The idea basically stems from wanting to see the state as a whole prosper and also help promote our urban areas throughout the commonwealth. We already know the perception some people have throughout the state just about Louisville alone. With forwarding some input to frankfort we could possibly change some attitudes and mindsets. Just an idea if anyone is interested if not then thats cool.
>.> I would, but I'm a little slow getting my liscense.
I wish I could though. I think its something we really need to do on this forum.

Hah This actually looks like a blast. "Glided" Tours; a tour around DT Louisville in a Segway.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=B2&Dato=20060522&Kategori=BUSINESS&Lopenr=605220801&Ref=PH

do they really need helmets?

^^
If the business doesn't wanna get sued when some clown tries to be funny on one and cracks his head open.
They should let you sign an agreement or something if you insist on not wearing the helmet. Personally, I don't wear a hemet on my bike, but riding the ever-so dangerous and congested streets of Fern Creek, I'm not too too concerned.

Does anyone know whats going on with the loft construction behind the marriott on market? I thought they were suppose to start construction on that last summer. What is the hold up? Is it funds? That place is starting to become an eye sore.


You must be referring to the Marriott Residence Inn. There are several Marriott brand hotels downtown.

Could you be talking about the Fleur de Lis condos on Main st which still havent started? If so you are right that the sight is not so pretty. The sign was taken down for awhile but is back up. In the meantime, several new condo developments have broken ground or will open well before this one.

Even today a new development called Gallery Square Lofts was announced which will build 21 townhomes south of the east Market district near the 700 unit Liberty Green.

What really sounds like a good idea is the Poe Companies plans for the Crossings at Irish Hill--a mixed use project that could bring a large urban grocer, Home Depot etc. I would like to see a Target and Home Depot there. There is a way to make those stores "urban." I have seen good examples in Chicago.

Would any of you guys be interested in hooking up with some Lexington forumers to help promote both our cities and the commonwealth? Possibly maybe meeting somewhere maybe in frankfort or somwhere in between? Its just an idea and there is nothing concrete as of right now but its just an idea. The idea basically stems from wanting to see the state as a whole prosper and also help promote our urban areas throughout the commonwealth. We already know the perception some people have throughout the state just about Louisville alone. With forwarding some input to frankfort we could possibly change some attitudes and mindsets. Just an idea if anyone is interested if not then thats cool.


I'll open a new thread to discuss ideas about the potential organization, that way people wont have to look through both threads to find out what's going on with it.

I'll call it "Kentucky Idea Group". There everyone can post ideas about whether or not they're interested in coming on board, what they'd like to see such a group do, what the group should look like from an organizational standpoint, or anything else for that matter.

I'll put it in the general Southeast section

Governor, Transportation Cabinet award funding for bike trails, footpaths

02:46 PM EDT on Friday, June 2, 2006

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Governor Ernie Fletcher and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced Friday that $515,200 in reimbursable federal funds will be provided to Louisville-Metro Government for the planning and construction of bike and pedestrian facilities in Olmsted Parks.

"This project is another example of my administration's commitment to improving the quality of life for all Kentuckians," said Governor Fletcher. "When completed, this trail will connect neighborhoods, parks, schools, workplaces and existing multi-use trails. The facility will also provide a healthy environment and improve our air quality."

The federal Congestion, Mitigation and Air Quality funds will be used to complete a 2.7-mile multi-use trail along two Olmsted Parkways. The segment will be built along part of Southwestern and Algonquin Parkways from Shawnee Park to Cane Run Road/Wilson Avenue. Ultimate build-out of the project over several yeas will be a 10-mile trail connecting Algonquin, Southwestern, Southern and Eastern Parkways. At Shawnee Park, the 2.7-mile segment will connect with Olmsted Park trails and trails along Beargrass Creek.

"This project will help our environment by encouraging more commuters to use alternative transportation modes," said Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert. "Bike racks, signs, lighting, landscaping and production and distribution of maps showing the multi-use trails are also important components of this project."

Louisville-Metro Government will be responsible for the $128,000 local match. The agreement has been forwarded to Louisville-Metro.

The KYTC has previously authorized more than $370,000 in federal funds for this project.

Some bad news...looks like Jeff Towne Center is in trouble. I always thought they would have a hard time finding tenants considering how many of their proposed tenants are located a mile away in Clarksvile:


Uncertainty plagues Jeffersonville Town Center

By LARRY THOMAS
larry.thomas@newsandtribune.com





So you know:

The Jeffersonville City Council meets in regular session at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Room 308 of the City-County Building, 501 E. Court Ave.



On the Web:

Jeffersonville Town Center

www.jeffersonvilletowncenter.com

Koetter Group

www.thekoettergroup.com

Millworks

www.cincinnatimillworks.com

Vision Land Development

www.vision-land.com



How they plan to vote:

On Monday, Councilman Keith Fetz will introduce a resolution to withdraw $5 million in financing from the portion of the Jeffersonville Town Center that is to be constructed on the south side of Veterans Parkway. During interviews last week, Jeffersonville City Council members indicated how they would vote on Fetz’s motion:

• Council President Barbara Wilson: Undecided (Wilson said she has not seen resolution, but is unlikely to support it)

• Council Vice President Keith Fetz: For

• Ron Grooms: Against

• Phil McCauley: Against

• John Perkins: For

• Connie Sellers: Against (Would prefer to table, pending additional information from developers)

• Ed Zastawny: Against





The Jeffersonville Town Center’s developer said he has secured a nationally-known financial partner and that he anticipates releasing financing and initial tenant information later this month.

Vision Land Development President Kent Arnold said he is awaiting approval from the financial backer to release the company’s name and financing details. Around the same time, he said, the names of “between 10 and 20 of the first tenants” will be released.

“I know he’s got his financing put together,” Mayor Rob Waiz said.

Arnold said he has met with at least one to two prospective Town Center tenants weekly for the past year. The Cincinnati developer described as “successful” a trip to Las Vegas, where he participated in an International Council of Shopping Centers trade show.

“We’ve got a lot of exciting stuff that lies ahead,” Arnold said.

Arnold and the Floyds Knobs-based Koetter Group plan to spend $130 million to develop a 153-acre retail, office and entertainment complex — known as a lifestyle center — which will straddle Veterans Parkway in Jeffersonville. Hamburg Pike and U.S. 31 border the site’s east and west sides.

Three years after the Jeffersonville Town Center was proposed some city officials are left with little more than questions about the project’s progress.

Last year, Arnold repeatedly promised that the first phase of merchants would open this summer and that the majority of the complex would open next year.

In early March, Arnold told members of the Jeffersonville Rotary Club that the first 10 to 20 tenant announcement would come “in the next few weeks” and that the center’s first 400,000-square-feet of retail and restaurant space would open in April 2007.

“We’ve been dangling out there way too long,” said City Council Vice President Keith Fetz. “I don’t think, without severe repercussions, we’ll be able to motivate (developers) to do anything.”

“I understand that, at some point, the citizens of Jeffersonville are going to want to know” details, Arnold said. “I would, too.”

The city’s sewer utility has already spent more than $600,000 on improvements at the site. Waiz has negotiated a $7 million bond issue — to be repaid from the Tax Increment Financing District within which the Town Center is located — to help fund the project.

While council members have expressed support for the financial package, they have not been asked to vote to approve it. Such a vote is necessary before the city could make a binding commitment to the project beyond the money the Sanitary Sewer Board has spent.

On Monday, Fetz will introduce a resolution that would effectively withdraw the $5 million package for the development on the south side of Veterans Parkway, which Fetz’s document describes as a project with “no tenants, no buildings, and apparently no future.”



How it began

Arnold said Vision Land Development became involved with the Town Center in 2002, after a local real estate broker with whom he had worked told him the Koetter Group was seeking proposals to develop the property.

“We just saw a lot of great qualities in it, and made an investment in it,” Arnold said.

Arnold and Koetter approached then-Mayor Tom Galligan about working with the city to develop the property. During 2003, Galligan’s last year in office, the former mayor worked with the developers to iron out details of the city’s participation in an otherwise private venture.

“We were pretty close,” Galligan said. “We were going through the process.”

“I think the scope was different back then,” said Councilman Phil McCauley, who served as deputy mayor and redevelopment director during Galligan’s administration. “I think the project changed sometime in ’04.”

Less than two weeks after Waiz took office in January 2004, much of his attention was focused on the recovery from the fire that destroyed part of the 300 block of Spring Street. What little Waiz said about Veterans Parkway centered around his desire to construct Class A office space there, rather than mirroring the “big box” retail development seen across I-65 in Clarksville.

During the fall of 2004, Waiz visited Simon Lauth’s Clay Terrace in Carmel. The 70-tenant mall, billed as Indiana’s first “lifestyle center” includes upscale retailers such as Bombay Company, Eddie Bauer, Orvis and Vera Bradley. The mayor returned from the trip with a different vision for the Jeffersonville Town Center.

“That’s what this project is going to look like,” Waiz said. “Believe me, it’s going to be fantastic. I like what (Arnold) has got on the table. If I didn’t we wouldn’t be working this hard to keep it all together.”

Arnold said it was he who encouraged Waiz to visit Clay Terrace, in an effort to demonstrate that retail developments could be unique.

“When Rob saw that, it was very clear,” Arnold said. “It was a learning thing for him. Ever since then, Rob has been a great supporter of what we’ve been doing.”

As Jeffersonville worked to find its vision for the Jeffersonville Town Center, Clarksville’s end of Veterans Parkway began to thrive, with retailers ranging from Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and Target to Best Buy, Lowe’s and Bed, Bath & Beyond setting up shop there.

“Clarksville has pretty much taken up the majority of the types of retailers that would have succeeded on our side,” Fetz said.



Can it succeed?

Some have questioned whether Jeffersonville should take its shopping cues from Carmel, given the disparity in income between the locales.

Hamilton County, in which Carmel is located, has a per capita income of $46,300 and a median household income of $80,691, both state bests, according to the Indiana Business Research Center. In Clark County, per capita income is $29,475 and the median household income is $41,503.

“I don’t think (upscale) retailers are going to be successful,” Fetz said. “Our demographics aren’t that much different than Clarksville’s.”

Dr. Dagney Faulk, an Indiana University Southeast economist, believes upscale retailers could succeed in Clark County.

“The median family income (in Clark County) is higher than the state of Indiana and the state of Kentucky, as a whole, which suggests that there is some purchasing power,” she said. “I think there is pent-up demand.”

Margie Myers, a spokeswoman for the upscale women’s clothier Talbots, said retailers sometimes consider factors beyond what the project’s critics are aware.

Myers said a driving force behind Talbots brick-and-mortar stores is the Massachusetts’ company’s catalogue sales. A proven customer base, she said, is what led to the decision to open a store in Columbus, Ind.

“We actually like to open in smaller towns, where we know we have a customer base,” she said. “We love these lifestyle centers. Those are very good locations for us.”

Faulk said Clark County residents who want to shop at a Macy’s, Von Maur and other upscale retailers now travel to Louisville’s east end — and perhaps as far as Cincinnati and Indianapolis — to quench their high fashion thirsts.

Faulk, a perennial member of the Indiana Business Outlook panel, said a successful Town Center could “redistribute spending” away from shopping destinations that currently draw dollars out of Clark County.



Fetz’s resolution

On Monday, Fetz will offer a resolution to withdraw a $7 million financing package that would bolster the Town Center.

The document Fetz intends to present offers a sarcastic and blistering rebuke of Arnold, citing his failure to “complete a single building, shed or hog-stand” and “produce a single lease agreement from a single restaurant, retail business or produce stand.”

“What does withdrawing this get them?” Arnold said. “It costs them nothing to wish me well. You withdraw your support and it remains a vacant piece of property.”

“It’s a little premature,” Waiz said of Fetz’s resolution. “(Arnold) owns the property. All we can try to do is steer a developer in the right direction to try and do the best thing possible.”

“Deadline after deadline has been missed,” Fetz said. “In my opinion, as city officials we’ve kind of failed in not keeping (Arnold) to point and in having these offers on the table as long as we have.”

“I feel kind of silly when someone says, ‘What’s going on with this $100 million project?’ and I have to say, ‘I don’t know,’” said Councilman John Perkins. “I’ll vote for the resolution unless, between now … and the Monday meeting I’m shown there’s major signed leases and long-term financing.”

Other council members admit frustration with the perceived lack of progress at the Jeffersonville Town Center, but some are not convinced the city should turn its back on Arnold and Koetter.

“A lot of the public thinks the city of Jeffersonville owns that land,” Councilman Ron Grooms said. “A lot of the public thinks the city of Jeffersonville has spent several million dollars out there, already.”

Grooms said that without the city’s support – which will likely include restrictions on the type of development that can be built – Arnold would be free to lease property to any business that fits within the city’s commercial zoning code.

“Fast food restaurants, used car lots and gas stations,” Grooms said. “Is that the impression you want on the most valuable piece of property you’ll ever have? Is that what you want, for Veterans Parkway and I-65 to be a repeat of 10th Street and I-65?”

Council President Barbara Wilson said she has not seen Fetz’s resolution, but planned to meet with Waiz to discuss the Town Center’s progress.

“It probably will not pass,” she said.

Like Perkins, Wilson said she is increasingly frustrated that she can’t answer constituents’ questions about the project.

“How much longer are we going to wait?” she said. “How much longer is it going to be before we get a name?”

“It’s just frustrating because it’s taking so long,” Councilwoman Connie Sellers said.

Sellers said she would hesitate to vote for the incentive package or Fetz’s resolution to withdraw incentives without obtaining more information from Arnold.

Both Fetz and Sellers have been mentioned as potential mayoral candidates in 2007, but neither has announced their intention to seek the office nor has either of them established a campaign committee.

McCauley and Councilman Ed Zastawny said they will oppose Fetz’s resolution. “I don’t understand the purpose of it,” McCauley said. “We haven’t approved anything. You can bet (Arnold and Koetter are) doing the best they can to make this project go forward.

“All of our patience has been lacking at times. But we’ve got to help develop it, not hinder it.”

“I think it would be a terrible time to pass a resolution like that,” Zastawny said. “All that would do is scare off businesses that are considering being tenants. I’m not going to do anything to sabotage their success.”

Zastawny said he spoke with Koetter less than a month ago and was assured the project’s financing was in place.

“I believe Jack Koetter to be a truthful person,” Zastawny said.

The bonds — $5 million of which would be allocated for the retail development on the south side of Veterans Parkway, while the other $2 million would be earmarked for the office and retail project on the road’s north side — would be supported by Tax Increment Financing. While the city would normally be responsible for making up the difference if the TIF district failed to produce enough revenue to pay the bonds, Arnold has offered to take responsibility for the shortfalls.

During public meeting in January, Thomas K. “Buddy” Downs, a partner in the Indianapolis legal firm Ice Miller, told city officials the bond issue would not place public funds at risk.

“If there’s not enough TIF, the developer repays the bond,” he said.

Despite the some council members’ uneasiness, Arnold said the city has not delayed Town Center.

“They haven’t done anything to slow it down,” he said. “I haven’t asked them to do anything for me that they didn’t do. No, they haven’t slowed me down.”



Millworks

Some of Arnold’s local critics point to the slow-moving Millworks project in his hometown of Cincinnati as a reason to doubt his commitment to the Jeffersonville Town Center.

Millworks, located in Cincinnati’s Oakley neighborhood, is the former Milacron industrial complex. Milacron was founded as a small machine shop in downtown Cincinnati in the mid-1860s, then moved to Oakley in 1911. It moved from the neighborhood in 1999.

In February 2003, Arnold proposed spending $225 million to transform the site into a 1.3 million square foot mixed use complex. At the time Arnold announced his plan, real estate sources told the Cincinnati Business Courier that stored such as Nordstrom, Crate & Barrel, Galyans (now Dick’s Sporting Goods) and Closson’s, a home furnishings store, were likely target tenants.

In the three years since unveiling Millworks, Arnold has announced a pair of tenants: a National Amusements cinema and Jungle Jim’s International Market. Jungle Jim’s is based in the Cincinnati suburb of Fairfield, Ohio, where its only store is located.

Bob Luthy, a member of the Oakley Community Council, said Arnold has provided his group with updates every three to four months, but that some members of the organization are concerned about the lack of progress.

“Concerned might be a good term to use,” Luthy said. “It’s not like we’re alarmed.”

Jeff McElravy, an economic development officer in Cincinnati, said Arnold made it clear from the time he proposed his project that it would not move forward until the city committed to improvements to the Kennedy Connector, a road that services Oakley’s retail district.

Luthy said the Oakley Community Council — an all-volunteer, grassroots organization that represents the neighborhood — wants Millworks to succeed, but would likely not support the project without the road improvements.

“If the Kennedy Connector does not go through, I believe it will not happen,” Luthy said.

Less than a week after Luthy spoke with a reporter — and four years after the Kennedy Connector improvements were first discussed — the Cincinnati City Council unanimously approved spending $25 million to upgrade the road. The same day, May 24, the board approved a $10 million development agreement for Millworks by a 9-0 vote.

The more I think about it, the more I doubt Jeff Town Center can attract even 20 tenants similar to those located in East Louisville. They mention Clay Terrace, but as is the proposal is like 3 times the size of Clay Terrace in a less affluent suburb. On top of that, the Clarksville area has shit tons of retail. It may be the highest concentration of retail outside the Hurstbourne/Shelbyville coridor. If so, how could this area possibly suppurt 100 or more stores?

I would really rathersee Jeff Town center develop as a high density Class A office and residential area. I think if you could get some tenants like the Summit (and that size too) then you would be doing very good for S Indiana. I just cant believe Clark Co can hold all this retail while Oldham and even Bullitt have nothing.

Maybe Jeffersonville should look to lure a high-end department store, possibly Nordstrom as an achor! That location is a quick shot from downtown Louisville and would draw from the entire metro. The Louisville area has weak shopping and I am sure that a "only-one-in-the-metro" store would do very well no matter where it located!

On a side note...Cincy ain't gettin' a Nordies any time soon! The City had to pay Saks to stay put, and that was only a band-aid!

Maybe Jeffersonville should look to lure a high-end department store, possibly Nordstrom as an achor! That location is a quick shot from downtown Louisville and would draw from the entire metro. The Louisville area has weak shopping and I am sure that a "only-one-in-the-metro" store would do very well no matter where it located!

On a side note...Cincy ain't gettin' a Nordies any time soon! The City had to pay Saks to stay put, and that was only a band-aid!


Interesting thought, Cwilson. The Von Maur in Louisville is very high end and is comprable to the Nordstrom in Circle Center. Granted, it doesn't have the "name" recognition, but the merchandising and atmosphere are nearly the same. From what I saw, the Castleton Von Maur did not have things like Burberry, which the Louisville Von Maur sells.

Regardless, Louisville does need a Nordstrom and Saks. With the east end bridge being built, I could possibly see a Nordies in Jeff, as this makes the wealthiest parts of the metro easily accesible to Jeff within 10-15 minutes. Without the bridge, it could be upwards of a 45 minute drive to get to Jeff Town Center from the east suburbs with Spaghetti Junction traffic. However, if you look at the primary trade area for S Indiana, there is just no way Jeff could support a Nordstrom without help from wealthier eastern suburbs. I mean, could you imagine a Nordies in Greenwood? S. Indiana is essentially similar to south suburban Indy demographically. They are both increasingly wealthy areas, but I think Dillard's is fine for many of those people and the BCBG and Michael Kors you can get in Clarksville is about as upscale as S Indiana gets.

At the same time, downtown Indy is certainly not wealthy (ok there are a few pockets of condo wealth but not enough to support upscale shopping) and neither is most of Central Township. The "common sense" location for Nordstrom would seem to be Keystone or Carmel. However, Nordies in Indy seems to be doing fine...this could have to do with the convention traffic in Indy. Louisville has more convention space, but is spread between downtown and the suburban Fairgrounds.

East Louisville could support a Nordstrom and Saks easily--why thery are not here yet I do not know. Louisville does have places that sell Armani, St John, Zegna, and the like but the selection is not quite like that in Saks. For example, I dont know that you can find Prada shoes in Louisville like I saw at the Indy Saks.

I have a friend that works with the Cordish Company, & if you havent noticed their is only one or two wigs shops left on fourth street and many things are closing down..(not good???) I think it is... They hinted around that phase II will be retail on fourth street... If this is true this will be your Nordstrom, Urban OUtfitters, Ect... I beleive it is coming.. Nordstrom has been to fourth street live 3 times in 2005 & im not one to get on this forum and lie so believe it or not... i mean im glad for jeff but Downtown Louisville would be sooo Much better... I mean i knoe i will get bashed for this mabye but i dont lie...So its not set in stone but the rumor is floating....

^^
Rumors don't come from nowhere, I like to say.

Good, urban street retail is all 4th street needs. Its getting more and more people, and on concert nights, talk about some good business!

I have a friend that works with the Cordish Company, & if you havent noticed their is only one or two wigs shops left on fourth street and many things are closing down..(not good???) I think it is... They hinted around that phase II will be retail on fourth street... If this is true this will be your Nordstrom, Urban OUtfitters, Ect... I beleive it is coming.. Nordstrom has been to fourth street live 3 times in 2005 & im not one to get on this forum and lie so believe it or not... i mean im glad for jeff but Downtown Louisville would be sooo Much better... I mean i knoe i will get bashed for this mabye but i dont lie...So its not set in stone but the rumor is floating....


Yes, I also heard that rumor from my friend who owns Raw Sushi Lounge next door to the Seelbach Hilton. Apparently, Cordish is trying to aquire those wig shops, but I know for certain my friend has also been negotiating to buy property to do another upscale lounge like Raw.

More than likely, most of that block will be entertainment and boutique retail, but there is an outside chance it go be turned into an urban mall.

According to my friend, there have been talks of acquiring the old Hilliard Lyons building (HL has just moved to the PNC tower) and connecting it to the Starks building to form an urban mall. A retail anchor like Nordstrom would go into the only natural spot--the Hilliard Lyons building aka Stewarts Department store from the heydey of Louisville's upscale "fourth ave" shopping district. The upper floors of the Starks building would go hotel or condo (a rumor which has been floating for some time), but this would require moving the exisiting tenants which occupy roughly half the building. Boutique and entertainment retail would line the rest of fourth street south to Broadway.

Again, it is my belief that this block will be mostly entertainment, but we shall see. To do retail, you would have to do a large development like Circle Center in Indy. Acquiring Starks and Hilliard Lyons would allow for that.

To attract high end retail downtown, retailers must be convinced of three things:

1) Convention and hotel traffic is high enough
2) There are enough high income downtown office workers
3) There are enough high income downtown residents

Number 3 is not quite as important immediately, but at this point there are not enough residents. In 5 years, that should change. I would like to see a 1 mile radius stat from 4th and muhammad ALi and see how many workers, hotel rooms, and residents there are. Further, I would like a monthly downtown convention traffic count.

I DUNNO BUT IM JUSS EXITED TO SEE THE WIG SHOPS GONE.. WHETHER IT BE RETAIL OR ENTERTAINMENT ,, EXPANSION IS ALWAYS GOOD, BUT RETAIL WOULD BE AWESOME.

Maybe Jeffersonville should look to lure a high-end department store, possibly Nordstrom as an achor! That location is a quick shot from downtown Louisville and would draw from the entire metro. The Louisville area has weak shopping and I am sure that a "only-one-in-the-metro" store would do very well no matter where it located!

On a side note...Cincy ain't gettin' a Nordies any time soon! The City had to pay Saks to stay put, and that was only a band-aid!

The two places I thought a nordstrom would open would be Oldham County which is on the east side of Jefferson county and the most affluent suburb in Kentucky and one of the richest counties in the country, or Jeffersonville. Oldham County is close to Louisville's east end and Jeffersonville is right across the freaking river with nothing in the town. I live Jeff and its a nice place to live and all but there is virtually no retail to speak of over here. There are some very rich people that live in clark and floyd counties. The knobs in floyd county and Sellersburg in Clark county just to name a few. Clark county and Oldham county would be two excellent locations high end retail.

Someone needs to do a thread of the urban nature of Jeff and New Albany, two of Louisville's historic "neighborhoods." Essentially those areas are the north side of downtown Louisville, but you hear little about them:
This quote about New Albany sickens me:
“I’ve never believed that it will do what it’s been touted to do,” Huckleberry said. “The growth is on Charlestown Road now. ... Downtown’s not the heart anymore.”


Check it out:

Scribner Place avoids ax at heated meeting

New Albany Council tables resolution to take back $2 million

By ERIC SCOTT CAMPBELL
newsroom@newsandtribune.com

The bottom hasn’t dropped out of the pool.

The City Council Monday night tabled a resolution to rescind $2.2 million in 16 years of city funding for the downtown Scribner Place aquatic center project. If the motion had passed, the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County would have reconsidered granting the city $20 million, which covers the large majority of anticipated costs.

Bill sponsor Dan Coffey said he’d consult attorneys and tweak the language, reintroducing the measure at the next meeting June 15. Council attorney Jerry Ulrich said at the meeting that because last year’s ordinance to provide city money had included a clause barring the council from reneging, passing the new resolution could spell legal trouble.

“If we’re not going to stand up for our own laws, we can’t expect the public to abide by the laws we set,” Councilman Jack Messer said after questioning the resolution’s legality.

Coffey proposed the measure in the hopes of redirecting the $137,500 a year into the sewer utility. A recent financial analysis suggests a 26 to 32 percent sewer rate increase to put it back in the black.

“I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize (the resolution), but we weren’t given all the information” about sewer finances last year, Coffey said after the meeting.

The project has already incurred at least $3.5 million in preconstruction expenses, said Mayor James Garner, and it would be more expensive to eat that cost than to pay the $2.2 million over 16 years.

“We continue to go round and round about this,” Garner said of the resolution.

Scribner Place, at State and Main, will include a YMCA fitness center and a city-owned indoor pool.



A split

Garner’s administration was calling council members Monday, whipping votes. If the resolution had come to a vote, a 5-4 vote in either direction was a near certainty, according to several sources.

Numerous residents spoke for or against the proposal, with segments of the room applauding after each speaker. There is rarely an empty seat in the room when the City Council convenes, and Monday night even standing room was at a premium.

“What an inopportune time to disrupt a project,” said Jane Alcorn, executive director of Develop New Albany. She noted that bonds are about to be sold and construction started by early August.

Resident Courtney Paris said using Scribner Place money in the sewer system was misguided.

“Any city service should be self-sufficient, and our sewers are not. That is a separate issue,” Paris said. “Long-term, people will move to New Albany because of what we have to offer.”

Shirley Baird, who recently broke her leg, rolled her wheelchair to the podium.

“Unexpected things happen,” Baird said. “I think the city needs to put money aside for unexpected things.”

David Huckleberry also opposed the project.

“I’ve never believed that it will do what it’s been touted to do,” Huckleberry said. “The growth is on Charlestown Road now. ... Downtown’s not the heart anymore.”



Official comment

Before the resolution was tabled, Garner said, “It appears the council does not want progress at any cost,” adding that several developers had told him they wouldn’t work on New Albany projects anymore.

“I know some developers, and they’re not blaming the council,” Coffey said.

“I’m just telling you what they told me,” Garner replied.

Councilman Donnie Blevins told the audience not to be offended by anyone’s vote.

“It’s nothing personal, but you don’t see the numbers we see. New Albany does not revolve around just your house,” Blevins said. “We need to put our personal agendas aside.”

Messer said it was “disheartening” for residents to “take shots at each other,” while Councilman Steve Price implored members to think soundly about money.

“You keep saying spend money to make money. We tried it that way for 30 years,” Price said. “The city has a history of not being good with the money it has.”

Jerry Finn, executive director of the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County, said donating to New Albany can be difficult.

“The board is always going to try to look at what is going to be best for this community,” Finn said. “Sometimes that’s going to be more of a challenge, to be a catalyst, because of the naysayers who don’t want anything to change. It’s kind of like, ‘New Albany’s been this way for the last 50 years, why do we need to change?’”

Floyd County Democratic Party Chairman Randy Stumler called Coffey’s resolution “ridiculous,” though he said he hadn’t called the Democratic councilman to discuss it.

“I certainly hope that this resolution wouldn’t go too far,” Stumler said Monday morning. “Surely common sense would win out. We as county commissioners, county council, city council and the mayor’s office have all made a commitment. There’s no way that this (resolution) should be under consideration.”

Though Democrats dominate the council, filling eight of its nine seats, those eight are sharply divided. Indeed, any of the councilmen from districts 1 through 4 — Coffey, Bill Schmidt, Price and Larry Kochert — are more likely than Republican Councilman Mark Seabrook to disagree with Garner’s administration. Stumler, a county councilman, faces off against Seabrook for a county commissioner seat this fall.

“I think there’s always infighting in any party and certainly people have their views, but it is of concern when people seem to split up so many times consistently,” Stumler said. “It might be time for them to step back and think about why they’re Democrats and what being a Democrat stands for. I certainly see Scribner Place as part of that.”

Worst news downtown in the last several years since B&W leaving. This isnt a huge deal, yet I think it is a missed opportunity. They act like this property is "so far" and I agree it "feels" that way but the sad thing is that it is less than a 1/2 a block to the entrance of 4SL or about 150 ft away. Is this bad news or good news? Is this another hint that someone may make a move to aquire the whole block?


Cordish won't buy J.C. Penney building
4th Street Live expansion was goal

By Sheldon S. Shafer
sshafer@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



The Cordish Co. has abandoned plans to buy the old J.C. Penney building for an expansion of its 4th Street Live entertainment complex.

Cordish is passing on its $2 million contract to acquire the former department store on Fourth Street near Guthrie Green, less than a block south of 4th Street Live. The building is owned by Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare.



The Baltimore urban development company, which has lost a $75,000 deposit it had given the hospital company to hold the building, said it has been unable to buy other property contiguous to 4th Street Live and, for now, didn't want to develop the Penney building as an isolated project.

Cordish officials were not available to comment beyond a statement they released that said that developing the Penney building "would not be the best use of our resources, nor would it have the dramatic spinoff benefits that come from a larger development of critical mass."

"We continue to be thrilled with our investment" in 4th Street Live, the success of which "has exceeded all of our expectations," the statement continued, and "we remain committed to a long-term investment in downtown Louisville."

Cordish agreed last fall to buy the former Penney site. It missed an initial late-March deadline for closing, and then a deadline extension that lapsed June 1, said Jeff Polson, a spokesman for Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare.

Polson said the hospital company might need some of the space for its own corporate use since merging recently with Caritas Health Services, successor to Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital.

JH Properties, a Jewish Hospital affiliate, bought the Penney building in 2002. It was constructed in 1951 and has three floors with 66,000 square feet plus a basement. The retail chain closed its store in 1982.

Barry Alberts, director of the Downtown Development Corp., the lead metro government agency on urban projects, said Cordish officials told the city they continue to try to acquire properties close to 4th Street Live. He declined to be specific.

"They felt they didn't want just one building out in the middle of Fourth, without any connection to where they are now" at 4th Street Live, Alberts said. "They didn't want to put down a big hunk of money on one property until they know more" about other 4th Street Live expansion possibilities.

Alberts agreed that 4th Street Live is thriving and said the issue is how best to "keep it fresh and make it larger."

Reporter Sheldon S. Shafer can be reached at (502) 582-7089

WELL NOT GOOD NEWS BUT NOT BAD EITHER AS THEY SAID IN THE ARTICLE THAT THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THE PURCHASING OF MORE PROPERTIES ON SOUTH 4th IN THE FUTURE

Downtown's Henry Clay is getting age-old sparkle back

The first time developer Bill Weyland walked into The Henry Clay at Third and Chestnut streets more than two years ago, he was so discouraged that he turned around and walked back out.

Bird droppings 6 inches deep crusted the upper floors. And the ornate plaster moldings and interior finishings were rotting away.

But Weyland and 15 silent partners are succeeding where at least five development groups have failed in the past 20 years -- spending $18 million to resurrect one of downtown Louisville's most endangered historic treasures to its early grandeur. The building, most recently a YWCA, is expected to open by year's end.

"It's exciting to see the interior space being restored to its former glory," Mayor Jerry Abramson said.

The key to their success, Weyland believes, is his track record in financing and developing mixed-use projects -- including the Glassworks and the Louisville Slugger Museum -- and the recent boom in downtown housing.

He and his partners are also getting help from the city, including a $200,000 low-interest loan and federal tax credits. The partners also got to keep the $850,000 they paid the city for the property because they spent about $1 million to remove lead paint and asbestos.

The rebuilt Henry Clay will offer a mix of retail, apartments and condos and can be a site for several events -- especially with its two-story ballroom.

Young professionals and empty nesters such as Greg Dukes and his wife, Holly, are expected to be its main residents.

"We will be close to everything, including 4th Street Live," said Dukes, who plans to move in early next year.

Challenging task
When it opened as an Elks Lodge in 1924, the eight-story downtown Louisville building -- with its 1,400-seat auditorium, marble staircases, bowling alley and indoor swimming pool -- was broadly praised.

Booklets distributed at the time describe its "polished marble, deftly hewn stone, splendid elevators -- a spectacle of rare architectural beauty."

In 1928, the building became the Henry Clay Hotel. Then in 1968, the Young Women's Christian Association took over the building and put its programs and fitness center there.

But in 1988, the YWCA moved, and The Henry Clay has been empty since.

The city enticed several developers to renovate the building, but each effort failed, in part because its special features made it so costly and difficult to save.

By 2003, it had been named as one of the state's most endangered properties by Preservation Kentucky.

Weyland, whose work was well known to city officials, said he had his eye on the Henry Clay for years. Two years ago, city development officials met with him and he agreed to undertake the venture.

His initial assessment was grim, though. He wasn't certain that ornate features, such as wall decorations and wood flooring, could be saved.

He and the other partners enlisted Joseph & Joseph as the main architect, which designed the original Elks Club, with an assist from Weyland's design firm, CityWorks.

Weyland later learned that nearly all the hotel's original features could be salvaged, although it added millions to the cost.

"We got good restoration people," he said.

'A lot of memories'
By the time the building is occupied, the Henry Clay will have 33 apartments on its upper floors, renting for $600 to $1,200 a month.

Eleven penthouse condominiums will have spiral staircases cut into the building's old ceiling, leading to a glass-enclosed rooftop deck. Six of the condos, selling for $180,000 to $340,000, have already been secured by down payments.

Melody Doda, who has a deposit on one of the units, said the building's location appeals to her.

"It is within walking distance of all the main attractions," Doda said. "And the Palace is right behind it."

The Henry Clay's main floor will be home to retailers, and Weyland said he has letters of intent for a restaurant, coffee shop, gift shop and art gallery.

Most of the second, third and fourth floors will be used for events such as meetings, conferences and wedding receptions.

The second floor's two-story ballroom can seat 600. With huge ceiling beams, oak flooring, 12 chandeliers, art friezes, a large stage, and gold and white wall finishings, the ballroom "is a beauty. I fell in love with it," Weyland said.

Building 'a treasure'
The remodeled third-floor gym will have audio-visual capability and hold about 400 people. The fourth-level Beaux Arts Room, once the exquisite Elks Club Room, will seat about 500.

Weyland, in a joint venture with The Silver Spoon catering, will book and cater the event space.

To Kathy Hensley, co-owner of The Silver Spoon, the building's renaissance is an invaluable addition in "a very social town."

"There are a lot of memories there, where people had their prom, their first dance or took swim or dance lessons," Hensley said. "The building is a treasure."

As phase two of the Henry Clay project, the investors have acquired two lots fronting Fourth Street near the hotel for a restaurant and more housing and commercial space.

The cost and completion dates for those projects are not certain.

I am only somewhat surprised to hear that Cordish is backig out of the JCPenney building. Unless they could have secured the Hilliard Lyons Building, JCP it is a fairly useless and awful looking slab of concrete.

I honestly doubt we will see a quick resolution to the development of that corner of Fourth Street. Jewish Hospital hinted they might use the space again for office workers (BLECH) so no one knows...All we know is we get a hulking, ugly building again to try and market.

Jeffboat reportedly to add 1,000 jobs

Gov. Mitch Daniels will be in Jeffersonville today for an announcement at Jeffboat LLC that he said will bring more than 1,000 jobs to the area.

In an interview, Daniels declined yesterday to reveal any other details.

But both he and Jeffersonville Mayor Rob Waiz are to appear at a 10 a.m. news conference at Jeffboat, which makes barges. Waiz said it was his understanding that the new jobs would be at Jeffboat, and that many of them would be welding positions.

Jeffboat, at 1030 E. Market St., has about 1,000 employees. Of those, 860 are hourly workers earning an average of $33,000 a year.

Daniels said today’s announcement would be “the biggest one in Indiana in a long time” and would surpass his March 13 announcement that 1,000 jobs would be created by Toyota’s decision to build its Camry automobile at Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. in Lafayette.

Officials from Jeffboat and its parent company, American Commercial Lines, could not be reached for comment on today’s announcement.

ACL declared bankruptcy in 2003, but it emerged from Chapter 11 reorganization in January 2005 and has recently seen an increase in orders for its barges.

Last year the company posted a profit of $11.8 million on revenue of $741.4 million, a 17 percent increase over 2004.

Waiz said Jeffersonville has been working with Indiana economic development officials to place the Jeffboat shipyard inside the city’s Urban Enterprise Zone as an incentive for an expansion.

When companies in the zone expand or buy new equipment, they don’t pay taxes on the increased assessed value of the improvements for a 10-year period.

Instead, they donate 49 percent of what they would have paid in higher taxes to a non-profit group that runs the enterprise zone. Another 1 percent goes to the state to administer the program, and the company keeps the rest.

Barry Cahill, Jeffersonville’s redevelopment director, said money from the city’s enterprise zone has been spent recently to improve blighted properties and provide financial counseling to business owners.

Cahill said Jeffboat does not currently have any other type of tax abatement through the city.

Daniels also has scheduled an economic development announcement at 9 a.m. at Midwest Tube Mills in Madison. He said that project won’t mean as many jobs but will be just as significant for that community.

At Jeffboat’s shipyard yesterday on the Ohio River, workers were putting up multi-colored flags and bunting along Market Street, apparently in preparation for today’s announcement.

Waiz said he couldn’t remember a larger job-creation announcement in Jeffersonville in recent years.

“It’s tremendous news for Jeffersonville,” he said. “Jeffboat has come a long way from where they were two years ago. It’s very exciting to see the shipyard thriving the way it has.”

Jeffboat’s history in Southern Indiana runs deep. The company employed 13,000 workers during World War II and had up to 2,200 hourly workers as recently as 1981.

But difficult market conditions closed the barge-building operations for three years in the mid-1980s, and there were as few as 530 hourly workers at a low point in 2003.

Renovation in plans for Caesars Indiana casino


INDIANAPOLIS — Harrah’s Entertainment wants to renovate the Caesars Indiana casino, expand its pavilion — and possibly add restaurants and entertainment options, a company executive said yesterday.

Plans to overhaul the Harrison County complex will likely become final and be released within six months, said Anthony Sanfilippo, president of Harrah’s Central Division.

He said the company also is considering whether to add a second tower to the casino’s hotel, which now has 500 rooms.
The gambling boat, however, would not be replaced.

“It is a wonderful vessel. The casino itself is a world class casino,” Sanfilippo said. “But this will include a remodeling and a new look.”
After the work is done, the company will rename the casino to be part of its Horseshoe brand.

J.R. Eckart, president of the Harrison County Board of Commissioners, said yesterday the project gives local companies a chance “to pick up business during the construction phase.”

And in the long run, “it’s good jobs. There is a good diversified work force there, and they provide a range of opportunities for people with varying skills,” he said.

Harrah’s purchased Caesars Entertainment and its 26 casinos last year.

Executives said then that it would likely do some expansion or renovations at Caesars Indiana, which was developed for about $400 million and includes 93,000 square feet of gambling space and a 170,000-square-foot pavilion. About 2,000 people work at the complex.

Sanfilippo said he knows local officials have been eager to learn about those plans but that it generally takes about two years to begin any major project.

He said the amount of the investment and the number of additional jobs will depend on the final scope of the project.




I like the idea of them adding another tower to the casino, but I think rebranding it as a Horseshoe casino takes something away from it...people like Caesar's and it has a better brand...so why change it?

I THINK THE NAME CHANGE IS A BAD IDEA..

We have seen a lot of moves lately on 4th street....is something going on here? I have a sneakng suspicion. Also, this article proves that there has indeed been proposals to make the Starks a hotel or condos.


Landmark Starks Building sold
New owners hope to attract tenants that complement 4th Street Live

By Caroline Lynch Pieroni
cpieroni@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



Louisville’s landmark Starks Building is in the process of being sold to a national real estate investment company that’s acquiring properties in the Midwest.

California-based Hertz Investment Group has a contract on the 93-year-old building at Fourth Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard downtown, and the deal is scheduled to close in 30 days, according to David Hardy, managing director of CB Richard Ellis/Louisville, which brokered the deal.

Hardy and the Starks Building’s owner, Illinois-based Allstate Life Insurance Co., wouldn’t disclose the sale price. The building would continue to offer office and retail space, and Hertz is planning to upgrade the building, which is currently half full, Hardy said.

He said the deal is good for Louisville because “it’s the introduction of a quality national landlord to the local office market. … They tend to have a long-term perspective and do what it takes to lease their building.”

Allstate doesn’t typically own commercial property and doesn’t consider that part of its investment strategy, spokesman Michael Trevino said.

“This really is an exception to our investment strategy in real estate,” he said.

Allstate took ownership of the building in June 2004, because it was the commercial mortgage lender and the previous owners didn’t pay the loan, Trevino said. They acquired the 400,000-square-foot building for $14.3 million, according to property valuation records, The previous sale price, in February 1997, was $21.5 million.

Hardy said CB Richard Ellis/Louisville talked with several other buyers, some of whom were interested in converting the building into a hotel or other living space, but Hertz was the company that came through with the deal.Potential buyers considered the building’s proximity to the 4th Street Live a bonus, Hardy said, and Hertz will bring in retail businesses that complement the entertainment center.

One new tenant is expected to be a restaurant, to go in the space formerly occupied by Rodes, a clothing retailer that moved to eastern Jefferson County more than two years ago.

Many of the business in the current office space will be allowed to stay, said Hardy, whose company has been in charge of the leasing and will continue in that role.

But one long-time tenant, the Colonnade Cafeteria, will move out of the building this fall, co-owner Chuck Krill said.

Krill said his business, which has operated in the Starks basement for 80 years, has been in a “bitter” dispute with Allstate over rent and has been asked to leave before Nov. 30, when its lease is up.

Krill said he is looking for other locations for the cafeteria.

Louisville businessman John P. Starks bought the site in 1909 for $350,000. He hired a prominent Chicago architecture firm, D.H. Burnham and Co., a pioneer in the skyscraper movement, to design the building, which was completed in 1913.

It was renovated from a “U” shape into a four-sided building in 1925. In the 1980s, a $2 million-plus renovation added pedestrian skyways and retail space to the second floor.

Despite those improvements, the building has had trouble attracting tenants in recent years.

Ken Herndon, executive director of Louisville Central Area, the downtown management district, is happy to see a new interest in the “beautiful” old building.

“It takes a special effort to rehab it to modern-day uses,” Herndon said, noting that the numerous small offices make it more complex to renovate.

“But it’s well worth it, I think, because of its age and history and significance to the city. I’m thrilled to see that somebody’s going to do that.”

Reporter Caroline Lynch Pieroni can be reached at (502) 582-4644

I THINK THE NAME CHANGE IS A BAD IDEA..

Hardly. Horseshoe is a huge name with a lot of weight behind it. Their casino south of Memphis is probably the biggest money maker in Mississippi. Not to mention, the Horseshoe brands get all the big name music acts on an almost monthly basis.


This can only mean better things for the casino.

River Road: Recreation destination?

http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=B2&Date=20060611&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=606110379&Ref=AR&Profile=1008&MaxW=500&title=1

The city plans to hire a consultant to recommend recreational uses at multiple River Road locations from Frankfort to Zorn avenues, with the focus likely to be heavy on soccer.

Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson is seeking a comprehensive plan for what he calls a River Road recreational corridor from Waterfront Park on the west to Thurman Hutchins Park and Caperton Swamp near Indian Hills Trail on the east.

"We're talking about nearly 500 acres of green space, which is more than Cherokee Park," Abramson said.

Abramson's proposed budget sets aside $500,000 for the project, about half of which would go to a consultant for detailed planning of recreational uses along River Road, costs, and priorities for facilities that could be developed over the next decade as money is available.

The other half of the budgeted money is to improve Louisville Soccer Park, where officials say the ground at some of the park's 10 fields is sinking or shifting because of weak soil.

Steve Burton, a local soccer parent, said a number of nearby cities, including Knoxville and Memphis, have "fantastic" soccer complexes.

"So many children are now playing. It's often embarrassing for these kids to play on a poorly maintained park field, especially at the level they are playing," Burton said.

Waterfront Park on the west and existing parks east of Zorn, including Caperton, Twin, Cox and Thurman Hutchins, are part of the corridor but won't be studied for additional improvements.

The consultant, expected to be hired this fall, would study possible uses for about 20 acres at the Water Tower, the 20-acre former Ohio Street Dump, about 20 acres of former Fischer Packing land near Edith Avenue, and the 63-acre former River Road Country Club.

The status of Eva Bandman Park awaits an Army Corps of Engineers decision on converting it to wetlands, officials said.

Abramson said several things enhance the prospects for a comprehensively planned recreation corridor:

Completion of Waterfront Park, featuring conversion of the Big Four Bridge to a cross-river walkway, in 2008.

The state's plan to spend $6.3 million to widen 1.3 miles of River Road from two to four lanes, including a median divider and bike path, from Beargrass Creek to Zorn by 2009.

The $200 million investment by the Poe Cos. to develop 624 condos, plus a marina, restaurant, paths and a plaza, at River Park Place across from Towhead Island. First occupancy is expected in 2008.

The city already has been studying new uses for the former River Road Country Club, which went bankrupt after the city tried to force payment of back rent two years ago.

Metro Parks last fall hired the consulting firm of Gresham Smith and Partners for $15,000 to develop some preliminary concepts for the country club site, ideas the next consultant will refine.

Metro Parks Director Mike Heitz said the city probably will solicit proposals for reuse of the old clubhouse, perhaps as a restaurant. The former golf course will lose 20 or more feet of right-of-way along River Road to the road's widening, he said.

Last fall when Metro Parks was soliciting ideas for reuse of the country club, softball enthusiasts rallied for softball fields. Heitz said the site with the right-of-way loss probably isn't big enough for a softball complex but is suitable for a variety of sports fields.

Lawyer Craig Greenberg and businessman Bob Webb proposed developing a softball complex, including a "Miracle Field" for the disabled, at the former country club. Heitz said Metro Parks is working with them to develop primarily the Miracle Field at another location.

Webb said, "I think the Miracle Field will get built … I hope with Metro Parks. It would be a natural fit."

The corridor now has 17 soccer fields. But the three at Bandman Park are prone to flooding, and the Corps of Engineers, under a federal mitigation program, is considering making wetlands of Bandman to compensate for other sensitive nearby river areas that have been developed, officials said.

If Bandman becomes wetlands, the corps would pay to develop three soccer fields elsewhere. Their relocation to the old Ohio Street Dump already has been proposed, Heitz said.

The 20-acre dump at Frankfort and River Road has unstable soil. Heitz recently told Botanica Inc. that its desire to develop a $20 million botanical garden and conservatory there isn't feasible.

The $250,000 for improvements at Louisville Soccer Park should be completed next year, officials said. The soccer park was developed in 1999 at a closed landfill.

Andy Jugen, executive director of the Greater Louisville Sports Commission, which tries to book Louisville sporting events, said if the corridor had 20 to 25 top-notch soccer fields it could draw regional and even national tournaments.

Jugen said three such events a year would pump $5 million or more a year into the local economy, with each drawing up to 10,000 people.

Burton, the soccer parent, said River Road would be a nice location for such a complex.

"Louisville is missing out on a lot of opportunities," he said.

Interesting...

City to test solar street lights

Louisville officials are looking to solar power as a way to illuminate some city street lights.

Three newly installed solar powered lights on Market Street between 6th and 7th streets will help determine whether the devices are practical, said Allison Martin, spokeswoman for Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson.

Faculty and students from the University of Louisville will monitor the lights during the coming months to see whether they are reliable and cost-effective.

If they are, the city might purchase more, Martin said. They could be used around hospitals, for example, to ensure lighting even during a power failure. Or they could be installed in new park lands in areas where there are no power lines.

“We want to determine if solar-powered lights are feasible in an urban setting,” Abramson said in a press release. “The biggest challenge we have in downtown Louisville is the location of buildings that may block the sun. If these lights can work downtown — they can work anywhere.”

City officials Tuesday said they lease 25,000 street lights from LG&E at an annual energy cost of $2.6 million.

The Louisville Metro Public Works Department also owns and operates about 1,500 decorative street lights in the central business district, with an energy cost of about $330,000.

Three-color paint job ditched for Kennedy Bridge


To paraphrase the late Henry Ford, you can paint the rusting Kennedy Bridge any color — so long as it’s taupe.

Kentucky is scrapping its plan to paint the bridge three colors, hoping to save time and money.

Instead, it will be painted one color — taupe, which is an artsy way of saying brownish gray.

Dropping the three-color plan of taupe, forest green and chestnut brown should save at least $1 million and a month or two of work, said Marc Williams, state commissioner of highways.

That’s important for a project that already has taken years longer and cost millions more than expected.

In all, the state has spent $23 million so far to try to paint the bridge.

Williams expects the bridge now will be completed by Nov. 15, 2007.



So now we only get the bridge painted one color??? Jeez. They need to just get this fiasco completed so we can move on.

Its aweful. I think the original colors were dreadful. The woman decided them in the mid-1990s. Havent we figured out by now that in the 1990's, Louisville was run by a bunch of visionless old farts and suburban folk??
But now we are getting something even uglier. This is bad, very bad. Taupe my ass. Its biege, what you paint your house to make it a plain, clean slate for the new home buyers to do what they want with. Why are we painting one of the most visible structures in the city a bland, safe, boring shade of brown?
http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=B2&Date=20060614&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=606140469&Ref=V2&Profile=1008&MaxW=500&title=1

And maybe you guys can shed some light on this.
Go to this site and click on Louisville. Are these half-finished renderings of Louisville light rail, or is the person who collected all that full of shit?
http://www.lightrail.com/northamericalist.htm

New infill developments are becoming so numerous its hard to post them all.



Condo project's size criticized
Work starts soon in Clifton Heights

By Bill Pike
bpike@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



Construction is expected to begin this summer on a four-story condominium building that could set the pattern for development on lower Brownsboro Road, despite criticism of the project's size.

Some neighbors say the planned 30-condo Cliff View Terrace at 2411 Brownsboro Road is too big.



Developer Mark Isaacs and RBW Real Estate Group plan a building with about 43,000 square feet. The location is across Idlewylde Drive from Pat's Steak House.

The building, which will include two office condos, is an example of "new urbanism," said Latondra Jones, a planner with Louisville Metro Planning and Design Services.

New urbanism includes dense development and is supposed to promote pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods.

The land-use committee of the Louisville Metro Planning Commission approved the building plans in May. The Metro Board of Zoning Adjustment approved variances for the project last week.

Committee member Mark Adams said the project will enhance the area.

Adams complimented the building's rounded corner and its "stair-step" design, in which its top story will be set back, giving it the appearance from Brownsboro Road of a three-story building.

But neighborhood resident David Vislisel told the committee he was appalled at the building's "fortress-like appearance." He said it would be an intrusion in the neighborhood.

Vislisel also criticized placing the building at the edge of the sidewalk. He said most other nearby businesses have space in front and said the new building should be set back from the street to decrease its prominence.

Dolores Collins, president of the Clifton Heights Community Council, said the building would dwarf Joseph Deck's veterinary clinic and residence next door.

Anne McMahon, also a council member, agreed that it will be too tall and said condo owners would add to a neighborhood parking crunch, despite the project's garage with 41 spaces.

The parking situation has worsened because markings for street parking spaces have faded, McMahon said.

Isaacs defended the building's size and placement. Both are appropriate in a traditional marketplace corridor, and marketplace guidelines should determine how that part of Brownsboro Road is developed, he said.

Isaacs said he will re-stripe the street parking spaces if the city agrees.

Cornerstone 2020, the metro development guide, encourages projects that mix commercial and residential use in appropriate areas, such as a traditional marketplace. That's how the guide defines much of the lower Brownsboro corridor.

The building's exterior will have awnings, balconies and varying materials.

Isaacs noted the building will be smaller than a five-story apartment building that was approved on the site in 1985, but never built.

Reporter Bill Pike can be reached at (502) 582-4243

FKI Logistex to move jobs to Louisville
The Courier-Journal



FKI Logistex is moving engineering and support jobs from Dallas to Louisville, the company announced Wednesday.

The company, which makes conveyors and other material handling systems, will also move manufacuting jobs from Frederick, Md., to Danville, Ky., and Cincinnati.

The company did not immediately say how many jobs were involved.

River Park Place will be having their VIP sales event Thursday, June 22 from 4-8 PM. This is a "pre" presale that is being offered before the sale to the general public. Someone should go check it out as they will have scaled models I believe as well as more in depth pics. I have some stuff they sent me that I need to post.

Here we go again. . .

Metro Council members still have doubts about a new downtown arena


Metro Council members still have too many doubts about spending $300 million for the new downtown arena.

Wednesday night, the budget committee tabled an agreement to spend the money.

Some of the council members aren't sure the arena task force's choice of the LG&E site on Third Street is the right one.

The financing of a new downtown arena is a puzzle.

The city is poised to commit $10 million a year over the next 30 years to construction and operation of the place. That's $300 million total.

One council member says it's time to spend the money.

Stuart Benson says, "Let the council vote and get on with it."

But others on council aren't so sure.

The proposal between the city and the Louisville Arena Authority calls for that $300 million to be paid over 30 years, starting in 2010.

The arena authority and the mayor's office believe that money will come easily from increased parking revenues and from a special tax district in the vicinity of the arena downtown.

But council members still question whether the preferred, LG&E site is best.

They also question whether the arena can be successful without multiple tenants besides University of Louisville, and whether the city would have to make up any operating shortfalls, once an arena is in operation.

The city's money would come in addition to state bonds, some of which already have legislative and the governor's approval.

The doubters won the night, as the budget committee tabled the issue until it can get more answers.

The budget committee could schedule another meeting on the spending plan within the next ten days.

http://www.fox41.com/article/view/6173/?tf=wdrbarticleview.tpl

River Park Place will be having their VIP sales event Thursday, June 22 from 4-8 PM. This is a "pre" presale that is being offered before the sale to the general public. Someone should go check it out as they will have scaled models I believe as well as more in depth pics. I have some stuff they sent me that I need to post.

where?

where?


June 22nd from 4-8 PM on the river by where they are buliding River Park Place where Frankfort meets River Road.

FYI, this is just east of the new Tumbleweed.

I can not believe how the City of Louisville has "beaten" the "arena horse!!!" Your Council should be ashamed of itself!

I can not believe how the City of Louisville has "beaten" the "arena horse!!!" Your Council should be ashamed of itself!

Duh!

These people are self-important and are speaking to get their name in the news on the basis of "guarding the community". I really do think the arena will be built. I think too many major civic leaders support it. But, all this news is really annoying.

^^
EXTREMELY frustrating.
They just need to put it through and then get onto important things like why our smoking ban is such a pussy-ass excuse for an ordinance... It stopped smoking in O'Charlie's.. Unless you're sitting at the bar. Then its ok. :sleepy:

Arena hotel's size questioned

With hotel occupancy rates in Louisville lagging behind the industry average, some are questioning whether a proposed 475-room hotel next to a downtown arena must be scaled back -- leaving less money to pay for the arena.

Lease payments from the proposed hotel are expected to cover about $50 million of the $349 million cost of building the arena that would play host to University of Louisville basketball games and other events.

But downtown's recent hotel boom has added about 850 rooms in the past year, with 300 more planned within three years as part of the Museum Plaza skyscraper.

And while the downtown occupancy rate has climbed steadily during the boom, Louisville's rate still trails competing cities such as Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Nashville.

Some hotel executives question whether it makes sense to flood Louisville's downtown market with the roughly 500 rooms planned for the arena hotel.

"One would think that the average developer would have some caution to coming in," said Brad Walker, general manager of The Brown, a Camberley Hotel, and president of the Greater Louisville Hotel & Lodging Association.

Those issues and others will be weighed by a hotel industry expert in a report due to the Louisville Arena Authority at its Monday meeting. Already, consultant Rob Hunden has advised arena authority members that the hotel, as planned, could be too ambitious.

"Five hundred rooms may or may not be the right number" for the arena hotel, Hunden told authority members last month. "It may be quite a bit less than that."

Arena planners are banking on a "build it and they will come" strategy to fill an arena hotel that would be privately developed and attract visitors in town for NCAA postseason events such as basketball, hockey and wrestling.

But even if a smaller hotel is built, the arena financing plan would still work, said Jim Host, chairman of the arena authority.

"It would change the revenue projections, but not materially," Host said, adding that $1.1 billion in various revenues over 30 years is expected to pay off $674 million in project debt.

A good year so far for hotels
According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, 2006 nationally is on pace to be the best year for the lodging business since before the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Through March, some Louisville hotels were sharing in the growth, while others were not.

Downtown and near the airport, 54 percent of hotels were filled on an average day, nearly a 2 percent increase from a year ago, according to Smith Travel Research. But Louisville's overall occupancy rate fell slightly to 52 percent.

Those figures concern Walker, who said a city's hotel market is considered "reasonably healthy" if occupancy rates are at least in the low 60s.

An economic downturn may find Louisville stuck with a surplus of rooms, said John Fareed, a hotel-industry consultant and partner in Fareed and Zapala Marketing Partners in Winter Park, Fla.

The arena hotel project could then give Louisville a glut of new rooms it wouldn't fill, said Fareed, who is not involved in the arena deal.

"It's definitely going to be a challenge if they do this," Fareed said.

When it opened last year, the downtown Marriott helped push the average number of downtown hotel and motel rooms to nearly 3,500, the most since 2001, according to the Greater Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Despite that, downtown occupancy rates rose to 57 percent -- a jump of nearly 6 percentage points from 2004 and the highest rate in the past five years.

Still, the Louisville market's occupancy rates -- for the previous 12 months ending in March -- lagged behind competing regional cities. Louisville's 56 percent occupancy rate trailed Indianapolis at 58 percent, Nashville at 63 percent and Memphis at 65 percent, according to Smith Travel Research, which is based in Nashville.

Other economic indicators also don't appear to support more hotels being built in Louisville, said Jerry Morrison, a San Diego lodging analyst not affiliated with the arena project.

While Louisville's average room rate for the first three months of 2006 was $77.81, compared with $96.09 nationally, the city made only $40.38 per room, compared with $57.74 nationally, Smith Travel Research reports.

That could make Louisville a challenging location for a new hotel, Morrison said. "The likelihood of success is relatively small unless this arena is going to generate huge numbers" of bookings, he said.

That's usually not the case with arenas, which may fill up for sporting events and funnel people into downtown shops and businesses -- but they aren't likely to result in overnight hotel stays, Morrison said.

Expecting an increase
Still, arena hotel proponents contend that the "build it and they will come" strategy has worked elsewhere.

Oklahoma City has seen a surge of downtown hotel rooms in recent years, alongside a wave of development that includes a new multipurpose arena and expanded convention center.

Hotel occupancy rates in Oklahoma City have remained near 70 percent the past three years.

Steve Collier, executive director of the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the convention center and the Ford Center, the temporary home of the NBA's New Orleans Hornets, have raised the demand.

"Once the facilities were built, activity increased," Collier said.

Louisville officials hope the same thing happens here.

Much will depend on who operates a hotel arena, how many rooms are planned and what amenities it will have -- decisions that haven't been made, said Jim Wood, president of the Greater Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

But Wood said it's a positive sign that occupancy rates rose last year after the downtown Marriott opened. He believes a hotel at the arena site "will probably have a similar impact."

Shane Weaver, the Marriott's director of sales, said his hotel doesn't see a new arena hotel as a threat.

"The more vibrant downtown becomes, the better off our hotel will be long-term," Weaver said.

While Host doesn't expect all local hotel operators to embrace more competition, he said the new Marriott with its 600-plus rooms has shown that downtown can handle additional hotels.

Three companies have already expressed interest in operating an arena hotel, Host said, including White Lodging Services of Merrillville, Ind., which recently sold its interest in the downtown Marriott. Host declined to name the other firms.

If a hotel is not built on the arena site, Host said, "somebody's going to build another one."

I have little doubt that the arena is going to built as planned...these council members are trying to make a name for themselves. (and to be honest, they are some of the lesser important members)

There are far too many people above them that are exerting their influence...and these little guys won't stop it.


About the arena hotel, I think the city needs to go ahead with their plan...I agree with Host, if the city doesn't use this opportunity now some other developer will come in a few years later and build something else.

Gradual ramp will lead up to Big Four Bridge

A gracefully swooping ramp will replace the earthen mound supporting a spiral path as the Louisville approach to the Big Four Bridge, which is to become a cross-river pedway.

The mound plan was dropped last winter when tests showed the spongy soil under the bridge wouldn't support it.

And the ramp -- about 1,800 feet long, or about one-third mile -- will not obscure the view of the river as the mound would have, said Mike Kimmel, deputy director of the Waterfront Development Corp.

The design shows a ramp made of steel, with a concrete deck that will angle up at a 5 percent incline, to a concrete plaza at the end of the bridge that will have restrooms and space for food vendors.

The ramp will have a railing and will accommodate bikers, walkers, strollers, wheelchairs and emergency vehicles, Kimmel said.

There's no need for an elevator because of the gradual incline.

Steel pilings sunk up to 80 feet into the ground will support the ramp.

The ramp and related site work will cost about $8.5 million. The money, primarily from government sources, is in hand, Waterfront President David Karem said.

Construction bids will be sought in October, and work is expected to begin in January and be finished by the end of 2007.

Now the problem is what to do with the huge piles of dirt near the bridge that would have been used for the mound: 17,000 tons of earth, roughly 10,000 truck loads.

Karem said it would have cost $500,000 to mold the dirt into a mound. Now it could cost up to $1 million to move it, an expense that is included in the $8.5 million ramp estimate.

Southern Indiana officials are still raising money for access to the north end of the Big Four.

I am only somewhat surprised to hear that Cordish is backig out of the JCPenney building. Unless they could have secured the Hilliard Lyons Building, JCP it is a fairly useless and awful looking slab of concrete.

I honestly doubt we will see a quick resolution to the development of that corner of Fourth Street. Jewish Hospital hinted they might use the space again for office workers (BLECH) so no one knows...All we know is we get a hulking, ugly building again to try and market.

So, maybe I was kinda wrong...

Developers set plans for Hilliard Lyons Center

A Louisville developer with financial backing from a Philadelphia-area investment fund plans a major overhaul of the downtown Hilliard Lyons Center at the intersection of Fourth Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard.

David Barhorst, owner of SoFo Development, and his partners have signed a letter of intent to purchase the property from PNC Financial Services Group Inc., the Pittsburgh-based financial-services company that owns brokerage firm J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons Inc.

The developers plan to convert the building in to a mixed-use facility with University of Louisville graduate programs as a key tenant. Office space and retail businesses, including a deli and nightclub, also are planned as part of the $32 million project.

Currently, Hilliard Lyons' headquarters occupy more than half of the space in the 361,000-square-foot building; the company plans to move to PNC Plaza this fall.

Barhorst declined to disclose how much his group will pay for the Hilliard Lyons Center, which was listed by PNC Realty Services in November for $9.95 million.

Barhorst's partner in the project is Sage Real Estate Group, a West Conshohocken, Pa.-based firm that manages real estate equity funds totaling about $300 million.

Sage is providing the "bulk of the capital" for the redevelopment of building through its $40 million CoolTown Fund, which is focused on real estate investments in urban properties, Barhorst said.

Neil Takemoto, director of Washington, D.C.-based CoolTown Studios, which helps identify investments for Sage and works as a consultant for its urban development projects, said the investors are "very excited" about the project because it appeals to a "creative class" of professionals and represents "smart growth" in urban areas...............

(Rest of the story)
http://louisville.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2006/06/19/story1.html

I read this article and I am somewhat let down. I really think the only corners suitable for national retailers downtown are at 4th and Ali and it now looks like both of them are becoming a restuarant or club (the Starks building is getting an upscale restuarant in the old Rodes store).

With that said, I like the upper floors being UL grad students. I think many of these people will buy nearby lofts at the YWCA bldg, etc, and as they said this brings even more to the creative class boom happening downtown.

However, I really think they are missing the boat here by not trying to get more apparel retailers in that spot, though. I was downtown today (Sunday) and I was amazed at all the pedestrian traffic on 4th. 4th street Live, as cheesy as it is, is drawing tourists and conventioners out of their hotels. If they will spend their money at Hard Rock, dont you think theyd spend it in an urban Macy's or Nordstrom? I dunno, maybe its just me.

I'm actually pretty pumped about this story. I think the biggest hurdle has been jumped: getting development south of Muhammad Ali. This, to me, is exciting news. I also love how UofL is embracing downtown. Hopefully, this will help bridge Old Louisville to downtown via housing for students, profesisonals, and those that are both.

I, personally, think "if and when" the new arena is built, that Whiskey Row is a prime block for retail. If you could incorporate a department store "anchor" in the hotel of the project, and then cross 2nd street to Whiskey Row with the J.Crew's and Urban Outfitters, it would create a wonderful retail corridor.

Lastly, it is amazing to see the Saturday and Sunday pedestrian traffic downtown. It's not NYC or Chicago amazing, but considered the desertedness of downtown, especially at those hours, just 5 years ago, the current conditions are nothing short of miraculous.

I think there are very positive things that come from this development.
The fact that it is somone else, and not Cordish, heading this develpoment shows that DT has become strong enough to get investment from companies with more to lose. More than just big developers like Cordish are seeing potential in DT. It diversifies the areas market and will certainly begin to build faith in other developers.
The other thing I am very excited about is UofL. I think it is very important to have UofL planting seeds DT. It begins to make it convient for some students be near these branches and moves younger people into downtown. And its also something other than an office hotel or club going DT, which helps to expand the area's function as a whole.

Lastly, it is amazing to see the Saturday and Sunday pedestrian traffic downtown. It's not NYC or Chicago amazing, but considered the desertedness of downtown, especially at those hours, just 5 years ago, the current conditions are nothing short of miraculous.
I went to Waterfront Park last night around 10 with a big group of friends. It was HOPPIN'. haha
I was loving it. It really felt like a big-city urban park. There were 3 or 4 different groups playing stuff like ultimate frisbee and touch football (my buddy joined an intense game of kickball) and loads of people walking around and hanging out. Played in that fountain with the water that shoots up. Water's warm. ;)
Now, for a Sunday night, I'd say things were really alive.
And there were a good amount of people walking on the streets around east main.
The crowds are there. All we need is the retail...

I'm actually pretty pumped about this story. I think the biggest hurdle has been jumped: getting development south of Muhammad Ali. This, to me, is exciting news. I also love how UofL is embracing downtown. Hopefully, this will help bridge Old Louisville to downtown via housing for students, profesisonals, and those that are both.

I, personally, think "if and when" the new arena is built, that Whiskey Row is a prime block for retail. If you could incorporate a department store "anchor" in the hotel of the project, and then cross 2nd street to Whiskey Row with the J.Crew's and Urban Outfitters, it would create a wonderful retail corridor.

Lastly, it is amazing to see the Saturday and Sunday pedestrian traffic downtown. It's not NYC or Chicago amazing, but considered the desertedness of downtown, especially at those hours, just 5 years ago, the current conditions are nothing short of miraculous.


I agree with that. I would like to see a smaller hotel at the arena site. As a tradeoff, I think that corner would be PRIME for an urban mall kind of thing with a major department store anchor. Therefore, I really think someone should suggest an urban mall in the ground 3 floors of that hotel and then connect it to street front retail on "Whiskey Row." I can also picture the back of Whiskey Row that abuts Washington having a few bars and pubs similar to Nashville's Printer's Alley.

I think the most encouraging part of this is that UL will anchor this deal and that we are seeing big time venture capital from coastal big cities coming into Louisville. The Hilliard Lyons Building is building is being developed by a local guy but the key financial backing is coming from a Philadelphia group. Across the street, the Starks building was inquired by a major LA real estate investment group that is making their first buy in the Louisville market.

New arena would help generate $117 million in first year


A downtown arena is expected to generate nearly $117 million in new spending in its first year, when combined with events at Freedom Hall, according to an economic impact report released Monday.

The report, presented to the Louisville Arena Authority, excludes money spent by residents that would have been spent elsewhere in Louisville on entertainment, dining or other services.

Construction of a $349 million arena hosting University of Louisville basketball games and other events would provide a projected payroll of $109 million, according to consultants from the Leib Group.

Construction workers on the arena would generate another $50 million in spending in lodging, food and retail spending. The arena is expected to take three years to build.

Also Monday, authority members received a much-anticipated report on the feasibility of a building a private hotel next to the arena.

Hotel consultant Rob Hunden of Chicago told the authority that the hotel should have 425 rooms, about 50 less than initially projected. It would include two ballrooms, 10 meeting rooms and two boardrooms.

Lease payments from the proposed hotel are expected to cover about $50 million of the cost of building the arena.

Hunden said an arena hotel won’t harm other downtown hotels, and he expects to see occupancy rates rise across downtown once the arena opens.

“We see them increasing their demand as well,” Hunden said.

found this online this morning..

Turning Louisville on its head

Eclectic art lovers push Museum Plaza, a 61-story centerpiece of a $380 million project.

By DREW JUBERA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 06/18/06

Louisville, Ky. — They threw a $1,000-a-ticket pajama party — black tie optional — to open their hotel: five renovated warehouses crowded with $10 million worth of their own wickedly up-to-the-moment art. Among the works throughout the hotel, called 21C were four bold, life-sized statues of nude children behind the check-in desk, and a video projection on the lobby floor of a sleeping couple tossing in bed.

Almost 200 movers and shakers showed up like the horsey set's rendering of a Playboy Mansion bash — a guy in lime green underwear, a young woman in her grandmother's lingerie — to toast the creation of Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, the whiskey-money couple turning this old river town on its head.


BRIAN BOHANNON/AP
(ENLARGE)
Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown are building Museum Plaza, a $380 million structure in Louisville, Ky., that will include a hotel, 85 luxury condos, 150 lofts, an art gallery and plenty of office space.


(ENLARGE)
This schematic shows how the Museum Plaza, in all of its 1.2 million-square-foot glory, will change the city's skyline.

The party moved from sidewalk cocktails to five-course dinner to live entertainment: an Irish singer, a New York comic, a private show by Cirque du Soleil. An art school grad holed up all week with a cot and a computer inside a ground-level window looking out on West Main Street, her performance piece dubbed "Life as Art." A chandelier created by a renowned Austrian artist hung above a street corner. It made the sound of someone breathing.

Yet as curious as the night was for downtown Louisville — "Weirdest gig I'll ever

do," allowed Mark Geary, the singer flown in from Dublin

for last weekend's event — it pales beside the couple's next act: a 61-story skyscraper shaped a lot like a three-legged chair.

Designed by an on-the-rise architect from one of the world's most acclaimed firms, Museum Plaza will remake the skyline of the nation's 43rd largest metropolitan area. Its centerpiece is a 22nd floor, acre-and-a-half contemporary art museum.

In less than two years, Brown and Wilson have emerged as the city's, and perhaps the South's, unlikeliest "It" couple, parlaying a passion for art into what they hope is a whole town's transformation.

"They've rattled some teeth that needed to be rattled," said Bob Hill, longtime local columnist for The Courier-Journal. "Louisville's always been more than what it thought it was, and now it's figured it out. It's been a basketball and beer town until now. Now we have some way-out art to go with it. And it's home folks doing it."

Buying into the vision

Brown, 65, is the wealthy great-granddaughter of George Garvin Brown, founder of the multibillion-dollar Brown-Forman liquor company, whose products include Jack Daniel's and Southern Comfort. Wilson, 58, is son of a fifth-generation farmer, and a former aide to three Kentucky governors. It's the second marriage for both.

In a city built on tobacco, bourbon and horses, Brown and Wilson see cutting-edge art — along with UPS' air hub and a burgeoning health care industry — as a new engine to move Louisville into a new century (21C stands for 21st century). And after a decadeslong nap from which it has begun to stir — the last downtown tower, the city's tallest at 35 stories, went up 13 years ago — the town is buying into the vision.

"Ten years ago, a 61-story building in Louisville was beyond my imagination," said local developer Bill Weyland. "It still is, a little bit. But

when you get entrepreneurs with the capacity to think that big, that's something that's been lacking in Louisville for a long time."

For most Louisvillians, Brown's and Wilson's projects came out of nowhere. Before opening the art hotel and unveiling the skyscraper, scheduled to break ground in February, the couple raised bison on 1,000 acres about 25 miles north of downtown. They also loaded their 18th-century farmhouse with contemporary art collected during trips all over the world. A skyscraper wasn't even on their radar 18 months ago.

"Louisville has a tradition

of being traditional," said Brown, whose family has been among the city's most prominent for more than a century. "I don't know what makes it so difficult to get the old guard on board.

"There are parts that are open to newness," she added. A cousin, Ina Brown Bond, is co-chairwoman of the new Muhammad Ali Center, dedicated to the native son's life and ideals. Last year's opening drew the likes of Bill Clinton and Angelina Jolie.

"I tend to think it's like getting a mouse with cheese. If you put it out there, they'll find it."

Not-so-humble beginnings

Brown and Wilson grew up on farms worlds apart.

Wilson's father cleared virgin woods in western Kentucky, where the family home stood on stilts without water or electricity until Wilson turned 6.

The farm prospered and Wilson's father built a three-story house in nearby Wickliffe, population 800, and became mayor. Wilson worked the farm year-round, baling hay, cutting silage, riding cattle off the lot to check for diseases.

His window on the world was 4-H; he went to camp every summer and "won all the blue ribbons I could." He got a 4-H scholarship to Thailand. To promote the program, Wilson rode a horse more than 300 miles from Wickliffe to Louisville. That showmanship resurfaced later when he staged events while working in public relations and arts commission jobs at the governor's mansion.

He attended Murray State University in Murray, Ky., because his father wanted him close enough to "work the farm on weekends." He loved art and politics. When he graduated, Wilson headed straight to Frankfort, the state capital, where he first worked for his brother-in-law, future Gov. Julian Carroll.

"I couldn't wait to get off the farm," he said.

Brown calls her late father, then Brown-Forman's CEO, a "gentleman farmer" who raised cattle for beef and show. Her early years were spent on rolling land just miles from the bison farm she lives on today. She sometimes rode with her father around the property in a truck. She had a pet raccoon. She took museum tours started by her mother. Before going off to boarding school in New York, she car-pooled to school. One family picked her up in a limousine.

"An old limousine," she insists.

Brown attended Sweet Briar College, an all-girls school in Virginia, where she majored in French "to please my father." She lived in Paris for three months after graduation, then in San Francisco before marrying and raising three children on a spread outside Louisville. She started to collect art in her late 20s.

Brown and Wilson met in the early '90s. With both divorced, a mutual friend sat them together at a dinner party because of their common interest in art. Wilson, flamboyant and extroverted, fell for her quickly. Brown, elegant and more introverted, took her time.

"I was from the wrong side of the tracks," Wilson said. "Her friends and family were protective. Her housekeeper hardly opened the door for me."

Pushing preservation

But the attraction of opposites worked.

"She's got the background and genes to do something," said Sally Campbell, daughter of another Kentucky whiskey dynasty and an ex-sister-in-law, "and he's not someone to shy away from being different."

Rural land conservation became their cause; Brown still regrets the sale of her family farm, now a McMansion

subdivision. They bought an abandoned farm overlooking the Ohio River and began

to raise organic bison and rehab the farmhouse, then a quaint ruin. (They also keep two

camels, a nod to Wilson's

camel-back marriage proposal during a trek through Pakistan.)

The restored house is packed with contemporary art: paintings, photographs, video, sculpture — the edgier the better. A pond beside the house, complete with a cement bottom, nearly replicates the pond in a Bruce Weber photograph from their collection.

They bought more land to conserve, but grew tired of just sitting on it. So they took their preservation instincts downtown, where Louisville has undergone a boomlet

of converted residences, museums (including the Louisville Slugger bat factory) and nightspots. They decided the area needed more of what they had.

"We have this fun collection," said Brown, "and we wanted to bring it downtown."

That began the ball rolling on 21C. But the couple soon thought bigger. They wanted the venerable Speed Art Museum, located a few miles south and on whose board Wilson sits, to open a contemporary art space downtown. They found land, tax credits, traveled the world for similar examples — until the Speed turned them down.

"It never occurred to us to do it ourselves," Wilson said.

Mammoth plans

Within a year, an initial plan for a 22-story block building became a $380 million, 1.2 million-square-foot mixed-use series of Tinker-Toy-like glass towers.

With Brown's name and money easing banks and investors, the structure actually grew to spread the risk: it's really like five manageable, midsized developments put into one structure. It'll include 300,000-square-feet of office space, a 300-room hotel, 85 luxury condos and 150 lofts (Wilson also insisted on a farmer's market). All of it feeds into an "island" on the 22nd floor that will house the museum, as well as the University of Louisville's master of fine arts program.

Seeing the plans the first time, Mayor Jerry Abramson thought the building might swallow downtown. "My original reaction was, 'It's going to have to grow on me,' " he said. It did. Abramson now calls Museum Plaza "an icon." Architect Joshua Prince-Ramus described it for The Wall Street Journal as possessing the raw, awkward beauty of "the gap

between Lauren Hutton's teeth."

"It's a very rational idea," said local developer and project partner Steve Poe. "It just doesn't look rational."

"Why Louisville?" added Ramus from his New York

office. "Without a client such

as this, nothing happens, let alone something this ambitious."

Few who know Brown and Wilson are surprised it came together so quickly.

"They like to move fast," said Lois Mateus, a Brown-Forman executive who introduced them. "Laura Lee has the means to facilitate things. She's

made of good stock. Her whole family thinks in terms of giving back."

Yet Brown often gets vertigo thinking about what they're doing.

"I'm still freaking out," she said the afternoon after the hotel party, sitting with Wilson on a stone patio behind an old house of her's on 40 acres that's now a bed and breakfast. "I'll be walking down the street with somebody and go by a building and say, 'How tall is that?' And they'll say, '32 stories.' And I'll realize what we're building is twice as big. And I'll just shrivel."

Atlanta is SOOO cocky, lol. Sleepy river town? Didnt we shed that image years ago? This article is actually well done but is similar to the jealous spread they did on Nashville's Sig Tower.

Oh well, I say go Nashville and Louisville! We are not content to let Atlanta and its sprawl be the southern kingpin. :)

it seems that atlanta is just going around and downing everyone elses developments and skyscrapers. man, they are so insecure and immature

Atlanta is SOOO cocky, lol. Sleepy river town? Didnt we shed that image years ago? This article is actually well done but is similar to the jealous spread they did on Nashville's Sig Tower.

Oh well, I say go Nashville and Louisville! We are not content to let Atlanta and its sprawl be the southern kingpin. :)

I actually thought the article was pretty well done. Not once did the article say "sleepy." I think some people in this town have way too much of an inferiority complex. Any rational person would come away reading that article with a great image of Louisville.

I actually thought the article was pretty well done. Not once did the article say "sleepy." I think some people in this town have way too much of an inferiority complex. Any rational person would come away reading that article with a great image of Louisville.

I tend to agree, I think folks need to just take things with a grain of salt sometimes. I've seen plenty articles about the ville that were very positive image wise for the city. Alot of them coming from major markets, i'm not saying anyone on this board has a inferiority complex, but I've seen people in the city with this complex. Alot of people haven't even ventured outside there little community in Louisville. Its many residents who don't even know about some of the "jewels" this city has. Louisville is lucky to have some of the best neighborhoods and art in the country. Having the opportunity to travel alot around the country this year, I would say Louisville stacks up really well with some of our competing cities. I just think alot of Louisvillians need to get out more. Anyways, enough of my rant, but I do agree with your post.

Yeah, I would have to say that article painted the city in some pretty good light. I think a lot of forward thinkers and young people in Atlanta reading that would have been very impressed with the description of 21C and the party.

Anywho, I tried to head out tonight to do a photo tour of downtown, particularly East main, and the Fleur de Lis and Gallery Square lots before construction, but I fell asleep and not only woke up too late to do that, but I missed rehearsal... >.>
So I'm going to try and do that tomorrow and hopefully have them up late tomorrow night or thursday. Anyone have suggestions of lots or places I should get shots of? Any other lots to get some "before" photos of?

And I also would like to point out there are a few peoplein the US Urban Issues forum who think Louisville should get the Marlins. o_0
hah

I drove past the SoHo Condominiums last night (on my way to Free Will...which was excellent!). It's not really downtown, but nearby.

Anyway, I didn't vote for Louisville to get the Marlins. There is no way we could support MLB. Any other pro sport would be fine, but not MLB. We don't have the money or population, plus we are wedged between two of the strongest small markets in baseball (St. Louis and Cincy).

I think the SOHO condos look like crap. They could have made those much nicer but they look cheap IMO. Anyways, its still nice to see upscale infill in the SoBro area that needs work between Old Louisville and downtown.

Has anyone else heard that Mayor Abramsom is likely to run on a ticket with Ben Chandler for governor? I read an article about it in LEO where a critic said this about Abramson:

"Can you imagine a well dressed, Jewish mayor from Louisville" that "supported the Fairness Ordinance (gay rights)" getting elected by rural, conservative Christian Kentuckians?

how did paul patton get elected then? he was a democrat too. Patton made it illegal for government agencies in Kentucky to consider sexual orientation in matters of employment. An executive order signed by Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher reversed that action, and allowed individuals within the state government to hire and fire employees based solely on sexual orientation. ...go figure...

This week there have been multiple dumpsters sitting on Washington Street with workers clearing out one of the Whiskey Row buildings. Does anyone know what could be going on? I hope somebody deep-pocketed has realized their potential.

thats nothing new...i could show you pictures from 2001 with dumsters out on that street.

I think the SOHO condos look like crap. They could have made those much nicer but they look cheap IMO. Anyways, its still nice to see upscale infill in the SoBro area that needs work between Old Louisville and downtown.

Has anyone else heard that Mayor Abramsom is likely to run on a ticket with Ben Chandler for governor? I read an article about it in LEO where a critic said this about Abramson:

"Can you imagine a well dressed, Jewish mayor from Louisville" that "supported the Fairness Ordinance (gay rights)" getting elected by rural, conservative Christian Kentuckians?


It would be great for Kentucky's urban areas if Jerry did get elected, (he would probably get those old tax codes changed once and for all) but I don't see that happening. That quote pretty much sums up the reasons why. I think if the mayor wanted to move up in the political world the next best thing would be Congress, he would have a good chance at defeating Northup. Imagine that Louisville's mayor for life against Louisville's congress woman for life, that would be an interesting race to see.

thats nothing new...i could show you pictures from 2001 with dumsters out on that street.

Yes you are correct. I believe most of the work they are doing there is utility work. I was curious so I stopped and talked to one of the construction guys one day after meeting a friend for lunch. Anyhow, the construction guy said he had heard that it was going to be renovated into "some offices or something" but that they were merely doing utility work and stablizing the base of the buildings while they did so.

Whoever brought up the idea of making that row retail had it right, and I would love to see that block tied into retail on the next block over at the arena in the ground floor of the hotel.

I recall several years ago there were plans to make them condos but I think the buildings were in such bad shape it was not feasible at the time. When the arena is built, that property will be so valuable that a developer could go in and renovate them and make enough profit charging high retail rents and selling million dollar condos above.

Yeah, I wrote an email to the Arena Authority about the retail potential, but all I got in return was a typical bureaucratic response.

Well, it takes ppl like us to be proactive, Daville. I think I will email them, too.

what does this mean for Museum Plaza?
-----------------------
Metro Council Passes $735M Budget

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Metro Council passed a $735 million budget on Thursday, WLKY NewsChannel 32 reported.

The budget includes $12 million for Metrosafe Communications, $17 million for three new firehouses and equipment, and $750,000 for a new animal shelter.

The Council also added $3.5 million to Mayor Jerry Abramson’s proposed budget, including $75,000 to help pay for the Louisville Orchestra’s bills.

$450,000 was also dedicated to construction projects for non-profit groups.


Republican mayoral candidate Kelly Downard, (R-5th District), voted for the budget but used it to criticize Abramson, a move that angered some Council members.

"This budget will keep us paying our bills and hiring consultants," Downard said. "We deserve better."
http://www.wlky.com/news/9414747/detail.html

Jones, Schnatter Drop Riverfront Arena Site Opposition

Jones, Schnatter Drop Riverfront Arena Site Opposition

POSTED: 8:12 am EDT June 23, 2006
UPDATED: 8:15 am EDT June 23, 2006

Email This Story | Print This Story

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- It appears a labor agreement on construction is the only unresolved issue in Louisville's downtown, riverfront arena project.

Business leaders David Jones and John Schnatter said they're dropping their lobbying effort against a riverfront site.

Louisville Metro Council leaders said support for the arena financing plan is now assured, pending the labor agreement.

Jones and Schnatter publicly dropped their opposition to the riverfront site in a letter to the council this week. The state has pledged $75 million toward construction of the arena.


The University of Louisville will be the primary tenant, and the Kentucky State Fair Board will be the manager.

Growth gravitates to Urban Areas

By Chris Poynter
and Katya CengelThe Courier-Journal



Pop quiz.

Which suburban city is one of the fastest-growing in Jefferson County -- Jeffersontown or St. Matthews?



If you guessed Jeffersontown, guess again.

Despite relatively little room to grow, St. Matthews' population has climbed 9 percent the past five years, adding nearly 1,500 people.

But Jeffersontown, which borders acres of undeveloped countryside, has lost more than 500 people since the 2000 census.

It's a tale of two cities that depicts Jefferson County's changing population, said Ron Crouch, director of the Kentucky State Data Center.

Jefferson County's baby boomers and shrinking families are looking more and more toward the urban center and away from big suburban homes with acres of grass to mow, he said.

"I think some of this suburban sprawl is going to end," Crouch said. "More people are going to want to live in more compact, higher-density areas and don't want 5- and 10-acre lots."

Witness St. Matthews.

It has the right housing stock to attract people with smaller families and more disposable income, Crouch said -- smaller homes, 1,800 to 2,500 square feet, with small yards.

"The 3,500- to 5,000-square-foot McMansions with five bedrooms on the second floor will have a harder time selling," he said.

Emilie Knieriem credits St. Matthews' population mix for the success of Café Emilie, the growing Shelbyville Road restaurant she owns with her husband, Charles.

St. Matthews, she said, is filled with young professionals "who like to go out to eat and have a couple of drinks after work."

It's the same thing with growing small cities like Lyndon, Glenview and Anchorage, which all had population growth close to or exceeding 10 percent since 2000.

"You've got a population in their 50s who can afford to live in Glenview and Anchorage," Crouch said. "And, of course, Anchorage has a good school system that attracts a lot of young families."

In Lyndon, sprawling lots that once housed a single home are being replaced with smaller houses with less space, said Linda Jones, a longtime City Council member.

When John and Flo Jones bought a house in 2003, they wanted to stay in the Middletown area, where Flo grew up. But it was in nearby Lyndon that they found a house they could afford.

The block on which they now live used to be a field with a single house, John Flo said. Now there are almost a dozen homes costing about $130,000.

The new population numbers, tracking estimated population changes between 2000 and 2005, showed that 60 of Jefferson County's 83 small cities gained population, while 17 lost. Six were unchanged.

Douglass Hills had 121 fewer people than in 2000, which surprised Mayor Sherl Fetter.

"Wonder why that is?" he asked yesterday. "We haven't torn down any houses."

In most places, including Douglass Hill and Jeffersontown, population losses are prompted by smaller families and fewer children, Crouch said.

Crouch predicted that more urban cities and neighborhoods will grow in the coming years, while more suburban cities will lose people.

Erin Althaus moved from Jeffersontown three years ago to a new home in Lyndon.

"It's close to everything," she said. It's also quiet, Althaus said, and her children can Rollerblade in the street. Last year, several neighbors came by to warn her about a string of thefts in the area.

"Everybody keeps everybody informed about what's going on," she said.

Reporter Chris Poynter can be reached at (502) 582-4475.

Reporter Katya Cengel can be reached at (502) 582-4224.

I figured J-town was losing people. But I think it will pick up and actually gain in the next 5 years. Its filling in with lots of patio homes and compact subdivisions. The old driving range at Stony Brook and Galene/Six Mile(it switches at the intersection) is being developed into patio homes.
For a while, J-town was seeing very little new residential development, and things were feeling really depressed in parts like around J-town high school. All very cheap construction, 80's development that is not standing the test of time.
There is going to be some much needed improvement to the area, making it affordable and compact, but less outdated and even, dare I say, trashy. J-town is basically in my backyard, and its just not pleasant at all in some parts.
It's going to be less of a "new family's paridise". I think everyone's aware that jig is up.

Oh, and I think they did not bring up Fern Creek on purpose. Because they wanted to make a point that suburban life is dying and inner ring hoods are rising, but Fern Creek is exploding.
Glen Mary is expanding farther and farther back into untouched woods. I sware it, "Glen Mary" will become its own city neighborhood within 10 years. It already has strip shopping with the Glen Mary name on it, plus Glen mary Villiage a bit further out past Valor Academy. BARDSTOWN ROAD- Highlands, Beuchel, Fern Creek, Glen Mary.
I've been back and forth from Fern Creek to Mt. Washington a lot lately, and the number of Subdivisions and big homes are rising steadily. I hadn't recognized the stretch when I went out there for the first time after about two years.

I would also like to point out that there is now a MERCEDES dealership in Fern Creek. 15 years ago, that'd been as laughable as a Starbucks in Beuchel. :lol: Oh.. wait..

I remember back in the 90’s that most of the development in Louisville seemed to be concentrated strictly to the east end in places like J-town, nowadays development while still being primarily in the east end seems to have spread out a lot more. It actually seems like there is more development around Louisville now than before. A lot of it is infill developments.

I remember back in the 90’s that most of the development in Louisville seemed to be concentrated strictly to the east end in places like J-town, nowadays development while still being primarily in the east end seems to have spread out a lot more. It actually seems like there is more development around Louisville now than before. A lot of it is infill developments.

I lived in J-town for 6 yrs until i moved last march, and folks are just tired of the big yards and want to be closer to the things going on in the city. J-town is a great place to live, but if you live south of waterson trail then you are basically living on a island. Its pretty much cut off from every thing. I ventured back into my old hood the other day and noticed they built a Kroger off taylorsville rd near the gene synder. They are still building towards simpsonville. Not as much as they were 3 yrs ago, but they are still building subdivisions.

Oh, and I think they did not bring up Fern Creek on purpose. Because they wanted to make a point that suburban life is dying and inner ring hoods are rising, but Fern Creek is exploding.
Glen Mary is expanding farther and farther back into untouched woods. I sware it, "Glen Mary" will become its own city neighborhood within 10 years. It already has strip shopping with the Glen Mary name on it, plus Glen mary Villiage a bit further out past Valor Academy. BARDSTOWN ROAD- Highlands, Beuchel, Fern Creek, Glen Mary.
I've been back and forth from Fern Creek to Mt. Washington a lot lately, and the number of Subdivisions and big homes are rising steadily. I hadn't recognized the stretch when I went out there for the first time after about two years.

I would also like to point out that there is now a MERCEDES dealership in Fern Creek. 15 years ago, that'd been as laughable as a Starbucks in Beuchel. :lol: Oh.. wait..

You are right fern creek is exploding, that area is really booming. Its probably booming at a faster clip than the brownsboro rd area.

You all, and the paper is talking about cities as a whole growing so I am just curious what this means for the entire Louisville pop. is it the whole county or is it the county minus these suburban areas. I keep seeing/hearing entirely different stories.

^^
What contradicting story have you heard about the city not growing?

You all, and the paper is talking about cities as a whole growing so I am just curious what this means for the entire Louisville pop. is it the whole county or is it the county minus these suburban areas. I keep seeing/hearing entirely different stories.


What exactly do you mean? Jefferson County as a whole is growing. Louisville's offical population is 556k bc the census will not let us include 150k of suburban city populations unless "those cities dissolved" in the word of the Census Bureau.

Meanwhile, if you are from Cincy, you guys have some massive work to do as I believe I read that Cincy is losing population faster than any city in America, even Detroit. Do you believe those numbers are accurate?

No I am from Louisville, I just have a decent job in Cincinnati, and yes the population here is bleeding pretty bad, Cincy has huge swaths of abandonment and also has areas of major overhaul and cleanup, in order to do these clean-up projects people will have to move out. So while it doesnt look too terribly different I believe it would make sense for the city to be losing that many people. At the end of the day Cincy has great neighborhoods to live in, but it is a Business city. ... but that wasnt what I meant, and I re-read what I said and it was worded completely wrong. You answered my question though. I was just asking how someone could talk about a city like J-town growing or losing population when I thought it was dissolved into the county and wouldnt really be counted as a separate entity at all, but you already answered it.

Hey guys--

I'm moving to Louisville in about 6 weeks, and am in the process of looking at neighborhoods to buy a house in. How would you describe Green Spring, and how would you describe Langdon Place? Pros, cons, objective, subjective opinions are all welcomed. I'm married and will have small kids in the new few years.

I apologize for hijacking the thread...if there is another place here I can post this on, let me know--but I knew I could depend on SSC types to give me the info I'm looking for.

We're moving to get closer to my wife's family, but wow, am I psyched about the development in Louisville! Very proud to be moving to such a great mid-sized city.

No I am from Louisville, I just have a decent job in Cincinnati, and yes the population here is bleeding pretty bad, Cincy has huge swaths of abandonment and also has areas of major overhaul and cleanup, in order to do these clean-up projects people will have to move out. So while it doesnt look too terribly different I believe it would make sense for the city to be losing that many people. At the end of the day Cincy has great neighborhoods to live in, but it is a Business city. ... but that wasnt what I meant, and I re-read what I said and it was worded completely wrong. You answered my question though. I was just asking how someone could talk about a city like J-town growing or losing population when I thought it was dissolved into the county and wouldnt really be counted as a separate entity at all, but you already answered it.

Man SC you move alot.LOL I was up in Cincy this weekend, my family lives in a McMansion neighborhood in the burbs. Forest something, but anyways I think J-town thing was just about people moving from outside of the watterson to infill condo's. Thats what I took from it, as far as population numbers, I know Shively has been left out as well as some Eastern Jefferson county towns. Does it matter to me, hell no.LOL

Back to Cincy, NKY is definitly a big beneficiary of the exodus from Cincy proper. I thought the politics were weird here in the ville, but Cincy politics may be worse. Some of the stuff I heard going on had me baffled. I didn't mean to get off topic but I didn't know Cincy was that conservative.

Hey guys--

I'm moving to Louisville in about 6 weeks, and am in the process of looking at neighborhoods to buy a house in. How would you describe Green Spring, and how would you describe Langdon Place? Pros, cons, objective, subjective opinions are all welcomed. I'm married and will have small kids in the new few years.

I apologize for hijacking the thread...if there is another place here I can post this on, let me know--but I knew I could depend on SSC types to give me the info I'm looking for.

We're moving to get closer to my wife's family, but wow, am I psyched about the development in Louisville! Very proud to be moving to such a great mid-sized city.

Welcome to Louisville. I have heard of Green Spring. Never heard of the other place...anyhow, they sound suburban.

I really would tell you to live in the city-the old, pre merger city. Even though you are starting a family, Louisville is a cool and safe enough city that you can actually live IN the city and have everything you need including a nice area to raise kids.

For urban areas I would tell you downtown, Old Louisville, Highlands, Crescent Hill, and Clifton. Many young professional families lean towards Crescent Hill and also the "heart" of St Matthews (couple miles north of the malls). This area is safe, kid friendly, has an awesome historic housing stock and is close to suburban stuff while still having the beat of the city for mom and dad.

If I knew your age and where you were moving from I could help you more. Anyhow, I have extensive knowledge of every neighborhood in the city and would be happy to show you around. Just send me a private message on here and let me know.

No actually I like the fact that there are other cities in Jefferson County than Louisville, it would make me disappointed to think that a city proper would have so much ticky tacky development in it. I would rather have a core city smaller in square mileage with less people than have a GIANT land area and a population that really doesnt correspond. It also gives the area a little bit of competition which is good.

As far as Cincy goes...yes it is that conservative ... very much worse than Louisville when it comes to government and even people. I never thought I would be so homesick from Louisville, it is definately not what people think it is.

One thing I wanted to add, is that if I am not mistaken, no matter where you live in Louisville, the schools are county. So you dont really have to live somewhere for good schools, they can go to any of them that you choose.

City pushes for collapsed building to be razed
By James Bruggers
jbruggers@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



City officials want a three-story brick building that’s part of a new East Market Street loft development demolished as soon as possible after an outer brick wall collapsed early this morning.

The former Charnette Bridal Store building, originally a kosher butcher shop dating to the late 1800s, was being renovated as part of the Mercantile Gallery Lofts.

It is located at the corner of East Market and Floyd streets. No one was at the construction site at 1 a.m. when the wall crumbled, officials said.

“We’re pushing very hard …” to get the building’s owners to tear it down quickly, said Bill Schreck, who heads Louisville Metro’s Department of Inspections, Permits and Licenses.

He said city officials are working with companies involved in developing the project to sort through the details.

“Whatever is in the best interest and safety of the public, we’ll do,” said Todd Blue, one of the development’s partners.

Blue expressed relief that no one was hurt during the incident.

He said the damaged building was to house four of the four-building development’s 47 units.. Those other units, as well as planned common areas were not affected, he said.

The wall, which was nearly 40 feet tall and about 35 feet long, also took portions of a two floors when it came down.

Police were diverting traffic at the intersection of East Market and Floyd streets in downtown Louisville Monday morning.

Floyd was closed between Main and Market streets, dispatchers said. And Market Street was closed between Floyd and Preston streets.



Reporter James Bruggers can be reached at (502) 582-4645.

^^While it looks like we may lose a historic beauty on Market, there is great news coming from Main St. I was taking a walk at Waterfront Park today and decided to walk up to Main St to grab some water at the new Slugger Deli/Liquors. As I did, I noticed a group of construction workers actually inside the whiskey row buildings which are located on main btwn 1st and 2nd and have been the biggest eyesore downtown since much of downtown has cleaned up recently.

I talked to a construction guy, and he told me that they are part of a demo team that is clearing out 4 of the buildings. It appears it is 4 buildings toward the middle of the block, and they all have a green painted facade. For reference, it is the buildings just east of the gated "Mercury Paw" building and just west of the corner building that toppled over a few yrs ago at 1st and main. I believe the addresses are 113, 115, 117, and 119 west main but dont quote me on that. Anyhow, those 4 buildings represent nearly 33% of that block that needs repair.

Hey guys--

I'm moving to Louisville in about 6 weeks, and am in the process of looking at neighborhoods to buy a house in. How would you describe Green Spring, and how would you describe Langdon Place? Pros, cons, objective, subjective opinions are all welcomed. I'm married and will have small kids in the new few years.

I apologize for hijacking the thread...if there is another place here I can post this on, let me know--but I knew I could depend on SSC types to give me the info I'm looking for.

We're moving to get closer to my wife's family, but wow, am I psyched about the development in Louisville! Very proud to be moving to such a great mid-sized city.

I didn't even see this post, well first off I think you will be pleased with what the city has to offer as it is a great place to raise a family. Jefferson County public schools has an open enrollment policy, meaning you don't have to go to a neighborhood school. You can pick the one that best fits your child's needs as every school has a magnet program of some type.

As far as neighborhoods go, thats the thing that in my opinion makes Louisville a great place. Granted we don't have professional sports teams, but we have some awesome parks and very distinctive neighborhoods. It seems like every neighborhood or township in Jefferson County has its own flavor or identity. A bunch of mini cities with various things to do.

In all I think you would enjoy living here, the people aren't to bad and they are pretty helpful, although some folks in this city can't drive. If you have any questions I'm sure someone in this forum can help you out in some way. :)

No actually I like the fact that there are other cities in Jefferson County than Louisville, it would make me disappointed to think that a city proper would have so much ticky tacky development in it. I would rather have a core city smaller in square mileage with less people than have a GIANT land area and a population that really doesnt correspond. It also gives the area a little bit of competition which is good.

As far as Cincy goes...yes it is that conservative ... very much worse than Louisville when it comes to government and even people. I never thought I would be so homesick from Louisville, it is definately not what people think it is.

I really haven't hung out like that in Cincy before until last weekend, but just talking to some family, I just couldn't believe how conservative the city is. The city leaders in Cincy our letting the city proper sink very bad. Everything there is now damn near suburban oriented. Entertainment options were not as plenty as I thought they would be in a City the size of Cincy. No wonder why alot of my family comes to Louisville on weekends. I still wish we had music venues like they have in Cincy though. Thats one thing louisville needs badly, the Verizon Wireless music place outside Indy is a great place to catch a concert. Cincy has riverbend, but all in all I still had a pretty good time in cincy.

Man that building collapsing really sucks. It will probly set things back a bit on construction.
http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=B2&Date=20060626&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=60626002&Ref=AR&Profile=1008&MaxW=500&title=1

One thing that I thought would be cool to touch on, is that I hear from people in cities all around that they go to Louisville to tear it up, paint the town red, whatever you want to call it. I have noticed that bar activity in the highlands has been increasing over the years and of course the addition of fourth street live further plants those roots. While it may not be New Orleans it is definately conveying the message that it is a fun place to be not just for families but the younger crowd too. Look at the cities in the tri-state area, I mean c'mon. I like that Louisville has that . . . I have moved alot, more like extended vacations as I like to stay in a city a while to feel what it is all about. But more and more lately I have been getting homesick for the city that I once despised and thought a sleepy river town. Things are looking up for Louisville and much to "ya'll's" disdain I will be back, just need the good job, I am waiting for Delta to go under so I can get a huge unemployment package and the free time to move ;)

Louisville has several areas with heavy bar strips. The latest emerging area is the "heart" of St Matthews. Another bar similar to Oshea's in the Highlands has opened in that area and it is called Brendan's. Not to be confused with the area around the mall, this spot 2.5 miles north of the watterson is very urban and walkable. There are bars, cafes, and boutiques galore where Shelbyville, Breckenridge, Lexington, Frankfort, and Chenoweth meet. Some of the metro's finest boutiques are on Chenoweth where there are upscale wedding and jewlery stores. Merckley-Kendrick is the place to go if you want a $10,000 Rolex. This doesn't even count many of the side streets with boutique retail like Wallace. My favorite place for hot dogs, Lonnies Taste of Chicago, is located n St Matthews Ave in this area. It really is its own little yuppy "downtown" even though the fast traffic on Shepbyville kind of destroys that perception.

I always thought that area is a great urban/suburban alternative.

^^
I totally agree. Anyone else seen the newly renovated Vogue Theatre? Its awesome. A great cluster of retail right there. I'll try and get some pictures next time I'm at Trinity.

Anyone know what's goin on with the Wyndham Hotel at the airport? I looked it up on google and everything says it should be completed by spring 2006... And then nothing after that. No update, completion announcement, or groundbreaking anything.
Has it even started??
Was it lost between height revisions and loss of state money?

The airport Wyndham is dead for now...


I got a chance to tour the Henry Clay building downtown at 3rd and chestnut. If I get permission, I may post pictures I took. Boy, are they doing a good job with restoration. Some of the detail in the building is finer than the Seelbach, which makes sense since the Seelbach predates it and the HC was built during the roaring 20's.

It is set to have a nice local retail lineup, and behind it news is about to break on a 13 story midrise at 4th and chestnut. Next door, the old Wrigh-Taylor building that has a boarded up green facade will house a Japanese restaurant. I cant disclose the details right now. Also, there is a another 12 story midrise that will be announced soon acroos from Glassworks on Market street on a nother surface lot. So, thats two ugly surface lots that should have something brewing soon!

Also, I am simply amazed at the pedestrian traffic downtown at 7 PM on a Tuesday. Either there is some huge convention, or things are really picking up. Walking down 4th with all those people really feels like a big city.

The ironic thing about downtown St Matthews is that it is not in the city of St Matthews.

Lonnies is pretty good, but there is also a good place downtown on Fifth I think, that has a pretty authentic italian beef (Chicagos other street food).

One thing that I thought would be cool to touch on, is that I hear from people in cities all around that they go to Louisville to tear it up, paint the town red, whatever you want to call it

LOL, yes, the "Sodom of the Ohio Valley"!

Seriously, that is quite true. Louisville is a real party town, good for nightlife, dining out, and festivals too. People dont mind spending $$$ to have a good time there.

Do you all think the music scene in Louisville is bad? I don't know..you are able to support Ear X Stacy, which I usually stop off at when I'm in town.

Also, even though Hawly Cookes is no more, there is that wonderful Carmichaels, wich is about quality not quantity. Another pit stop for me when Im down in Louisiville (and I will be next weekend).

As for Cincinnati. I think you all are perhaps too critical. Louisville is pretty suburban too...though now, after merger, much of that is now part of the "city" ;-)

But yes, for that sort of left/liberal/progressive vibe, Louisville certainly has it. The only Ohio city that is perhaps close would be Columbus (Cleveland, too, to some extent).

I sort of envy people who move to Lousiville as the choices of neat places to live are so great.

I don't mean to continue off topic as this will be my last post on Cincy. When I would hear others talk about Cincy, you would think that they were really aggressive as far as developing the core and preventing jobs from moving out into the suburbs. Alot of companies that move into the Cincy area are moving into NKY and other ohio burbs. Don't get me wrong Louisville is the same way, I just thought people spent more time in the "city" and not in there gated communties. So thats why I said its becoming more suburban than anything.

I like Cincy and plan on going up again real soon. Outside of the Reds playing, downtown was dead and the feeling I got was the same feeling I receive from suburbanites who are scared of downtown Louisville. They think if they step anywhere downtown they will get mugged. I guess I didn't think cincy had that problem; that Louisville is slowly curing. People feel safer in downtown now than they did 5 yrs ago. I didn't feel threatened walking in downtown Cincy. I guess you can say I was shocked because I didn't think there were too many places with the "city of Louisville complex". I wasn't trying to be harsh on Cincy at all, but just making a observation on what I experienced. My experience was a good one, but just different than what I thought it was going to be initially.

The airport Wyndham is dead for now...


I got a chance to tour the Henry Clay building downtown at 3rd and chestnut. If I get permission, I may post pictures I took. Boy, are they doing a good job with restoration. Some of the detail in the building is finer than the Seelbach, which makes sense since the Seelbach predates it and the HC was built during the roaring 20's.

It is set to have a nice local retail lineup, and behind it news is about to break on a 13 story midrise at 4th and chestnut. Next door, the old Wrigh-Taylor building that has a boarded up green facade will house a Japanese restaurant. I cant disclose the details right now. Also, there is a another 12 story midrise that will be announced soon acroos from Glassworks on Market street on a nother surface lot. So, thats two ugly surface lots that should have something brewing soon!

Also, I am simply amazed at the pedestrian traffic downtown at 7 PM on a Tuesday. Either there is some huge convention, or things are really picking up. Walking down 4th with all those people really feels like a big city.
I REEEAAAALLLY hope that you have heard correctly. I think that midrises are exactly what we need to fill in the parking lots and beef up the skyline. The only thing that IMO breaks up Louisville's urban feel is the dreaded surface lot. And it isnt that there are tons of them, but that they are in the worst possible places, like that one on second street across from the Mariott. >_<
That would be a heack of a spot for a new midrise. :okay:

And I know exactly what you mean! The pedestrian traffic has really been snow-balling lately. Its exciting when I get that big-city feeling without having to try or pretend. haha
Back when 4th street Live first opened, I would walk through and be excited but deep down I was like "...Yeah, this can't stand on its own. Its kinda lame."
But now, its just another great niche in DT. I honestly feel the effect of all that's happening, and you can see it all over DT.

The company redeveloping the Henry Clay owns several tracks of land fronting Fourth Street, but I was expectiong low rise buildings to be proposed to keep it in line with the surroundings, but if you're correct about a new midrise, that would be pretty awesome.

That parking lot across from the Glassworks once had proposals for lowrise condo's but that fell through long ago, so it would be nice if what you rumor to be true is accurate. That lot is an excellent location, and it will be nice to have some new development on the very western fringe of downtown.

The airport hotel fell through last winter. The KFEC is currently in phase 2 of a three phase project to bring it's facilities back to a competitive level. Phase three is the addition of a 500+ room hotel connected via pedway to the new sections of the exposition center. The airport saw this as a direct threat to their project...plus all the bids were several million dollars over what they wanted to spend. The project has been mothballed and made into a long range goal for the airport's future expansions. But in related news this week the airport announced several new restaurants and a Brighton Collectible store plus some updating of it's other retail concepts.

The ironic thing about downtown St Matthews is that it is not in the city of St Matthews.

Lonnies is pretty good, but there is also a good place downtown on Fifth I think, that has a pretty authentic italian beef (Chicagos other street food).


Not to be nitpicky but you are off there. The area near Trinity HS has always been the small "downtown" of St Matthews.

http://www.stmatthews.org/stmatthews/

Anywhere east of Canons lane is city of St Matthews territory. There are even signs when you cross over canons coming up pee wee resse from seneca park track that say "welcome to the city of St. Matthews, buckle up." In local real estate terms, St Matthews has a good connotation so some locals will refer to anything all the way down to Crescent Hill Baptist Church on Frankfort as "Saint Matthews." In reality this is not correct, because as I said, St Matthews only lies east of Cannons. So, if anything, locals consider St Matthews to stretch further west than its city limits dictate.

If you hit up Carmichael's ask them for a book entitled "History of St Matthews." (if not the Borders downtown has an excellent local book section). It is quite interesting. The history is that the area was potato farms of the Irish immigrants and grew as a coach stop on the old Louisville and Frankfort railroad. I imagine there were old taverns and a hotel there if I recall correctly. The original pedestrian strip along shelbyville dates to that era, and I believe the old interruban stop is now a restaurant behind shelbyville on westport (all the street changing names in the area is confusing to even lifelong resident).

Anyways, the current pedestrian strip (which now contains Brendans, Dutch's, BW3, etc) was probably buillt in the 20's and 30's and represents the "main street" of St Matthews that replaced the other most likely wood frame buildings. Interestingly, there is quite a decent cross density of retail throughout that area today, and it is very walkable save for traversing the massive, traffic clogged shelbyville rd.

Anyhow, although there are some prewar houses in the area, most of the growth of St Matthews came after the war. It is in this regard truly a post war, "inner ring" suburb. Of course to most locals its just a "neighborhood in Louisville."

The company redeveloping the Henry Clay owns several tracks of land fronting Fourth Street, but I was expectiong low rise buildings to be proposed to keep it in line with the surroundings, but if you're correct about a new midrise, that would be pretty awesome.

That parking lot across from the Glassworks once had proposals for lowrise condo's but that fell through long ago, so it would be nice if what you rumor to be true is accurate. That lot is an excellent location, and it will be nice to have some new development on the very western fringe of downtown.

Anyone familiar with Glassworks and the Henry Clay knows there is a common denominator. The 13 story at 4th and chestnut will be on that gravel lot where they tore down a building that fell due to water logging. It should not be out of context-across the street there is a 8? story building from circa 1950 and there is high rise development at virtually every intersection of 4th downtown btwn the river and york street (from the Galt House all the way to the 800 apartment tower). Here is the circa 8 story building located across 4th from the proposed 13 story one:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d179/ul2009/ChestnutCtr.jpg

It is 8 stories but adjacent to a 1920's 11 story that fronts chestnut street.

As for the lot across from Glassworks, it will be a 12 story building.

Anyone interested in more information may PM me.

Thats is good news if all goes through with the projects mentioned. Do you have any idea when they will anounce these plans? They will both at density to the skyline, and with Musuem Plaza adding height all three of this proposals will improve the skyline, isn't anything over 12 stories considered a highrise?

^^
Regardless of whether its considered a highrise, it is tall enough to show up in the skyline as density filler.

I was just talking with my brother(he lives in the Camden aprtmnts behind Oxmoor Center) about what's happening with the Bullit farm. Anyone know exactly who's developing and when we're going to see a shovel in the ground?

f you hit up Carmichael's ask them for a book entitled "History of St Matthews." (if not the Borders downtown has an excellent local book section). It is quite interesting.

Yes , I have that book. The author also did "Views of Louisville Since 1799", which is I think out of print. One of the interesting things for a history buff is that proposal to route I-64 through downtown St Matthews, and also the proposal to extend Cherokee and Seneca Parks via a parkway along Beargrass Creek, through Oxmoor, to Shelbyville Road

Anywhere east of Canons lane is city of St Matthews territory.

According to my Rand Mcnally Easyfinder, Louisville had annexed up Lexinton Road to the Lexington/Breckinridge Lane/Shelbyville Road intersection, with everthing south of Shelbyville Road, between Fairfax Avenue (two blocks east of the intersection, across the street from Trinity) and the start of the Masonic Home as being, technically, within the city limits of Louisville. That was the situation as of 2000.

Of course, with this merger, perhaps St Matthews and Metro Louisville did some sort of land swap.

St Matthews is pretty chopped up, though, due to the Lousiville annexations and those various small "cities" (essentially just incorporated subdivisions)

I always thought, with the surfeit of all the cities of the various classes and the many city neighborhoods, a map of Jefferson County would make a great jigsaw puzzle to teach kids local geography.

It is 8 stories but adjacent to a 1920's 11 story that fronts chestnut street.

Yeah..If thats the one I think it is it used to be an S&L or insurance company, and had a different color scheme (this brown and orange thing, ugh!...thankfully they repainted it). The older 11 story building used to be called the Fraunces Building, and had doctors offices and such in it.

This is all from as recent as 2003. I don't think it will be too far in the furture before the plans are revived. It wasn't a feasible project then, but in 3 years time, I think LRT is going to be something most residents will welcome and more politicians will see fit for state dollars. (but I do think that it would be a long time before we see construction because of the money being pumped to the bridges, which is fine with me)
Residents get to scrutinize proposed light rail's path (2003-04-16)

At a community forum yesterday, officials with TARC's Transportation Tomorrow project showed detailed maps on the precise alignment of the proposed light-rail project, and on nearby properties that would be affected.

The final Environmental Impact Statement for the light-rail project is expected to be reviewed by the Federal Transit Administration and released this summer; the comment period is 45 days. Two unoccupied houses, one occupied home, twelve businesses, and no historic properties are directly in the path. The estimated cost is $625 million, and TARC will likely ask Louisville voters to approve a tax increase.

A second forum is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. on May 13 at the Beechmont Community Center.

Light-rail route sparks complaints in Old Louisville (2003-09-12)

Some Old Louisville residents are complaining about a stretch of the proposed light-rail line that runs along the neighborhood's eastern edge. TARC officials approved the current proposed alignment after abandoning a proposal in 1998 that would go through the middle.

And this is what happened to it:
Louisville's light-rail project placed on indefinite hold (2004-05-13)

Citing lack of funds and political support, TARC executive director Barry Barker announced that it will put the Transportation Tomorrow light-rail project on hold for the forseeable future. TARC intends to focus on bus and transit improvements.


I also found this rather interesting. If it cuts down the time from Fern Creek to Middletown, I'm all for it, cause it takes me forever to get to parties in Lake Forest. >_<
Road to run parallel to Snyder Freeway in the planning stage (2004-06-25)

Louisville officials are working on plans for a new series of roads between Fern Creek and Middletown parallel to the Gene Snyder Freeway. They are expediting the process in order to prevent developers from building in the possible routes.

Good news for Oldham County, I believed this development was brought up on here before.Oldham approves Buckner development

By Andrea Uhde
auhde@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



Construction on a Buckner development that will include 496 homes and 76 office condos could start as soon as next year.

The Oldham County Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday approved development plans for the homes and offices, which will be part of the 207-acre mixed-use Buckner Crossings development.

The development will be in the northeast quadrant of the Interstate 71-Ky. 393 interchange, an area set to boom in the next few years.

The commission has also approved preliminary plans for Quail Creek, a development that will have 116 patio homes and 147 houses on 154 acres south of Buckner Crossings.

No one spoke against Buckner Crossings during Tuesday’s meeting, but nearby resident Edna Ludwig said in a phone interview Wednesday that she is concerned about an increase of traffic in the area.

“We’re afraid they’re going to be using our road, and we have to pay for the upkeep of it,” said Ludwig, who lives on Kings Lane, which she said is a private road. “You drive back here over the railroad tracks to Kings Lane, and it’s peace and quiet.”

According to a traffic analysis by Kiesel/Meyer Engineers, Planners and Surveyors, most of the traffic from the development will travel to and from I-71. The state Transportation Cabinet plans to widen and realign Ky. 393 north of the interstate, which will accommodate Buckner Crossings, according to the report.

The master developer, Jordan River Development Co., has also offered temporary improvements to alleviate traffic until the state improves Ky. 393. Those could include adding a right turn lane from Ky. 393 onto Commerce Parkway, adding a right turn lane from Commerce Parkway to Ky. 393, and placing a three-way stop at the intersection.

The commission voted 11-1 to approve each of three sections of Buckner Crossings but said that before any building permits will be issued, the sewage system must be able to handle the buildings.

The Commons at Buckner Crossings would be 213 mostly brick condominium units with garages. The Villas at Buckner Crossings would be 164 mostly stone or brick patio homes. The Greens at Buckner Crossings would be 119 mostly brick or stone single-family homes.

Homes in Buckner Crossings would vary from $110,000 to the upper $200,000 range.

Plans also include 76 office condos that would flank Commerce Parkway.

The development would be studded with trees and have walking trails, plus and a bike and pedestrian trail along Commerce Parkway. Entrance signs will be made of stone and bordered with fencing like something found on a horse farm.

Plans call for Buckner Crossings to eventually include commercial buildings — possibly restaurants, clothing stores and a bowling alley.

“It allows a lot of people to live close together,” said Joseph McIntyre, a planning commission member who voted in favor of the development plans. “Buckner Crossings is at the west end of kind of the business district of Oldham County, and that’s going to be a new gateway to Oldham County.”

Pleasant, sleepy little Buckner....engulfed in urban sprawl.

Speaking of light rail or some form or rail transit (such as a modernized RDC), that corridor running along the L&N line east, through Clifton/Crescent Hill/St Mathews/Lyndon/Anchorage/Pewee Valley/Crestwood/Buckner/and on to Lagrange would be a good commuter run.

A line like this could be set up, and as a smart-growth follow-on Oldham County could to encourage transit-oriented development and higher desnity at station locations (Louisville Metro too).

Park Grande nearly done

I had seen this project several times before on my trips through Cherokee Park, but I had never read any information about the project itself ever before. I like the idea of midrise building popping up around the park and creating a somewhat dense, urban park feel around the beautiful Olmstead landscape.

More than 1½ years after work began on the Park Grande condominiums on Cherokee Road, the seven-story structure in the Bonnycastle neighborhood is scheduled to be finished by September.

Two units will be displayed for the Bellarmine University Women's Council Designer Show House Sept. 9-24.

"I just can't say enough about the breathtaking views," said Donna Borden of Douglass Hills, chairwoman for the show house.

The occupants of the penthouse -- which is selling for more than $2 million -- will be able to see downtown and the Ohio River, said Jessica Loving, who lives next door and is marketing the units for developer Kevin Cogan and Jefferson Development Group.

Each Park Grande unit has two balconies in the front and two in the back, so residents will be able to watch what goes on along Cherokee Park's Scenic Loop and gaze out above the treetops.

The plan for the building was controversial, in part because of its height and scale along the edge of the park and an entranceway curb cut on Cherokee Road.

Art Cromer, a neighborhood association board member and past president, said last week that he has mixed feelings.

"I have never doubted that it would look lovely," he said. "Cogan doesn't do ugly houses."

But construction parking in the neighborhood, blasting, changes in plans along the way and other "hassles" have caused concerns.

"Yes, it will be a beautiful building, and yes it will obstruct the view of people who live nearby," Cromer said.

"Parking has been really tough," contractor Bill Hitchcock said last week, noting that vehicles are not allowed to park in front on Cherokee Road. At any time, about 100 people are working at the building, he said.

"There's been a lot of noise and a lot of dust," Kenneth Hull, who lives behind the building on Bonnycastle Terrace, said just before an orange construction vehicle chugged by.

But Hull and his wife Sue say they were in favor of it and don't expect it to have much effect on them once construction is over -- although she said a picture was knocked off the wall during blasting.

All but one of the units is under contract to be sold, Loving said. Cogan and his wife, Antoinette, will have one unit.

Besides the penthouse, the others are priced at more than $1 million. All are 4,000 square feet and have three bedrooms, 3½ baths and two fireplaces.

They aren't expected to be occupied until early next year, when custom interior work is finished, Hitchcock said.

The Bellarmine Show House is usually at a historic home. The only other time it was at a new building was in 1980, when it was at the 1400 Willow condominiums in the Cherokee Triangle, Borden said.

Old homes usually present problems with wiring and other matters.

"Now we have a fresh, brand new building, all up to code, all new molding, all new paint," Borden said. For the designers, "that was a big draw."

Last week, workmen were framing walls inside, and Katie Reece of Liz at Home, an interior design business, was mapping out locations for Amish-built maple cabinetry.

The company is doing a kitchen for the show house, and, "It will be ornate," she said, with marble countertops and a 48-inch-wide range.

Cogan bought the property almost six years ago. As part of a court settlement over lawsuits he filed, city officials agreed to let Loving and her husband, lawyer Sheryl Snyder, remove a curb cut for their driveway so that Cogan could have one.

He reduced the height of the building, eliminated an extension of the entrance drive to the back and had plans redrawn to increase setbacks and yard widths. The drive will have a turnaround for pick up and drop off, but residents and visitors will enter from the back. There will be six visitors' parking spaces and underground parking for residents.

Mitzi Friedlander, who lives in the 11-story Commodore condominiums on Bonnycastle Avenue, described Park Grande as "overpowering" at that site. The neighborhood has been concerned about the precedent set by the building along the park's edge.

If more tall buildings come, "I just dread to think of that boundary road, what it would look like, in 20 to 25 years," she said.

Expect somewhat major news from Zirmed, inc in the next couple of months according to my source....so it is funny that this article came out today.

Five projects could mean nearly 150 jobs for city
Business First of Louisville - 1:19 PM EDT Thursdayby John R. Karman IIIBusiness First Staff Writer
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Five companies considering expansion or relocation projects could bring nearly 150 new jobs and more than $17 million in new investment to Louisville.

Details of the companies' plans were announced during a June 29 meeting of the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority in Frankfort. The potential projects could create more than $6 million in annual payroll.



ZirMed looks to add 65 jobs, seeks downtown headquarters
ZirMed Inc., a privately held Louisville firm that processes health care claims for medical facilities nationwide, has outgrown its space at two downtown sites and is looking to consolidate its operations in a new headquarters. The expansion would create 65 jobs and $3.2 million in payroll.

The jobs would be in customer and technical support and development.

Jim Lacy, the company's CFO and legal counsel, said ZirMed is looking to lease a larger space for its downtown headquarters, which would require an investment of more than $3.3 million in rent payments and technology upgrades.

ZirMed, a technology-based firm started in 1999, currently has 95 employees divided between sites at 626 W. Main St. and on the fifth floor of the Glassworks building at Ninth and Market streets.

"That's the problem," Lacy said. "We need to combine the organization primarily for cultural reasons and some administrative reasons. Our plans are to try to do something in downtown Louisville. Being downtown, being centrally located is something that we've made a commitment to."

The company would vacate the two sites it leases currently.

The KEDFA board granted ZirMed preliminary approval for as much as $1.3 million in state tax incentives for up to 10 years. The company also was approved for $1.5 million in tax incentives in December 2004.

Lacy called the incentives "critical" to the company's expansion plans.

"We're still kind of a small business, and our competitive landscape changes daily," he said.

Startup bottler would hire 39
The MAB Group LLC, a Louisville-based startup company that has begun designing and manufacturing plastic containers for dairy, water and juice products, was approved for a direct KEDFA loan of $388,394.

The company has leased a 43,000-square-foot plant at 7835 National Turnpike, making an investment of more than $4 million in lease payments, renovations and equipment. It began production June 12.

MAB Group plans to create 39 jobs with an estimated annual payroll of $1.6 million.

Business First reported in January that the company is a new venture founded by Michael Banks and Terry Lee Swart, both veterans of the bottling industry.

They launched their plant with the help of a $1.1 million loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration.



The partners could not be reached to comment on their latest plans prior to Business First's press deadline.

Distillery plans site on Main Street
FB3 Development LLC, a startup company that will develop and manufacture food and beverage products, plans to invest more than $6 million to buy and renovate a 30,000-square-foot building on Main Street, where it will establish a small-batch distillery, museum and food and beverage incubator.

The company would create 20 manufacturing and research and development jobs with an estimated annual payroll of $917,280.

KEDFA gave FB3 Development preliminary approval for up to $375,000 in state tax incentives for up to 10 years and $99,000 in state tax credits to help offset the cost of the project.

Alexander "Sandy" Nixon, managing partner of FB3 Development, said plans for the ventures still are being formed.

He said the company will select a site from several possible choices on Main Street and iron out the details of its operation in the next two weeks. He called the state incentives "very important" to the startup's strategy.

"Without these types of incentives, you don't get new companies coming to Louisville or Kentucky," said Nixon, one of the owners and a former executive with D.D. Williamson Co. Inc., the Louisville-based maker of caramel colorings.

Republic Diesel plans to buy, expand Louisville facility
Republic Diesel Inc., a Louisville-based company that provides diesel engine machining services and sells a complete line of truck parts, plans to buy the facility it leases in Louisville at 305 E. College St. The firm also has operations in Lexington and Prestonsburg, Ky., and Fairfield, Ohio.

Following the purchase, Republic Diesel plans to renovate the building and expand it by 20,000 square feet, making an investment of about $2.5 million. The project would create 15 jobs and more than $500,000 in annual payroll.

The KEDFA board granted Republic Diesel preliminary approval for as much as $200,000 in tax incentives for up to 10 years and $19,500 in tax credits to help defray the cost of the expansion.



Company officials could not be reached for comment prior to Business First's press deadline.

Manufacturing firm looks to triple size
Great Northern Manufacturing LLC, a maker and distributor of specialty building materials, is considering a relocation from its current facility at 2520 Ridgemar Court in Bluegrass Research and Industrial Park to larger quarters somewhere in Louisville.

Company president Neville Blakemore said the plans are tied to Great Northern's long-term strategy of expanding its business by acquiring other firms in the industry.

The company sells its products to wholesalers and big-box retailers in the siding, gutter, roofing, windows and home improvement distribution markets.

Great Northern, which moved to Louisville from Massachusetts in 2001, currently has about 30,000 square feet in its facility and is looking to move to a site three times that size, according to Blakemore.

Initially, the move would require an investment of nearly $1.3 million and the hiring of five to 10 new employees, he said.

The company currently has 20 workers.

Great Northern received preliminary approval from KEDFA for $ 19,800 in state tax credits to offset costs of the planned expansion.

Contact the writer via e-mail at JKARMAN@BIZJOURNALS.COM.

^^
Tons of great news. Business is strong. Its exciting to see so much expansion and growth of local companies.

This is rather interesting.

Wal-Mart 'not walking away' from downtown Louisville

Despite allowing its option on the former Philip Morris USA property to expire, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. hasn't given up on the idea of building an urban Louisville store...

..."We're always looking for opportunities to serve underserved urban areas, and Louisville is definitely one of the cities that qualifies." ...

...After Wal-Mart allowed its option on the Philip Morris property to expire, Louisville-based development company TMG Prop*erties Inc. bought an option on the property.

TMG, a company owned by The Mardrian Group Inc. owners Teresa Bridgewaters and Frank Bridgewaters, paid the city $1,000 for a 30-day option on the property that was set to expire at the end of June.

This week, the company paid an additional $24,000 to extend the option for another five months, said Robert Holmes Jr., assistant vice president for The Mardrian Group.

The Mardrian Group is in the due diligence phase of exploring the feasibility of a 450,000-square-foot mixed-use commercial development that would include large and small retailers, office space, restaurants, light industrial and distribution space...

...Wagner, who has sold land to Wal-Mart in the past, said his company plans to pitch the former Buehler Foods Inc. store at Fourth and Oak streets to Wal-Mart in an attempt to lure one of the retailer's neighborhood grocery store concepts...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13548265/

A lot of things of interest in that article.
I think its actually a great idea to lure a neighborhood grocery Wal-Mart to that old Buehler.

GREAT NEWS:

Louisville to get new VA hospital

By Laura Ungar
lungar@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



Officials announced Friday that they plan to build a new Veterans Affairs hospital in Louisville to replace the aging complex on Zorn Avenue.

The proposal was first announced two years ago.

At a news conference in May 2004, U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-3rd) said “there’s a 90 percent chance” that a Veterans Affairs study would lead to a new hospital within five years, most likely in downtown Louisville.

A Department of Veterans Affairs report last August said the existing medical center was constructed between 1947 and 1951 and is not up to current standards.

“The main hospital buidling is well maintained but has significant fire and life safety issues, …” the report said. “Floor to floor heights in the main building meet 1950’s standards but are minimal for today’s standards. These structural issues make it very difficult to create a safe, modern and secure environment.”

In December 2005, Northup announced that President Bush had signed the Fiscal Year 2006 Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, which included a provision pushing for a new veterans hospital in Louisville.

The provision required the secretary of the VA to make a final decision regarding construction of the new building by June 1 of this year.

“To meet the medical needs of veterans in the Greater Louisville area, it is essential to build a new hospital with greater capacity and expanded health services,” Northup said in a December statement. “The Department of Veterans Affairs recognized Louisville’s need over a year ago but has been slow in acting on its own recommendation. Our community needs a new hospital now, not 10 years down the road.”

Disabled Vietnam veteran John Sterner, a quadriplegic, said a new hospital downtown will be wonderful for veterans — including new, young veterans of the conflict in Iraq.

“My God, how can it not be the most wonderful thing for veterans in Southern Indiana and Kentucky?” he said.

GREAT NEWS:

Louisville to get new VA hospital

At a news conference in May 2004, U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-3rd) said “there’s a 90 percent chance” that a Veterans Affairs study would lead to a new hospital within five years, most likely in downtown Louisville.

In December 2005, Northup announced that President Bush had signed the Fiscal Year 2006 Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, which included a provision pushing for a new veterans hospital in Louisville.



While good news, I can't help but point out that the timing of this announcement is just before Northup begins campaigning for office again. I can't stand that _______!

^^
Hah yeah... >.> that is some very nice timing. :tongue2:

While good news, I can't help but point out that the timing of this announcement is just before Northup begins campaigning for office again. I can't stand that _______!

Why does everyone hate Northup?? Do you know where we would be without all of the money and financing she provides for development in this community?? She alone has greatly helped with some of the major projects in Louisville... so stop complaining about her. I hope Yarmuth or whoever that guy who is challenging her loses... it would be a big loss for Louisville if she wasn't re-elected.

Yeah, I don't hate her for anything but the fact that she's so anti-gay. Asside from that, I think she has done some great things. But if this new guy is actually a worthy challenger(unlike the crap in the past few elections) and prooves he can do what she does plus have a more open and appealing view on gays and racial minorities, I think he might win. But she has a really strong base so, I guess we'll see.

While good news, I can't help but point out that the timing of this announcement is just before Northup begins campaigning for office again. I can't stand that _

Pork, the other political white meat! ROFL! I recall how Kentuckians like that pork. Esp. barbequed. Yum.

(As if a Dem in her position wouldn't also be in the position to bring home the pork..esp. if Congress is poised to flip to the Dems, as it seems to be.)


In any case, the new VA is going to be.....where now?

Why does everyone hate Northup??

Because she is unrepresentative of her district, being a far right social conservative republican representing a district that is by far more Democratic, as well as moderate to liberal in social outlook. She is also a form of political prostitute as the only way she gets re-elected is via buying votes via well-timed porkbarrel spending.

I hope Yarmuth or whoever that guy who is challenging her loses... it would be a big loss for Louisville if she wasn't re-elected

Yarmuth would be the ideal representative for Louisville as he represents modern 21st century Louisville in that he is or was a buisness ownere and entrepeneur, but also socially liberal and somewhat a supporter of the urban scene via his LEO newspaper (I think he was originally behind LEO?). That is the direction Louisville heading, and he represents it.

Yamouth is "Keep Louisville Weird"

Northrup is "Keep Louisville Square"

On a lighter and more on-topic note:

During my blitztour visit this weekend I got a chance to see Norton Commons

Wow. I had no idea there was something this good going up in town. This is a real interesting developement, and the architecture is pretty high quality too...not the usual bloated "homerama" developer shlock. Anybody have any backround on this project, or graphics as to what the buildout is supposed to look like?

Jeff, I'm sure you've already seen it, but Norton Commons actually has a very well done website at www.nortoncommons.com. There you'll see the master plan, pictures, news, et cetera.

I love Norton Commons, but WHY? WHY must it be so far out and away from the city? >_< arrrg.

Back to the Yarmuth subject, yes Jeff, he is the founder of LEO.
And I just read an article from a while back about the unveiling of Museum Plaza. Yarmuth was there, and I really like what he had to say about about MP:

John Yarmuth, the founder of the Louisville Eccentric Observer, predicted that Museum Plaza would make a splash in Louisville and beyond.

It could become a symbol, he said, a project that shows Louisville is a city of innovation. "To me, it says that this community thinks differently," he said.

That, for me, says a lot about where he thinks Louisville should be going, and where he would take the city. I'll certainly need to hear more from him, but this has really warmed me up to Yarmuth.