It has been a while since I last photographed downtown Lexington, Kentucky, but much has changed and for the better. When I left in 2008 for Cincinnati, there were talks of new sidewalks to replace the aging brickwork that would be completed in time for the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games. There were talks of Cheapside improvements. There were talks of a Triangle Park renovation. Given some time, things happened. A new streetscape is being installed, which includes new lighting fixtures, sidewalks and rain gardens. A new pavilion has been completed for the ever popular farmer's market. And some new and unique bike signage has been mounted. It adds up to a freshened downtown appearance, and one that has not gone unnoticed.

 

1 A view of the new streetscape along Vine Street, which is complete with new lighting, sidewalks and rain gardens.

 

2 Unique bike signage - the second in the nation, indicates whether the lane is reserved for parking, for a through lane or as a bike lane. At all hours of the day, there is at least one 4' bike lane open.

 

3 A view of the Vine Street developments.

 

4 A view of Festival Market and the Triangle Park improvements.

 

5 Triangle Park is being redesigned to include a central lawn, an outdoor cafe, activities area for games, an ice skating rink and better pedestrian connections.

 

6 A view of Victorian Square.

 

7 Once vacant, this prominent downtown building on Short Street now houses an upscale restaurant. The corner is still vacant but is seeking a tenant.

 

8 The Fifth Third Pavilion, completed in 2010 as the final improvement project for Cheapside - converting the ill-used roadway into a pedestrian thoroughfare, is used as a farmer's market.

 

9 I remember a time when this building was beige - around 2003. Then black, and now, a putrid blue with a new brick entryway.

 

10 This gorgeous Beaux-Arts facade at 123 West Main was home to the Phoenix and Third National Bank. The facade was covered over with plywood and brick veneer. In 2010, it was ripped off and it was discovered that the building featured four columns topped with ornate capitals. The facade is being restored to its original design.

 

11 A view of the new city wayfinding signage.

 

Views from Frankfort, Kentucky will be coming up next!

 

Relevant pages:

a downtown

b Lexington, Kentucky

Well done. 

Wow--interesting discovery with the bank facade. I'll look forward to seeing what they do with that.

Nice-looking downtown. I have a friend who lives there, but I haven't visited in a long time.

I have some "before" photos from 2007 and 2008, but they are in an archive drive right now. I'll pull them up at some future point and do a before-and-after thread!