November 10, 200816 yr I think that building a quality urban fabric that is engaging and inviting should be a higher priority than seeing how big of a stunt one should pull so that they can get noticed. MP did nothing at street-level and was imposing on the rest of the city. While CentrePointe isn't great, it is better in that regard. If I were an architect I might be more inclined to agree with you two.
November 10, 200816 yr well there isnt really enough streetlevel or not streetlevel in those downtowns to worry about that too much. the wacky building will garner louisville much needed attention from outside the region and draw people from out of town. potentially. this building will bore everyone to death. :laugh: no, seriously its ok, i like it and yes it might be better at streetlevel, not sure, but overall its there just being servicable for its tenants.
November 10, 200816 yr Author The area near Museum Plaza is known as "museum row" -- for its multiple museums within a district that contains more cast-iron facades than any other city outside of SoHo in New York City. It's transitioning into a pure mixed-use district, with the completion of the Glassworks Lofts, and the construction of new units in west downtown. Street level may have been a bit... bland. But Museum Plaza would have resided next to a flood wall in a relatively undesireable area. Or was. The newer Ali Museum is next door, and is adjacent to a newly completed park and amphitheater. It is also near the Waterfront Park network. Three derelict buildings were demolished sans the facades, and a pedway through those facades would have led guests to the diagonal elevator. It was planned that the pedway would be lined with businesses. As for Centrepointe, there is an abundance of street level activity.
November 11, 200816 yr Author I like! I like! (Just want to see some renderings of the three-story base.) :clap: CentrePointe taller, more 'classic' By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, November 10, 2008 Changes to the CentrePointe project unveiled Monday give it a more "classic" look, according to developer Dudley Webb, as well as making it taller. The Courthouse Area Design Review Board approved design changes to the exterior of CentrePointe that were presented by the developers of the $250 million, 35-story luxury hotel-condominium complex.
November 11, 200816 yr The changes sound pretty good to me. That 9k sf unit at the top should be amazing.
November 12, 200816 yr Author Size of new Rupp a concern Historic areas surround site By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, November 12, 2008 If a new basketball arena is built behind the Lexington Center, residents in the High Street area want it to be sensitive in design and scale to historic buildings that would surround it on three sides.
November 13, 200816 yr Author 406 feet? The new estimate should be around 560! :) Centrepointe becomes more classical, taller Authored by Sherman Cahal at UrbanUp on November 12, 2008 Centrepointe grew up. Literally. In what the Webb Companies has called the "final design," Centrepointe has added a distinctive peak and spire into the mix, replacing a flat roof. In addition, the podium has been reduced to three floors to accommodate taller heights for hotel functions, classical columns were added to the entrance along Main Street, and an elevated pedway that was to cross South Limestone Street to the Phoenix parking garage has been buried. The amount of condominiums has also been increased in the revision as well, taking into account the popularity of one-bedroom residences and demand that (will) hopefully return to the housing market by the time Centrepointe is completed in 2010. The changes were filed with the Courthouse Area Design Review office and approved. Core drilling for Centrepointe continues although it is winding down and should be completed within a few days. Foundation removal is still ongoing, and is slightly delayed due to the robust foundation of the former Graves structure. In my opinion, the changes were wonderfully executed in the design. The addition of more traditional elements to the skyscraper, such as the columns, the spire and the revised motif has given Centrepointe a more refined feel. The reduction of the podium in terms of the number of floors, even if to give greater height to the hotel function rooms, should be more comparable to other downtown properties.
November 15, 200816 yr Author "The city may soon have at its disposal a new form of leverage: raising revenues to pay for the repair of the city's storm water systems by imposing a new "impermeable surfaces fee" on properties with hard surfaces such as roofs and parking lots that contribute to excessive runoff." Vexington Mall A status report on Lexington's greatest infill challenge By Tom Martin, Business Lexington, November 13, 2008 Vexing. The word just repeats over and over like a looped recording throughout the continuing saga of Lexington Mall, sole non-performer among the scores of highly successful retail properties owned by Saul Centers of Bethesda, Maryland.
November 19, 200816 yr Author Distillery District, Centrepointe Council puts CentrePointe, distillery TIF districts on docket By Michelle Ku and Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, November 18, 2008 Urban County Council gave tentative approval on Tuesday to ordinances creating districts around two downtown developments so tax money from those districts can be used to help pay for city improvements.
November 20, 200816 yr Author New executive terminal to be built at Blue Grass Airport By Jennifer Hewlett, Herald-Leader, November 19, 2008 TAC Air, one of Blue Grass Airport's two companies that service private aircraft, said Wednesday it plans to spend $11.5 million on improvements, including a new executive terminal.
November 26, 200816 yr Author Less talk, more action downtown, Lexington city council is told By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, November 25, 2008 A vibrant downtown with a wide array of cultural activities, festivals, bars and restaurants is no longer simply a social amenity, but an important economic development issue for Lexington, the Urban County Council was told on Tuesday.
December 5, 200816 yr Author The news that we have been waiting for! Not only is this great for Centrepointe and its associated revitalization plans, but great for the Distillery District! In addition, Cheapside has been permanently closed to all vehicular traffic!! It seems that the trial closure phase worked. Is the redesign of Cheapside included in the TIF? Council approves CentrePointe, Distillery tax financing districts By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, December 4, 2008 The Urban County Council gave final approval to plans to help revitalize two areas of downtown, one around the old Fayette County courthouse and the CentrePointe development, the other along a stretch of Manchester Street.
December 6, 200816 yr Author Centrepointe, Distillery District gets OK from Lexington, Kentucky for Tax Increment Financing Authored by Sherman Cahal at Urban Up on December 5, 2008 On December 4, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council gave final approval for plans to use tax increment financing for an area around Centrepointe, and for the Distillery District along Manchester Street in Lexington, Kentucky.
December 8, 200816 yr Author UK plans $18.6 million high-tech research building By Jim Warren, Herald-Leader, December 8, 2008 The University of Kentucky is planning a new $18.6 million building near downtown Lexington to house various College of Engineering research efforts in computer visualization, computer science and electrical and computer engineering.
December 8, 200816 yr Author UK Announces 'Digital Village' Construction Project Media Contact: Dan Adkins, University of Kentucky, December 8, 2008 LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 8, 2008) – The University of Kentucky will build an $18.6 million building to house high-technology research on visualization, computer science and electrical and computer engineering as part of a “Digital Village” complex in the Maxwell Street-Rose Street vicinity. UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. announced the project, which will be funded through $9.3 million from private donors, with the remainder coming from the state’s Research Challenge Trust Fund. “When we released our Top 20 Business Plan, we made clear that we would fund 40 percent of the plan ourselves,” said UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. “Today, we are pleased to show the Commonwealth that we are intent on keeping that promise. Thanks to generous private support from three great friends of the University, UK is proud to announce its first building to be constructed solely from private donations and the Bucks for Brains matching program. “It is quite appropriate that such innovative financing will be used to build the second phase of the College of Engineering’s Digital Village. The Digital Village will be UK’s high-tech hub, a center of innovation, creativity and discovery that will be crucial to helping Kentucky create a thriving, knowledge-based economy,” Todd added. The Marksbury Family Foundation, created recently by Davis and Beverly Marksbury, is contributing $6 million for the project, which will be named the Davis Marksbury Building, pending approval by UK's Board of Trustees. The Davis Marksbury Building, Phase 2 of UK’s Digital Village, will provide nearly 25,000 square feet of space for research activity conducted by faculty in the UK Center for Visualization and Virtual Environments, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Computer Science, all of which are part of the UK College of Engineering. The funding will cover the costs of design, construction, furnishing and landscaping the Davis Marksbury Building. The cost of maintenance and operation will be absorbed by UK. Thomas W. Lester, dean of the UK College of Engineering, said, “The vision and generosity of Davis and Beverly Marksbury help position the University of Kentucky and the College of Engineering at the forefront of research facilities and opportunities necessary to attract and retain Top 20 caliber faculty and students in STEM disciplines.” As envisioned by Todd, the UK Digital Village will be comprised of four buildings dedicated to high-tech research when it is complete. No funding is available as yet for Phases 3 and 4 of the complex. Todd’s vision calls for the UK Digital Village to be an integral part of UK’s town-gown corridor intended to break down any perceived barriers separating the campus from the city. Groundbreaking will be held during September 2009, and the project is expected to be complete in January 2011. In other support, $2 million is being given by James F. Hardymon, a longtime UK supporter, a member of the UK Board of Trustees and the primary donor in support of the Hardymon Building, which was Phase 1 of the UK Digital Village. The Hardymon Building houses research in advanced computer and communications networking and other high-tech research. James McDonald, president and CEO of Scientific Atlanta, is giving $328,000 to support the project. Another $1 million is being sought from a private donor.
December 8, 200816 yr Highlighted the location. You might want to fix that link sweetpea. you have one to many "http's" in there.
December 10, 200816 yr Author Walmart donates solar recycling bins to city parks Herald-Leader, December 9, 2008 Wally, also known as BigBelly Solar, is coming to three Lexington baseball complexes. Three solar-powered recycling bins will be placed at Cardinal Run Park, Shillito Park and Veteran's Park, city and Walmart officials announced Tuesday. The bins use solar power to compact plastic bottles, aluminum cans, paper and cardboard, to be picked up by the city's recycling program. Also coming as part of the retail chain's $40,000 donation: 16 conventional recycling containers, also at those three parks.
December 10, 200816 yr Author UK awards Reynolds building project By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, December 10, 2008 The University of Kentucky announced Wednesday morning that the South Hill Group of Lexington was selected as the finalist for redevelopment of the Reynolds art building project on South Broadway.
December 15, 200816 yr Author Should Lexington bring back streetcars? By Tom Eblen, Herald Leader Columnist, December 14, 2008 What goes around sometimes comes around — like a streetcar. A century ago, if you wanted to get somewhere in Lexington, you probably took a streetcar. And if you wanted to travel from Lexington to Paris, Georgetown, Nicholasville or Versailles, you took an express streetcar called an Interurban.
December 15, 200816 yr Author ^See above for Lexington's streetcar proposal! A century ago, streetcars ruled Lexington Herald-Leader, December 14, 2008 If you've followed the ups and downs of LexTran since its creation in 1972, you might be surprised to know that Lexington has a rich history of public transportation.
December 24, 200816 yr Author Bank buys condos for $5 million Central Bank pays $5 million for Mark Lofts at Woodland By Jim Jordan, Herald Leader, December 23, 2008 With no other bidders in sight, Central Bank & Trust Co. bought The Mark Lofts at Woodland Park for $5 million during a court-ordered sale on Monday.
January 2, 200916 yr Author New Eastern State Hospital is on track despite state budget cutbacks By Beth Musgrave, Herald Dispatch, January 2, 2009 A new psychiatric facility to replace Eastern State Hospital is on track to begin construction in 2010, state officials said. The replacement for the second-oldest psychiatric hospital in the country is the one bright spot in a dismal year for social-service programs, mental health advocates say.
January 7, 200916 yr Author Demolition work and preparation work has been completed, and there should be construction crews showing up within the month. They are waiting for KYTC to sign off on closing one-lane of traffic all around the block... and all are state routes.
January 9, 200916 yr Author Tom Eblen: When will CentrePointe construction begin? We'll see By Tom Eblen, Herald-Leader Columnist, January 8, 2009 Where's CentrePointe? Developer Dudley Webb said late last fall that construction would begin in December on the $250 million tower in the middle of downtown Lexington. It's now January, and the site is a big gravel pit waiting for something to happen.
January 29, 200916 yr Author This is now 550' in height, BTW. Webbs' analyst says CentrePointe on firm footing despite recession By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, January 28, 2009 Despite an economy in recession, a new financial analysis paid for by CentrePointe's developers is optimistic about their prospects for selling 91 million-dollar-plus condominiums, leasing retail space and filling a luxury hotel when the downtown development opens in 2011.
February 3, 200916 yr Author The Distillery District is a new name for a massive mixed-use development on the site of two old distilleries in Lexington, along Manchester Street. Aerial of Manchester Street; the redevelopment is south of the street, and future plans have it covering both sides and eastward towards downtown. I envision this becoming Old City in Knoxville in about ten years. Buster's to reopen, add music venue By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, February 3, 2009 Buster's, the beer-only pool hall that closed in June to make way for the planned CentrePointe high-rise project, is scheduled to re-open in mid-August in the Old Tarr Distillery. New owners Jessica Case and her husband Clark said they signed a contract Monday to lease the entire original portion of the distillery at 899 Manchester Street.
February 4, 200916 yr Author http://www.cptlex.com/overview.htm Confirmed: Centrepointe in Lexington will be the tallest building in Kentucky at 550 feet!!! :drunk:
February 4, 200916 yr Author Another article on the Buster's bit. Buster’s to reopen in proposed Lexington development By Ashley Hockney, Kentucky Kernel, February 3, 2009 Another of the downtown buildings razed in June to make way for the CentrePointe high-rise project will relocate and add a music venue.
February 5, 200916 yr Author State gives initial approval to downtown Lexington projects By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, February 5, 2009 FRANKFORT — A state board has given preliminary approval to two downtown Lexington developments that would be the first in the city to use future tax revenues as a way to finance the projects.
February 9, 200916 yr Author Downtown church opens new wing By Janet Patton, Herald-Leader, February 8, 2009 Central Christian Church, a fixture in the downtown Lexington social fabric, debuted its new north face to the community on Sunday. The church officially opened its new 26,000-square-foot addition, which includes classroom space for children and youth ministries, as well as a new library, music rooms and an elevator to make the church more accessible.
February 15, 200916 yr Author Sorry, if it isn't self-sustaining, it would not make much fiscal sense right now to repurpose it. I can't see the city justifying it ten years ago, much less now, and the only bit that makes the building special is the memory -- it's a shell. Nothing more, nothing less, with a glazed tile exterior and a somewhat nice front entrance. It's also in a poor location, not exactly a desirable area for performance venues. And it lacks a lot of on-street parking. Lyric repairs strike expensive chord By Michelle Ku, Herald-Leader, February 15, 2009 For more than 10 years, East End residents have dreamed of reopening the Lyric Theatre, the former entertainment hub for Lexington's black community.
February 18, 200916 yr Author Council OKs Lyric Theatre renovation By Michelle Ku, Herald Leader, February 17, 2009 The Urban County Council on Tuesday gave an initial go-ahead to begin the process of hiring a contractor to renovate and expand the Lyric Theatre.
February 19, 200916 yr Author UK taking bids on stadium work By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, February 19, 2009 A feasibility study on a new downtown basketball arena has been delayed while the University of Kentucky fulfills a state requirement for competitive bidding for other sports stadium projects on the campus.
February 24, 200916 yr Author Questions raised about proposal for Winchester By Ashlee Clark, Herald-Leader, February 22, 2009 Developer Kenneth Bardwell and an entourage wearing business suits approached the governing body of a small township near Detroit with a thick binder full of plans for Bardwell's dream.
March 2, 200916 yr Author Downtown success a 2-way street Proposed 'Streetscape' heralds a return to driving to, not through, Lexington By Tom Eblen, Herald-Leader columnist, March 1, 2009 What went wrong with American downtowns during the last half of the 20th century?
March 2, 200916 yr Author CentrePointe progress awaits permit By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, February 28, 2009 All's quiet on the Centre Pointe site on West Main Street as the construction company waits to receive a lane closure permit from the local district office of the highway department. Bovis Lend Lease, in Columbus, Ohio, submitted a request for lane closings on West Main Street and Vine Street with the state highway department, said Kelly Baker, branch manager for the traffic permit section District office 7.
March 4, 200916 yr Author City to explore requiring buried power lines in new developments By Michelle Ku, Herald-Leader, March 3, 2009 The city will soon begin exploring the idea of requiring underground utilities in all new neighborhoods. Urban County Councilwoman Cheryl Feigel suggested the idea Tuesday following a discussion about how lessons from the 2003 ice storm were used in responding to January's storm.
March 4, 200916 yr Author ^ Another update posted above. Council shows enthusiasm for making downtown streets two-way By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, March 3, 2009 Momentum is growing among Urban County Council members to convert downtown's one-way streets to two-way, including the major arteries, Main and Vine. Streetscape consultant Clete Benken said while the city cannot "wave a magic wand and fix everything today," it can set the stage for phased in conversion of Short and Second streets, Limestone and Upper, Maxwell and High and Main and Vine back to two-way traffic.
March 11, 200916 yr Author Downtown Lexington can hold past and future 2 cities made Main Street live again By Tom Eblen, Herald-Leader columnist, March 8, 2009 Just a few years ago, two of America's most downtrodden Main streets were those in Los Angeles and Louisville. Their once-grand buildings had been abandoned or mangled. Vagrants wandered the streets.
March 11, 200916 yr Author Chevy Chase parking study under way By Michelle Ku, Herald-Leader, March 9, 2009 At the request of area merchants, shoppers in Chevy Chase will be able to pay for parking at individual meters by their cars at least through the end of April. The Lexington & Fayette County Parking Authority had intended to replace the individual meters along the 800 block of Euclid Avenue and along a nearby stretch of East High Street with four computerized pay stations. Each pay station is expected to take the place of about 10 individual meters.
March 13, 200916 yr Author Lexington council votes to seek contractor for Lyric Herald-Leader, March 12, 2009 By a vote of 11-3, the Urban County Council gave final approval to begin the search for a contractor to renovate and expand the Lyric.
March 16, 200916 yr Author Lyric Theatre: big opportunity disguised as a problem By Tom Eblen, Herald-Leader columnist, March 14, 2009 From the time it opened in 1948 until it closed in 1963, the Lyric Theatre was a cultural icon for Lexington's African-American community, hosting the likes of Duke Ellington and Ray Charles. For the past 46 years, the Lyric has been an empty, crumbling building. For nearly 20 years, its renaissance has been a dream deferred for the East End neighborhood and many African-Americans throughout Lexington.
March 16, 200916 yr Author Two articles posted today. (See above.) Hotel's new owners plan to maximize its potential Ex-Radisson is getting a new look to go along with its new name By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, March 16, 2009 The first time real estate investor Peter Lewis toured the Radisson Plaza, he saw an outdated hotel that had been "under-managed" for years. "It's a 1980s facility. No money went into that hotel for decades," said Lewis, president and chief financial officer of Madison W Properties.
March 20, 200916 yr Author Red Mile working on development plan By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, March 19, 2009 Owners of The Red Mile are working with the city on a plan to develop about half the business's property as a way to ensure the historic harness racing track can stay in business.
March 20, 200916 yr Author ^ Another article posted above. Search for new Lexington city hall begins next week By Michelle Ku, Herald-Leader, March 19, 2009 The search for the site of a potential new Urban County Government Center begins next week.
March 24, 200916 yr Author Lexington developer gives new life to old buildings Company adapts old buildings for new uses that make financial sense By Tom Eblen, Herald-Leader columnist, March 23, 2009 The "AU" in AU Associates stands for "Adaptive Use." But if you remember the periodic table of elements from science class, Au also is the symbol for gold.
March 25, 200916 yr Author We are getting closer to the redesigned downtown streetscape! I can't wait to see the finished product... Lexington council OKs design of downtown streets By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, March 24, 2009 Urban County Council members gave the go-ahead on Tuesday for the city's streetscape consultant to do a detailed design of Main Street and Vine Street that would allow both streets to become two-way in the future, or to maintain their presented one-way traffic patterns, whichever the council chose.
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