LexRides

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

I'd be willing to bet that most people of a certain persuasion would like to see Phoenix Park gone because to them they just see it as a hangout for the homeless.

Phoenix Park was much nicer and felt more like a "park" before they inexplicably decided to uproot all but about 3 or 4 of the tiniest trees there. This happened about 3 years ago, during the great "downtown tree removal" phase.

For some reason, Lexington seems to think that trees aren't a part of the "park" equation... I get the feeling that the idea of a park, or greenspace around here is simply tracts of grass between sidewalks and concrete slabs.
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jakubtoborek · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:29 am Post subject:

Christopher · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:35 am Post subject:

elzie5000 · cutter Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 1177

One of the reasons for the linear park on Vine is because Town Branch, in the form of an 8+ foot diameter storm drain, runs between Vine and Water streets, mostly under the sidewalk on the Vine side of the Dame block.

It is enclosed, but very old and fragile and will cause major problems for construction.

Seems like I remember hearing a story about the construction of the Herald-Leader building, when the builders learned why Water Street is called that.

Yeah, it makes a turn where Vine crosses Main and runs the length of Midland Ave, then crosses Winchester Rd and ends up as a big ditch next to Midland Pl. The spring that originally fed the stream was down around 7th St. Long since paved over.

catamount · townie Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 163 Location: lex

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

You've already heard about this building's aim for LEED certification, and no doubt you'll hear much more trumpeting and self-congratulatory accolades as this project progresses.

Here's one of many articles out there on the criticisms of the LEED program:
http://www.slate.com/id/2180862/

elzie5000 · cutter Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 1177

Here's what's between the Dame block and Vine St, underground:

seicer · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:19 pm Post subject:

Speaking of Town Branch and flooding. We had about a foot of water in our elevator shafts here at Park Plaza last year. Our sump pump failed and it was rapidly filling up. I've heard of a similar experience at 500's on the Main that killed off their electricity when their pump failed -- but I'm not for sure if that was due to a water main break or a creek issue. The foundation for that doesn't extend down _that_ deep.

I remember a time when the Lexington Financial Center had water in its basement after a pump gave out...

As for the photos above... *drool* I love caving and diving underground. You just gave me more incentive to enter in at Rupp now Smile

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Sherman Cahal | Cincy Rides

elzie5000 · cutter Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 1177

John Reaves · training wheels Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 15

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

catamount · townie Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 163 Location: lex

The first Platinum LEED rating awarded to a building in Kentucky or the surrounding region - Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee --- is located at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest just south of Louisville. Their visitor center was assembled "...mainly from cypress wood that was sourced from old H.J. Heinz pickle vats and from old bourbon rack house lumber from Brown-Forman Corporation and Jim Beam Brands."
http://www.bernheim.org/news.htm

Doesn't seem like the level of LEED the webb bros are aiming for.
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"The path of least resistance is what makes the river crooked!” - Utah Phillips

seicer · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:27 pm Post subject:

John Reaves, are you the same guy from Wikipedia? If so... damn, what a small world!

What I meant by tasteful is that at least it doesn't appear to be a walled-off development like Festival Market was. Or one gigantic brown POS that the World Trade Center complex turned out to be. Or the gigantic brown and orange box that was the Lexington Center (prior to renovations). I'm still indifferent -- I'd rather see something with an appropriate scale take the place of the parking lot and the buildings along Limestone -- and leave the rest alone. A five or six-story building would fit nicely there, and parking is more than ample at the Park Plaza/Library garage.

I do doubt that the project will be built. While it has higher probability due to its non-reliance on condominiums, it still has huge obstacles in digging out a foundation and installing an underground parking garage. Remember Shelbourne Plaza along S. Broadway? Originally planned to have underground parking, then partial underground parking, and now surface lots. It's become vastly more suburban as they continue to revise the plans. And much more expensive than they had anticipated. I'm surprised it hasn't been canceled yet. For the cost that Centrepointe is estimated, they must be betting on some cost-cutting... which is pretty typical for a Webb project.
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Sherman Cahal | Cincy Rides

seicer · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:40 pm Post subject:

Blue Grass Trust 'disappointed' in downtown project
By Beverly Fortune, Herald-Leader, March 5, 2008

The Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation issued a statement Wednesday saying it was disappointed that numerous buildings that "most agree have historical significance to Lexington will be destroyed" by a redevelopment of the Main Street block with a 40-story hotel tower.

"We hope that as the plans are further developed and the input of all of the citizens of Lexington is received, that the plans can be revised to accommodate the preservation of these historic structures," the statement said.

The hotel, condominiums and retail space in the $250 million CentrePointe project would take the entire block bounded by Main, Upper and Vine streets and Limestone. Among the businesses on the block are The Dame music club, Buster's bar and Mia's bar and restaurant.

Julie Good, executive director of the trust, said earlier this week that Lexington's premier historic-preservation group advocates redevelopment of the block, but in a way that blends the new with the historical.

The trust said Tuesday that it hopes to be invited to discussions with developers and the public to explain its position.

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Sherman Cahal | Cincy Rides