Deal reached on saving some Iron Quarter buildings

I was just making the point that until just now, there was no money to save them. And i would rather have the site developed by Blue than remain in their current state indefinitely. Regardless of the historical context, they were in terrible shape.

Now that they have actually raised the money to preserve the site...more power to them.

I was just making the point that until just now, there was no money to save them. And i would rather have the site developed by Blue than remain in their current state indefinitely. Regardless of the historical context, they were in terrible shape.

Now that they have actually raised the money to preserve the site...more power to them.

The only reason the buildings were in such bad condition is because Blue let them get that way! If he had been a good steward of them story from when he bought them they would be much better condition than they are today. You always wanted to demolish them and letting them deteriorate was a means to his end. It's certainly better to preserve them than it used to demolish them and turn the space into a parking lot which is what Mr.Blue wanted.

Woopity Doo!, Several more years of looking at eyesore buildings...........

I don't think the the Chicken Bucket toaster oven river wave eyesore arena is going anywhere anytime soon, unfortunately. We can only hope no one tries to save it when the day comes for it to meet the wrecking ball.

I think we're pretty damn lucky to have such a nice venue - chicken bucket or not.

I was just making the point that until just now, there was no money to save them. And i would rather have the site developed by Blue than remain in their current state indefinitely. Regardless of the historical context, they were in terrible shape.

Now that they have actually raised the money to preserve the site...more power to them.

The only reason the buildings were in such bad condition is because Blue let them get that way! If he had been a good steward of them story from when he bought them they would be much better condition than they are today. You always wanted to demolish them and letting them deteriorate was a means to his end. It's certainly better to preserve them than it used to demolish them and turn the space into a parking lot which is what Mr.Blue wanted.

I was under the impression they were in terrible condition when he bought them. Perhaps I don't have all the facts.

My problem with this fiasco is that those in favor of preserving the buildings fight to keep them, even if it means they remain in their dilapidated state. The city would be much better served by Blue developing them than leaving them the way they are in their current state. At least they would be safe and bring in some money to the community, including local independent businesses that serve the area. But my god, they've been there 100 years if they are so historically important to so many people, how come noone ever restored them??

What many seem to miss with issues like this is that oftentimes it takes a crisis to mobilize people who are regularly so tied up with other matters that they are unable to focus. Todd Blue created a crisis, and the alarm bells rang. The rest is history, or about to be history.

I sure am glad we've got people to do things like keep these run down buildings from being razed and making sure an east end bridge doesnt get built. Yes let's stay firmly entrenched 40 years behind everywhere else. This myopic city.

MikeG...exactly. Too many people in this city are just against change, period. Maybe in this case there is a legitimate argument but most of the time there isn't. People didn't want the arena, they don't want the bridge, they don't want pro sports, the didn't want other "historic" buildings torn down to build up East Market area, the list goes on ad nauseum.

Yes because a surface parking lot was really gonna put Louisville on the World map and make everyone's life so much bettter. I mean, a surface parking lot...THERE's change we can believe in.

Myopic indeed.

Deciding not to destroy historically important buildings is anything but myopic. Thinking that such a decision is myopic is, well, myopic.

My problem with this fiasco is that those in favor of preserving the buildings fight to keep them, even if it means they remain in their dilapidated state. The city would be much better served by Blue developing them than leaving them the way they are in their current state. At least they would be safe and bring in some money to the community, including local independent businesses that serve the area. But my god, they've been there 100 years if they are so historically important to so many people, how come noone ever restored them??

Bingo.
I could never understand the antipathy towards Todd Blue. I remember these buildings were ramshackle in the '70s / '80s, nothing was done to maintain them by the (then) owners, presumably because only an idiot would put money into a project without a solid plan for ROI, unless they were wealthy philanthropists who could afford the largesse. This community was perfectly willing to let them fall down, but when Mr. Blue's outfit belly's up to the bar and buys the land to rightfully do with it whatever he damned well thinks can create an ROI within the law - oh, THEN they come out of the woodwork to demonize him. Anyone who hasn't persued the Encyclopedia of Louisville should do it with a box of tissues handy and see how much worthwhile architectural heritage has been lost in the last 40 - 50 years. It's tragic what we've lost. None of it was because of people like Blue trying to make an honest living and, if possible, fortune. It's because Louisvillians did nothing to promote a better plan and to raise the private funds to allow for the financially self-sustainable continuation of many buildings. I think Mayor Fischer should apologize publicly on behalf of the residents of Louisville to Todd Blue for all the crap he's had to deal with over this, as well as thank him for working with the Brown-Wilson group to come up with an alternative that makes financial sense.

Yes because a surface parking lot was really gonna put Louisville on the World map and make everyone's life so much bettter. I mean, a surface parking lot...THERE's change we can believe in.

Myopic indeed.

Dilapidated buildings are not putting Louisville on the world map. I'm embarrassed for our city every time I walk past them. While a parking lot would be less than ideal, the area needs more parking, and the lot would be less of an eyesore than the crumbling buildings. There was no screaming a crying going on over the past (?) years while these buildings rotted, but God forbid someone tear a few of them down.

From my understanding, Blue was going to demolish a couple of the really neglected buildings, turn them into temporary lots until the space could be developed, and refurbish the salvageable buildings.

Without getting into the pros and cons...although I may weigh in later...I find it interesting that the word "preservation" is bantered about in lieu of the word "restoration". In my mind those are two entirely different animals. It's one thing to "preserve" something, it's quite something else to "restore" it. Anyway, it's nice to see that Brown-Forman and other "civic minded" individuals have stepped up to the plate but that being said I have a very strong sense that we haven't seen the last of the "drama" involving these buildings. Give it two years and lets see where we're at.

Some of these arguments I'm reading operate on the premise that because these buildings are now crumbling, they will always be crumbling.

I look forward to serving crow to those of you who believe this.

[That being said, I like what you said Steve P.]

[Robin Garr]

I look forward to serving crow to those of you who believe this.

Like Doc Crow's, maybe, which is looking mighty good in one of those "dilapidated," "un-fixable" buildings that didn't happen to be part of Blue's set?

I look forward to serving crow to those of you who believe this.

Like Doc Crow's, maybe, which is looking mighty good in one of those "dilapidated," "un-fixable" buildings that didn't happen to be part of Blue's set?

Oh, you're good.