Deal reached on saving some Iron Quarter buildings

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/ ... ext%7CHome

A deal has been reached for preservation-minded interests to acquire — and save — five of seven historic buildings slated for demolition in the 100 block of West Main Street, Mayor Greg Fischer announced Monday morning.

The deal also allows Todd Blue to demolish the two easternmost buildings in Whiskey Row. The facades of those two structures, however, will be preserved.

The group, which was created by the Downtown Development Corp. and includes the Brown-Forman Corp. and several civic-minded partners who wish to remain anonymous, is paying $4.85 million for the properties. Brown and Wilson will be the developers and plans for the buildings are still to be determined.

Wow. Three cheers for all involved. The Browns are really putting their money in a bit of a black hole for the good of the city. I hope it turns into a success for them which is anything but certain.

Wow. Three cheers for all involved. The Browns are really putting their money in a bit of a black hole for the good of the city. I hope it turns into a success for them which is anything but certain.

That's some Bruce Wayne shit right there...

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

"Eyesore" is in the eye of the beholder. I think they're beautiful, and will become more so with owners who care about their restoration. Plus, they are architecturally significant and add a lot to our downtown, so this is great news.

[Robin Garr]

"Eyesore" is in the eye of the beholder. I think they're beautiful, and will become more so with owners who care about their restoration. Plus, they are architecturally significant and add a lot to our downtown, so this is great news.

I agree. Let's not mall what's left of our historic downtown, and the next time a developer tries to take the easy way out for a quick profit, let's remember this.

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.

It's terrible all this evil development has taken place downtown. It was such a nice place when i was growing up in the 1980s.

"Eyesore" is in the eye of the beholder. I think they're beautiful, and will become more so with owners who care about their restoration. Plus, they are architecturally significant and add a lot to our downtown, so this is great news.

What you said. Heritage and identity are key to a city's culture, and few things identify this city more than its rich, historic architecture.

[Robin Garr]

It's terrible all this evil development has taken place downtown. It was such a nice place when i was growing up in the 1980s.

Downtown was awful in the '70s and '80s, Jason, but that had more to do with white flight (a strange fruit of the real-estate industry) than development. Nobody objects to sensible development. But tearing down historic and potentially beautiful old buildings just because a developer wants to make a quick buck the lazy way? That's worth being against.

I agree with 99% of your sentiments Robin, including this one now that those in favor of saving it are actually ponying up some money.

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??

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.

The buildings will not remain in their current state - that's the point of the deal that was just announced to purchase and develop them (rather than raze them, as was the previous plan.)

Details from the C-J article about the deal that address Jason's above comments:

As part of the deal, the city will provide a $1.5 million grant to help stabilize and preserve the facades of all seven buildings, Fischer said. He and other city leaders said the preservation effort is a key step to improving the vitality of the emerging development corridor along Main near the new KFC Yum! Center.
...
Brown and Wilson will be the developers and plan to take about 18 months to stabilize the buildings and to develop a marketing plan for leasing the space to office tenants.
...
Fischer said the involvement of the Downtown Development Corp. headed by Executive Director Alan DeLisle, was critical in structuring the Whiskey Row deal. DeLisle said officials expect that eventually the five buildings being restored will create 300 to 400 jobs, adding that “we have been working on this for over a year.…We believe this will be one of the best blocks in the country.”

Why weren't they restored before? I don't know. Ask the previous owners. I'm just glad it's going to be done now. Sometimes we get a sense of complacency, as in, "They've always been here, and they'll always be here - someone will see to that." But in this case, it took action and a group effort to ensure their preservation. Better late than never, because once they're gone, they're gone.

I agree with 99% of your sentiments Robin, including this one now that those in favor of saving it are actually ponying up some money.

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??

While politicians and corporations want us to only think via binaries, there are other options. I'm excited to see what new developments can be made with these old buildings. It doesn't have to be new versus old, good versus bad, dilapidated versus developed.

While politicians and corporations want us to only think via binaries, there are other options. I'm excited to see what new developments can be made with these old buildings. It doesn't have to be new versus old, good versus bad, dilapidated versus developed.

I very much appreciate that sentiment. It's officially my thought of the day.

When the system exalts neglect and speculation over stewardship and responsibility, well, s#*% just tends to happen.