MR. MAYOR ITS TIME TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE!

This probably belongs in the All About Louisville Forum but this is in reference to the second question posed by Brian S in the piling on to Mojitos subject. I do apologize ahead because this is a long statement but something I am very passionate about.

Brian S

Now, slightly on subject, I'd like to know about downtown Louisville. Are we at a point yet where it *almost* makes financial sense to open a restaurant downtown? Is it still a huge risk? I guess not as much as it used to be. There are a lot of great places there already, and that's normally where I go when going out. Is the mentality changing yet? I love downtown, I'm down there a lot, and want people to understand so much. Anyway, I apologize for the length of this, end now.

In my opinion I think we need more locally owned restaurants and specialty shops downtown off the beaten path from the commercial area of 4th Street. As a manager of a restaurant in a district east of the second street bridge and with the perspective and "promise" of seeing a future in the residential growth within that district, I would think it is the right time to look. About mentality and the way the area is perceived from most Louisvillians it seems people are still a bit sketchy about coming downtown and straying away from the much publicized bright lights of 4th St. Live. I think East Main/Mark (main street and market street coined by Robert Hatfield) is still viewed as not as safe an area which I feel is the wrong perception and the City Government has not done much to help change that... the only real support comes from those local owners who took a chance on the true beauty of downtown and its restoration.

Now, there are a few things that I feel could help change the way its viewed.

First, I really believe that it is time for all of the local owners to band together and launch a East Main/Mark community campaign that focuses on bringing more people in that direction. The Trolley Hop was a great start but it can only do so much and even its excitement has seemed to fallen by the wayside a bit.

Second, I believe it is time for the City to really steer its focus in that direction and consider their endeavor to revitalize 4th St as a success. MR. MAYOR ITS TIME TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND HIT A REAL HOME RUN!!! Literally, LIGHT UP MAIN STREET AND MARKET STREET! Its time for the City Government to show some support!!!

Third, to the investors and developers of the residential areas within the East Main/Mark district, you have done exactly opposite of what was initially supposed to bring the empty nester, artists, and young business professional downtown to live, you have priced the latter two of the three out of downtown. I, personally was very excited about the prospect of possibly buying a condo and living in the area and would still like too. I make a great living and consider myself a successful young professional with a lot to give to my community. It just doesn’t make sense to me to be tied into an outrageous monthly mortgage plus maintenance fees for an overpriced condo and not have anything left to reinvest into my community such as going out to eat/drink at the restaurants downtown and shopping at those wonderful boutiques that are popping up on Main Street and Market and buying that incredible piece of art to display in my living room from a local artisan. No, doubt that all of those empty condos and future residential developments will eventually be filled but it will be a lot longer. The average salary of the young professional in Louisville staggers around $45,000-$55,000 a year. With that being stated, we are looking for and buying in more affordable residential areas that are close to downtown such as the Highlands, Germantown, Clifton etc... With default rates rising and so many Mortgage Companies who are in financial trouble because of people buying more than they could afford and foreclosures being at an all time high it is making it more difficult to acquire home loans. I do take in the consideration of the cost that has gone into the restoration of the historic buildings in the area with structure and asbestos but the city has also given tax credits to make it more affordable to do so and then also those structures built from ground zero as well were given incentives from the city to build. I do understand what it means to profit from investment and I think there should be great profits but I also feel that greed can also stand in the way of greater prosperity for all. Surely there is an Investor/Developer who understands what I am saying and truly wants to be part of a foundation for growth and there are signs of that with the mixed income housing communities being built in place of the old government housing (Liberty Green), but even those will be hard to fill with the stigma of “the projects” still lingering and from conversations with people about their perception of that area is that it is just an upscale government housing project. It is going to be a challenge to change the mind set.

With all of this being said and just my opinion, I hope that those of us who believe in the future and growth of the East Main/Mark sector of the city will rally and campaign together and bring a strong thriving community to this area and make an effort to inform those outside of the area that it is accessible, safe and most of all the place where they want to spend their time and money and be a part of this unique River City.

So far Mr. Mayor, you have not proven to me you can rally the troops but have actually alienated a faction that could have been your biggest support and its going to take a lot more than a Launch Louisville Small Business Showcase to do it to gain back some respect... we will be there no doubt but you are about two years behind schedule and that is disappointing.

I am sure people have different views and a lot probably disagree but this is my opinion and my view and I love this city and want the best for it. I would still like to someday step out on my little bitty overhang (imaginary veranda) and look out over the river and look to the left and see Museum Plaza in the distance and then look to the right and see pedestrians, colorful and bubbling down the streets in and out of locally owned businesses!

That is MY CITY! End Rant.

Well said

[Robin Garr]

Well said, Allison. If there's anything LouisvilleHotBytes can do to help push this effort, either with publicity or politically, we'll be there.

I dined out and then moved on for a few drinks Saturday night in the "Armory District" in Syracuse, N.Y., by the way, a Rustbelt city that you'd expect to have an abandoned downtown. In fact, they've turned at least this piece of the downtown area into a hot dining and entertainment zone that's like Bardstown/Frankfort and the Baxter club strip all rolled into one ... and it's all local.

Our restaurant row and club strips are great, and we should be proud of them. But more of that kind of thing can turn a city into a great destination ... and it can happen here, if the city has the will (or have the will imparted to it) to make things happen.

Meanwhile, we go out and woo bland, homogenized chains for high-profile developments. Like Dogbert, I say "Bah!"

Very well said, Allison!! As a potential empty nester, we too have looked at the condos going up in the area and feel priced out of them. We love the city, too, have always lived in the "old city" limits and wanted to consider the "life by the river" as a possibility. I want the mayor and council to support and boost the downtown beyond 4th street and the arena and give more preference to local owners. The only way you can get Jerry's attention is a united front. Each and every business owner needs to contact his honor and the council members. If there is not a business association, form one and be loud and proud. I know from experience (from involvement in neighborhood and business associations) that you have to get in their face to get their attention. Schedule meetings, send out press releases, plant trees, put out petitions, what ever it takes.

Those of us that patronize the fine East Main/Market establishments can support them, not only with our business, but also by calling or writing when asked.

Allison,
While I agree with most of your post and share similar feelings about making Downtown (and Our city as a whole) a better place and more of a destination I have a few questions, not just to you but to the group as a whole. Your message of wanting the city to step up and help in this effort comes through loud and clear but you don't offer any suggestions as to how city can help in this effort. Well maybe one, I am not sure if this quote is just meant as an exclamation or if it was meant to be taken as a suggestion of how "Mr. Mayor" can help,

"Literally, LIGHT UP MAIN STREET AND MARKET STREET!"

If it's a suggestion I wholeheartedly agree, that would be a nice touch. New lighting similar to the lights along Second Street would look very nice along the Market/Main area.

I sincerely appreciate your passion and think this idea;

"First, I really believe that it is time for all of the local owners to band together and launch a East Main/Mark community campaign that focuses on bringing more people in that direction"

Is a great one.

The questions I have are as follows.
What type of suggestions do you have for "Mr. Mayor"?
What can he do to help?
Is your frustration truly aimed at the Mayor?
Or do you feel it is more a City Government as a whole issue?

Anyone that has suggestions I would be interested in hearing them.

Just to get things started I will piggyback off of one of the frustrations expressed by Allison. A part of Allison’s quote reads

..." there are signs of that with the mixed income housing communities being built in place of the old government housing (Liberty Green), but even those will be hard to fill with the stigma of “the projects” still lingering..."

I think the city can put together an ad campaign promoting these as the mixed income affordable nice housing they are meant to be. There was a great deal of press about the project in the beginning but years later (after the completion of many units) not so much as a peep from the city about the progress.

..." there are signs of that with the mixed income housing communities being built in place of the old government housing (Liberty Green), but even those will be hard to fill with the stigma of “the projects” still lingering..."

I think the city can put together an ad campaign promoting these as the mixed income affordable nice housing they are meant to be. There was a great deal of press about the project in the beginning but years later (after the completion of many units) not so much as a peep from the city about the progress.

Underway as we speak. You should be hearing more about Liberty Green in relatively short order. The project is still underway. If you are interested, here's their web site: http://www.libertygreen.org

as long as more things that stay open later than 5 pm open up, I'm all for it.

[Robin Garr]

You should be hearing more about Liberty Green in relatively short order. The project is still underway. If you are interested, here's their web site: http://www.libertygreen.org

They'll never do it, but I'd love to see them counter-program against Norton Commons: "Now you don't need to drive to the suburbs to enjoy 'real' urban living ... "

Allison: I agree with you entirely. What exactly could city government do in specific terms to achieve the goals you laid out?

Read what Jim Kunstler says about "Peak Suburbia", this is the unsustainability of the suburbs and the rebirth of the downtown core and surrounding neighborhoods as we get into "Peak Oil". This will help downtowns and the old neighborhood structure more than anything the city does.
I live in Beechmont, we are 10 minutes from downtown, we have suburban size lots, all of the city infrastructure with bus lines, libraries, and a diverse neighborhood with easy access to bike lanes and parks, we also have bargain priced real estate. We are finally beginning to see a rebirth of retail districts close by. We also have an active and growing neighborhood association. We are the "real" version of Norton Commons.

GG.

[Robin Garr]

I live in Beechmont, we are 10 minutes from downtown, we have suburban size lots, all of the city infrastructure with bus lines, libraries, and a diverse neighborhood with easy access to bike lanes and parks, we also have bargain priced real estate. We are finally beginning to see a rebirth of retail districts close by. We also have an active and growing neighborhood association. We are the "real" version of Norton Commons.

Totally agree, and would add Crescent Hill and the Highlands as similar already-here urban neighborhoods that meet all the above criteria ... and commercial districts already reborn. Not to take anything away from Beechmont, which in my opinion is a great urban neighborhood. Wouldn't it be something to see Third Street from the Watterson to Iroquois Park turn into another Frankfort Avenue? Could happen ... maybe ... but I think we'd have to see just enough demographic change to overcome the neighborhood's reputation as a blue-collar community that wouldn't support upscale local eateries, boutiques and watering holes.

Very well said, Allison!! As a potential empty nester, we too have looked at the condos going up in the area and feel priced out of them. We love the city, too, have always lived in the "old city" limits and wanted to consider the "life by the river" as a possibility.

Suzi said it best as stated above. What I've heard through conversations with some business folks along Market St. is that many of the newly built condos through that corridor as well as along the river are seeing an influx of interested buyers who are more along the lines of speculators. Buy it, wait, value rises, then sell.

that is just plain ole "El Toro ka ka"

What I've heard through conversations with some business folks along Market St. is that many of the newly built condos through that corridor as well as along the river are seeing an influx of interested buyers who are more along the lines of speculators. Buy it, wait, value rises, then sell.

that is just plain ole "El Toro ka ka"

That would really surprise me. The condo market in Louisville has not been a "flippers" market to my knowledge. And, there is at least one prominent development downtown that has had a hard time selling all their inventory - I would think that alone would discourage any speculators, along with just the sheer supply coming into the market.

But then again, I may be completely wrong! I live a county away on top of a hill with nary a condo in sight!

Wouldn't it be something to see Third Street from the Watterson to Iroquois Park turn into another Frankfort Avenue? Could happen ... maybe ... but I think we'd have to see just enough demographic change to overcome the neighborhood's reputation as a blue-collar community that wouldn't support upscale local eateries, boutiques and watering holes

Robin,
We need to have 3rd street remain mostly residential, and we are currently getting a Heine Bros. at Woodlawn and Southern Parkway. Also Tom O'Shea of O'Shea's lives in the neighborhood as well as a bunch of doctors, judges, VP's and U of L profs. It's not really as blue collar as parts of Clifton and Crescent Hill. You might be surprised at who actually lives here, of course I'm biased because I moved over here from that Hillbilly land of Pewee Valley.

Still swimming against the current,


GG.

You should be hearing more about Liberty Green in relatively short order. The project is still underway. If you are interested, here's their web site: http://www.libertygreen.org

They'll never do it, but I'd love to see them counter-program against Norton Commons: "Now you don't need to drive to the suburbs to enjoy 'real' urban living ... "

Here is the real reson LG will fail: How many of you want to pay hard earned money to live in a "mixed income" area?