Lexington, KY - We've spent years calling for a physical makeover of downtown Lexington as an important component of efforts to confine growth to available space within the urban core - as opposed to continued sprawl into and over the surrounding rural landscape that is our city's stock in trade. Very real change to the downtown streetscape begins within weeks, and it falls on all of us who have demanded these improvements to now make real efforts to support businesses that will be impacted by the unintended consequences of the coming disruptions.
This work speaks of a city that is getting down to the business of implementing important transformational ideas. New bike lanes and trails are in the works. The Urban County Council has approved a new sign ordinance designed to let downtown businesses get creative and more assertive in announcing their presence, signaling economic life and vitality.
The first phase of the Streetscape Master Plan, developed "in order to protect the rural landscape and be more competitive in the world economy" by KKG Studios of Covington and approved by the Urban County Council in August of 2008, is poised to begin in July along South Limestone between Avenue of Champions (Euclid) and Vine Street. It's the first step in a major effort to make Lexington "the next big thing" among the nation's coolest cities by creating an appealing pedestrian- and bike-friendly corridor between downtown Lexington and the neighboring campuses of the University of Kentucky and Transylvania.
If ever you've visited a college town that does successfully integrate a campus with nearby restaurants, entertainment venues, hotels and other businesses, perhaps you have also been a little puzzled by the realization that while your own hometown has not one but two universities nudging its central business district, it has for decades enjoyed little of the energy one might expect to experience from such an arrangement. The bundle of projects slated to get underway in July will include the mundane, but critical: the replacement of failing sanitary and storm sewer lines and the burying of utility lines. But in the bargain, it will also establish a dedicated bike lane and install new streetlights similar to those on Vine and Main, along wider, tree-lined sidewalks. It's all in hopes that the Limestone corridor will finally become an integral concentration of retail establishments, restaurants and social amenities that attract and welcome the significant campus populations of UK and Transy, two of our local economic powerhouses that have for so many years existed as somewhat sequestered, parallel universes.
The South Limestone project is part of a long-term implementation strategy to align downtown redevelopment priorities with the availability of funding. The goal of the Streetscape Master Plan is to bring practical and aesthetic improvements not only to South Limestone, Main, Vine and Midland, but also to Newtown Pike, described in the Plan as "one of the most important gateways to downtown." Cheapside Park, now home to the Farmer's Market, also is in line for continued improvements.
For a full appreciation of everything envisioned in the Downtown Streetscape Master Plan go online to the Web site of the Lexington Downtown Development Authority, www.lexingtondda.com.
The Plan has inspired additional thinking about ways to energize downtown life, including a proposal to spruce up Esplanade to create a new spot for a variety of outdoor performances produced by the creative folks at Natasha's (see Esplanade in the January 22 edition of Business Lexington, online at bizlex.com). And there is discussion about transforming South Mill Street between Main and Short into a pedestrian mall (see Steve Austin's commentary and rendering on page 32 of this edition).
There is a lot of excitement about all of this, and there should be. We're "putting on the dog" to host an attention-getting international equine crowd in the fall of 2010. These improvements will serve that short-term need, but will live on beyond the World Equestrian Games as legacies of these transformational times here in Lexington.
But there also is great trepidation about surviving the process. Those concerns are reasonable and demand attention.
Some business owners along South Limestone recognize that they will likely see a decline in patronage while streets are partially or fully closed for a year, but they seem prepared to soldier through the process. "In general, I'm willing to put up with a little pain for the long-term benefit. I think the project, in general, is going to be a real boon to the merchants on this street and to the city," said CD Central owner Steve Baron. "The only thing I would ask the city," he added, "is to do it in such a way, if possible, to minimize the impact on the businesses, because anything they do to discourage people from coming downtown is going to hurt us."
"Honestly, I like the idea," said Mamadou Savane, owner of Sav's Grill & West African Cuisine, located on the corner of South Limestone and Maxwell. "I did see the plan and I love it. It's an improvement and I'm sure it will be inconvenient for people for awhile, but once it's done, we're all going to benefit from it."
Others, however, worry that they may not survive the project. "You're talking about small businesses that won't have any vehicular traffic for a year, which will basically put a lot of us out of business," said a concerned Beth Hanna, whose namesake eatery between Maxwell and High Street is a favorite breakfast and lunch spot.
"This is our busiest time of the year, for all of us starting in July," fretted Isaac Kurs, co-owner of the Soundbar/Blu Lounge, which opened last month next door to Hanna's after costly renovations. "For us on a personal level, it's just that we put all this money in the new building and our first year is the most important for us, the one that decides if we make it or break it. That's really a big concern for us," Kurs said.
"If they close Limestone, we won't make it," said Lisa Hendley-Betz, owner of Failte, the Irish Import Shop across S. Limestone from Hanna's and Soundbar. "I think it's going to be a great thing when it's done, but unfortunately I don't think my business will be here to see the aftermath of it."
That's a call to action if ever we heard one. We want these changes, so are we not obligated to help these businesses not only survive them, but thrive as a result of them?
Vice Mayor Jim Gray has suggested easing the pain by taking a sequenced approach, completing the work one block at a time. A decision on Mr. Gray's proposal had not been made at press time.
Whether it's done all at once or in segments, those who support the improvement plans can do their part by making it a point to schedule business breakfasts or lunches at the variety of eateries along South Limestone with fare ranging from home-cooked Americana, Indian and West African, to the many locally franchised fast food spots located along the street.
Make it a point to stop by CD Central to browse the racks and give the gift of music to a favored client or hot prospect. Or consider a touch of Ireland with something from Failte.
We'll do our part by patronizing these establishments even more than we already do, and by presenting their stories - starting with Saraya Brewer's CD Central article on page 28 of this edition - as a way of reminding of the need to support them in their hour (or months) of need.
We think it's well worth the time and effort. Besides, there's more than a little karma involved here. In business as in life, what goes around, comes around.