"Since Mayor Jim Newberry announced plans to study the prospect of using tax increment financing (TIF) to capture state tax dollars destined for Frankfort and apply those revenues to needed local projects, much has been reported, written and said about the potential impact for Rupp Arena and the Lexington Center. The total area under consideration, however, includes and extends westward from Rupp to encompass properties along Manchester Street, Lexington's historic yet less-than-visually pleasing direct route to one of the nation's top-rated scenic byways, Old Frankfort Pike.
Major urban development consumes a great deal of time, begs enormous patience and requires the investment of tons of money. If Manchester Street is to become, as some envision, the city's new arts incubation and production district, all three are required. Designation as a portion of a TIF district could eventually result in the street's transformation from today's state of post-industrial blight to tomorrow's thriving arts and entertainment corridor, anchored by the sites of two historic Bourbon distilleries — the "destination" amenity viewed as essential by many urban planners.
A vision of a future "Distillery District" along Manchester Street is detailed in the February 23, 2007 edition of Business Lexington. The article is available online at www.bizlex.com/story.php?id=407
In the meantime, much is happening spontaneously along Manchester, calling attention to the potential now being discovered by visionary developer Barry McNees and partners, including brother architects Graham and Clive Pohl as well as a growing number of other entrepreneurs in the fields of arts and entertainment. This creative energy will be illuminated during the weekend of Nov. 9-11 when plans call for the street to spring to life with an eclectic assortment of arts, music and antique events, each capable in its own way of demonstrating the district's possibilities.
Opening for business in a 120,000-square-foot former tobacco warehouse at 1211 Manchester is "An Antique Affair," a monthly antique trade show. The MERV Corporation, a partnership between Howard Marks, Eric Friedland, Roberta Gonzales and project founder Vivian Collins, purchased the space prior to the recent closure of the Angliana Antique Market. In recent weeks, the property has been undergoing a major spruce-up with the creation of some 375 parking spaces and an exterior landscape mural painted by Lexington artist Jennifer Stanley. "An antique mall is basically open six or seven days a week from nine to five," said Gonzales, explaining over coffee at Common Grounds how a mall and a trade show differ. "A trade show is just what it says: a show that is produced once a month and runs three days. The difference with our facility is that our antiquers leave their antiques there instead of pulling their stuff in and out, which is really difficult."
Gonzales, a Las Vegas maid service operator lured to the project by competitor and Lexington native Collins, said the space is divided by attractive vintage brick walls into six 20,000-square-foot rooms featuring tongue-and-groove wood ceilings. "There is no admission, and the first 50 shoppers will be eligible for an antique clinic," she noted. Shoppers can whet appetites at Lora Lee's Lunch Box, which will offer sandwiches, sodas, chili and soups.
A tour of the site and more information are available online at www.anantiqueaffair.com.
Just down the street, artist Theo Edmonds' Hillbilly Chic Studio, located in a portion of the renovated Old Tarr distillery at 903 Manchester Street, will continue an exhibit that opened on Nov. 2, as well as an exhibit of his own works. Edmonds is a driving force behind the recruitment of artists looking for production space. Others said to be considering the area include Lexington's Seth Tuska.
A "Distillery District Art Market" featuring sales of art as well as arts-related products is planned for the entire weekend in the parking lot across the street from Edmonds' studio. Approximately 40 spaces will be available for rent at $25 per day with vendors responsible for providing their own tables and tents, Edmonds said.
And the homegrown, improvisational music of LexJam will provide background from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the afternoon of Nov. 10. The community jam session launched in January is making its Manchester Street debut after recently relocating from the Lexington Center. Players and vocalists of all levels of proficiency and genres are invited to drop by, sign up and sit in for a few tunes.
While the "big picture" for Manchester Street remains uncertain as property owners and would-be developers await the outcome of the city's TIF process, the district seems to be awakening with an uncontrived energy inspired by individuals sharing a common interest in improving Lexington's cultural scene and nightlife.
In the past year, the annual balls of the UK College of Design and LexArts were staged in the Old Tarr Distillery warehouse. Sites on the street were featured on the Downtown Development Authority's annual tour. More recently, the Old Tarr warehouse was the scene of the Anheuser-Busch Halloween party and Ace Magazine's annual Bachelor Auction. Artist Edmonds launched "Cool Rooster First Friday" on Nov. 2, featuring, in addition to his own live art performance, the works of 12 women artists of varying nationalities, ages and artistic focus; silent art auctions for Hope Center's Recovery Program for Women and Lexington's School for the Creative and Performing Arts; music by Two Sisters and Sons; tap performances by Diane Evans Dance Studio; and performers from Lexington's School for the Creative and Performing Arts.
Also coming soon to the Old Tarr warehouse is a monthly concert series now being organized by local civic activists Griffin Van Meter and Vitale Buford operating as Creative Downtown, LLC.
"We're looking into subcontracting all of the services such as security, alcohol sales, design and production. It will be (ages) 18 and up so we can attract better bands," said Buford. Plans call for the installation of a sound system as well as acoustic and dècor design. Buford and Van Meter said they hope to schedule the first show for January 2008."