"For so much important Lexington history to be concentrated in one of the city's more desolate areas struck developer Barry McNees as both a travesty and an opportunity. After all, it takes a fertile imagination to envision anything culturally valued, visually pleasing and socially attractive in the unappealing stretch of Lexington's Manchester Street between Cox and Forbes. But then, McNees, principal broker for Limestone Realty, has just such an imagination.
"I see Manchester as both a landmark destination and an arts and entertainment amenity for downtown," he said. "The entire corridor, from east to west, represents good possibilities, particularly looking toward a bigger and more cohesive vision of what an under-utilized area can be."
Early on, the Winchester native's idea won the investment support of an interesting cast of family characters. Among them are former White House advance man and National Park Service Director Ron Walker; author Anne Walker; McNees's wife, Lynne, who is president of the International Spa Association managed by Host Communications; and Stephen Hart, a leader in the Small Business Administration. He is now working on assembling an expanded investment group to help secure the future of what would come to be known as the "Distillery District," a concept taking cues from the Toronto historic district of the same name, which can be viewed online at www.thedistillerydistrict.com.
The Manchester corridor recently was re-zoned as "industrial mixed use" (IMU) to accommodate variety in its next life. "It's really opening up a door for Lexington to allow a new type of environment and a new type of activity," noted Harold Tate, the Downtown Development Authority president who has been at the forefront of Lexington's urban transformation. "It also allows us to take these really fantastic old buildings and give them new lives that people now don't see when they drive down that corridor."
Located directly adjacent to a key downtown section of the planned Newtown Pike extension and anchored by the historic buildings that originally housed the 19th century Old Tarr Distillery on its east end, and to the west the J.E. Pepper Distillery, once billed as the world's largest bourbon distillery, the corridor is steeped in Lexington history. Names associated with the district and its once-flourishing distilleries are of the familiar and prominent variety. They include Clay, Stoll, Cox, Greenbaum, McDowell, Headley, Lail, Kinkead and Chenault. And among them are John McMurty, the architect who designed and/or built the Lexington Cemetery gatehouse; the octagonal building at the Red Mile known as Floral Hall, Christ Church Episcopal, The Wellington Arms apartment building and many area homes on the National Registry of Historic Places. Also associated with the Pepper operations was J. Hull Davidson, owner of the Phoenix Hotel and a former Lexington mayor (1893-95.) Indeed, distiller Pepper is credited with inventing the world renowned "Old Fashioned" and "Bourbon and Branch" cocktails — the latter a direct reference to the Town Branch of the Elkhorn River, which runs through downtown Lexington and alongside the Manchester distilleries.
The district's rebirth is already visible. Work is underway to breathe new life into the easternmost property in the corridor. "There is a deliberate celebration of the Historic Old Tarr Distillery as the centerpiece," said architect Clive Pohl. "The retail pieces on either side will make deferential reference to it by using the same materials and color scheme and yet they are contemporary, forward-looking storefronts. This offers a counterpoint to the historic building without being nostalgic and provides an energetic pedestrian experience."
For many, a Saturday afternoon outing may soon begin with a stop for lunch, shopping and a stroll along Manchester Street before continuing on a route that becomes Old Frankfort Pike, one of the region's most important scenic routes. "We envision a corridor that slows vehicular traffic, encourages pedestrian use and contributes to the ever-widening awareness about the importance and viability of green building solutions," Pohl explained. "The corridor should offer an invigorating array of alternatives for urban life in Lexington: live-work environments for artists, destination galleries, restaurants, and boutiques for visiting consumers, and user-friendly outdoor environments that speak about a love of place. With the Town Branch Trail winding through Manchester, we have a unique opportunity to realize this vision."
To enhance the visual experience, McNees has approached LexArts, where he found a receptive president and CEO Jim Clark. "I am assembling a few walls scattered around downtown on which we can commission artists to create wall paintings/murals," Clark said. "Based on my conversations with Barry and his desire to make Manchester Street a creative corridor, it seemed that this kind of public art project would help call attention to the potential of this very urban and overlooked site."
Referring to the site of the former Pepper Distillery, McNees said, "We're not only working with the current owners to help stabilize its warehouse operations, but we're also financially partnering with an engineer, architects, various UK alumni, and local business owners to knit together what is now a 15-acre footprint with over six acres of historic buildings under one roof. Brown Forman has been a great resource, and their Woodford Reserve is an inspiring example of how we can lift up our bourbon heritage. We're reaching out to them for support on going from a good idea to a great Lexington destination."
McNees said that in addition to creating a neighborhood with an interesting and genuine street vibe, he also wants to provide an affordable alternative in a downtown where expensive loft apartments are now emerging. "And by 'alternative,' I mean something that offers a new price point for artists in the area, for creative retail, opportunities for live-work spaces," he explained. "We're adapting older buildings to be able to create something that, while not necessarily affordable in the context of low and moderate income housing, is an alternative to higher cost loft space available only for purchase. We want to provide creative rental opportunities by re-adapting unique spaces. A lot of people want to live downtown, but not everyone can afford to purchase downtown. What we want to do is complement the other new buildings going in. I think those are vital, but we want to create a viable alternative for folks who want to bring their energies to downtown but right now have very few options."
"What I think is missing from the arts community in Lexington is working space," suggested UK College of Design Dean David Mohney. "We have a Downtown Arts Center and there are a few other venues where we can view the finished product, but what you don't see, with the exception of Gallery Soliel, is the kind of 'art-in-progress' sort of studios with people working on something. That's the great opportunity with this site. It's perfect for a kind of vibrant, ongoing making-of-art in the community, not just the presentation of art."
Recasting the possibilities of the Manchester corridor as something more than a "cut-through" to New Circle Road will be incremental at first, said McNees, himself a UK graduate with degrees in English and political science. "The fresh vision of youth, the arts, and other creative energies will lead the way, and we want to open the doors."
A series of UK Design studios have studied the revitalization of the corridor and its historic bourbon structures. The fifth-year class of architecture/urban design professor Heinrich Schnoedt is studying the Pepper property and surrounds, with an exhibition planned for the end of the semester. And the annual Beaux-Arts Ball will be held at the Old Tarr Distillery at Pine and Manchester this April, with the J.E. Pepper Distillery under discussion as a site for 2008.
UK's Dean Mohney confirmed that UK is watching the project closely. "The attention is shifting toward downtown," he said. "There's the commitment to the KU building; we have our own downtown design center; and now our collaboration with the Downtown Development Authority. So sure, we'd look at any option that we thought would be in the city's interest as well as in the university's interest in terms of working together."
In the meantime, the project has the potential to alter popular perceptions of Lexington's history.
"At Christmas, we heard of a Wyoming bourbon aficionado who flew into Bluegrass Airport to visit the area distilleries," recalled McNees. "He was puzzled to find little local mention of bourbon, save for a wall map at the airport directing you elsewhere. We're lucky to have nearby treasures like Woodford Reserve, but wouldn't it be amazing to celebrate a Bluegrass trademark within eyeshot of Rupp Arena — in an intact 1930s distillery? It could be a tremendous opportunity for both 2010 and beyond."
If street names send a message about the history of a place, perhaps someday we'll see along with Man 'O War Boulevard and Aleysheba Way, Bourbon and Branch Lane?
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