Autumn in Lexington is hard to beat. The beauty of spring and summer culminate in a fall that makes us famous. I hope you enjoy it.
Ashland Park Historic Overlay
At the most recent Planning Commission meeting, commission members heard the Ashland Park Neighborhood Association’s request to create an H-1 historic designation for the South Hanover area to go along with the National Register designation dating from 1986. The hearing was well attended and was a place where divergent opinions on the same subject were presented in a positive atmosphere. While not everyone received the outcome they desired, those who spoke represented the neighborhood in the most positive light.
After commission consideration, the proposed H-1 was approved by a 7-4 vote and will now be forwarded to the full council for final consideration. When the issue arrives before the council, I will do all I can to facilitate a convenient hearing time to benefit those who wish to attend. Further, as a property owner in the proposed district, when the hearing time arrives I will have to recuse myself from voting. However, I will advocate for the district as much as the law department will allow me. This Olmstead-designed neighborhood developed by Henry Clay’s descendants will be a welcome addition to Lexington’s other historic districts.
Good Road Ahead
Recently the council began the approval process for a $13-million bond issue to cover part of the $26 million needed for city-wide paving. This will be the first time the council will use gas tax money from the state to make bond payments. It will also be the first large bond issue within the last two years for anything other than our pension obligations. When the details are firmed up, I will let you know them here.
Chevy Change
During the final Budget and Finance Committee meeting to allocate the Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) funds, I was able to secure from the council $31,500 toward the pedestrian safety project in Chevy Chase at the intersection of High Street and Euclid Avenue. The vast majority of these funds – $1 million to be exact – were lent to 21c for the new hotel’s use in conversion of the old Security Trust building to a 90-room boutique hotel in downtown Lexington. This is a landmark project for Lexington and would not have been possible without the leadership of our art expert and mayor, Jim Gray.
The UDAG funds for Chevy Chase combined with $3,500 set aside by the Corridors Commission make up the engineer’s estimate of $5,000 to redraw the Chevy Chase intersection. This area will rely, for now, on new paving and paint for $30,000 instead of the actual $6-million cost for the streetscape redesign as originally envisioned during that planning process.
While I am still committed to the greater long term goal, and several of you have indicated you too stand ready to contribute, what this does is give pedestrians a better chance for safety now, much sooner rather than later. With the Kentucky Department of Transportation’s help for re-signalization and their regular thermal striping package, as well as from Chevy Chase Plaza’s Steve Caller for storm water work in front of McAlister’s, the detail work has begun. In order, we will first work on the intersection improvements for pedestrian safety. Second, paving and striping Euclid Avenue to match and extend bicycle lanes to Fontaine Road. Third, we will repave and stripe up to Cochran Road, and lastly around to South Ashland Avenue.