Cityscape of Lexington, Kentucky
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Lexington's urban development patterns, confined within an urban growth boundary that protects its famed horse farms, includes greenbelts and expanse land between it and the surrounding towns. This has been done to preserve the heritage and land of the region's horse farms and the unique Bluegrass landscape, which brings millions of dollars to the city both in the way of the horse industry and tourism. Urban growth is also tightly restricted in the adjacent counties, with the exception of Jessamine County, with development only allowed inside existing city limits. Fayette county and all surrounding counties have minimum lot size requirements, which range from ten acres in Jessamine to fifty in Fayette, which prevents rural subdivisions and large homes with expanse yards from consuming the Bluegrass landscape.
Most of Lexington's growth has been historically concentrated south of the downtown because the farmland there was considered "replaceable," since it consisted more of tobacco farms than pastures for raising horses. As a result, more than 70% of today's population lives south of US 60. Until the mid-1990's, most of the growth occurred southwest of the downtown between US 68 (Harrodsburg Road) and KY 1974 (Tates Creek Road). Today, there is a considerable buildup to the Jessamine County line, leading new development towards the southeast along the Interstate 75 and US 60 (Winchester Road) corridor. Of the surrounding counties, growth is occurring the greatest along the counties to which Interstate 75 and US 27 crosses through, such as Scott County, Madison County and Jessamine County. Clark County and Woodford County are experiencing moderate growth, and Bourbon County is stagnant, with almost no growth.
In addition to rampant suburban growth, downtown Lexington is seeing a large building boom, with the revitalization of many historical structures and the construction of many new ones. Much of the development utilizes urban infill techniques such as the filling in of parking lots and high-density or out-of-character structures. Several new projects, such as South Hill Station Lofts and University Lofts, are taking advantage of now-disused tobacco warehouses along the South Broadway corridor.
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[edit] Downtown district
[edit] Major structures
Lexington is home to several major structures that define the city amidst the rolling farmlands of central Kentucky.
The PNC Bank Building, an eight story low-rise with gold tinted windows, is located at Vine Street and South Limestone. It opened in 1972, and was one of the first structures to be constructed along Vine Street after the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway's removal through the city center.
In 1976, the city became a focal point for entertainment and businesses alike when the Lexington Center opened at Vine, Main, High Streets and Braodway. Incorporating a convention center, Rupp Arena, a shopping mall, and the Hyatt Regency Hotel into one large development parcel, it was the largest development of its kind in the United States when it was completed.
In 1979, the 22 story Kincaid Towers high-rise at Vine and Broadway was completed. This modern structure would remain the tallest building in central Kentucky for the next eight years. Upon completion, it was home to Kentucky Central Insurance Companies, but today it houses Central Bank among other corporations [1].
In 1982, the World Trade Center and Radisson Plaza Hotel opened [2]. The World Trade Center is a 243,000 sq. ft. business complex [3]; the Radisson Plaza is a 250,000 sq. ft., 368 room hotel [4]. Two years later, the Woodlands, an upscale condominium project with a restaurant, was completed [2].
In 1987, the tallest structure in Lexington was completed. The Lexington Financial Center, a 410 feet, 30 floor high-rise that was completed on a site bounded by South Mill, Main and Vine Streets. It currently houses the regional headquarters of Fifth Third Bank among other financial institutions and is located between Main and Vine Street [5].
During that year, Park Plaza, a 202 unit[2] 22 story residential high-rise between Main and Vine Streets, adjacent to Phoenix Park and Upper Street, opened. It features an eight-story parking garage and is connected to the Lexington Public Library. Park Plaza was completed in 1987 [6] while the five story library was completed in 1988 [2]. It was constructed on the site of the former Phoenix Hotel that was demolished by Wallace Wilkinson for the World Coal Center. When that idea failed, he constructed what is now Park Plaza and the new Phoenix Park.
[edit] Other notable structures
In 1980, the Lexington Herald-Leader's new office and production plant was completed at the east end of downtown at Midland, Vine and East Main streets. The near-160,000 square foot facility is on a six-acre plot, with large windows that offers an interior glimpse at the massive printing presses and other industrial equipment.
In 1985, the Lexington Chamber of Commerce relocated to 330 East Main Street along what is now Rose Street [2]. The three-story glass and granite structure, completed for $2.1 million, was a construction project by the Webb Cos.; it was formerly a Kentucky Central Life Insurance Co. parking lot [7]. The West Vine Place office tower was also completed that year, featuring a polished granite facade along West Vine Street near the corner of South Limestone. During that year, renovations to an entire block of historic structures was completed; it was named Victorian Square and contains upscale restaurants, clothing shops, an art galleries [2].
The following year, Festival Market opened; today it is known as the Triangle Center. Originally envisioned as a shopping and dining complex, it now houses offices along with several restaurants and a coffee shop.
In 1987, developers announced that the former Ades Dry Goods Building at 249 East Main Street, was to become a mixed-use development parcel [2]. The "experiment in Manhattan-style living" cumulated with the renovation of the existing structure. Renovations began in January 1988 with a $1.2 million Urban Development Action Grant, with the city providing $240,000 towards the project; the remainder of the $5.7 million project was comprised of "bank loans and private equity." Retail space, now home to a catering service, located on the first floor, while professional offices were located on the second and third floors. Loft apartments were constructed on the fourth floor.
In February 1988, Goodwin Square opened at Main and Vine Streets [2]. A stately brick structure outlined in copper, it was constructed near the Woodlands, and features 35,000 sq. ft. of retail and 13,000 sq. ft. of professional office space.
[edit] Never completed
One major project that was only partially realized was the Lexington Transit Center development, which was to include a residential apartment structure on top between High and Vine Streets. Financing issues had tabled the project until fairly recently, when new discussions took place for a new apartment and retail complex at the same site. Another structure never completed in its original intent was the Galleria. It was a proposed 24 level glass skyscraper that would have included retail shops and offices [8]. It would have been constructed around the Blue Grass Shade Company at 124 South Mill and McAdams and Morford Drugs at 200 West Main Street. The project, initiated in 1983, was never constructed.
Another tabled project was the Ben Ali Apartments complex; financing issues had also killed the project. It is home to the Fayette County Courthouses today. Gameday Center was a fairly recent project that was planned to anchor the South Broadway corridor, however, land compatibility issues silenced this project.
The largest failed development was the World Coal Center. The Phoenix Hotel was demolished in preparation for the skyscraper, however, it was never constructed; for years a pile of rubble stood marking the site.
One odd project that was never completed was the Lexington Sky Bridge Plaza [9]. Proposed on October 11, 1984, it never progressed further than the design phases. Envisioned by two University of Kentucky professors, the civic space would have been located 14.5 feet above the Harrison Avenue viaduct (now Martin Luther King Drive), and would have included a bandstand for live music, an outdoor cafe with meeting space, and a display area for local art scene. It would have included provisions for an ice-skating rink. The facility would have been constructed on four concrete piers that extend upward from the existing viaduct with two steel trusses and concrete brace supports. It was loosely modelled after the Belvedere along Interstate 64 in Louisville, Kentucky and Fountain Square in Cincinnati, Ohio.
[edit] New development
With the price of land within the urban service boundary of Fayette County increasing due to the diminishing amount of developable plots, along with a resurgence in downtown living, several new projects are either in planning, under construction, or have already been finished.
Among the distinctive new developments along Main Street is the 500's on the Main located across from the Lexington Center and adjacent to Victorian Square. It is a residential and commercial project that will feature a tall sweeping spire and a clock, and will encompass an entire city square block. Included will be 10 penthouses, 54 loft condominiums, 12 retail stores, an urban grocery convenience store such as Trader Joe's [10], and a rooftop restaurant [11] [12].
The Fairmont on Main is within the 600 block of Main Street and are luxury townhouses. Construction began in 2004 and was completed in 2006 [11]. Across the street is NewPast on Main, an environmentally friendly loft project that follows the "EarthCraft" guidelines. The project features "sustainably manufactured materials, energy efficient systems, resource efficient building materials, geothermal heating and cooling, and passive solar design techniques." 14 new loft condominiums, 3 renovated lofts, and 1 gate house is part of this project [13].
Construction on Main+Rose is under way, which will feature 96 residential condominiums with 25,000 square feet for retail venture [11]. The site, at 337 East Main, was formerly the Downtown Motor Inn [2], abandoned in the mid 1980s. It was slated to become a Days Inn franchise [14].
[edit] Listed by height
| Building | Height | Floors | Year completed/projected | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Financial Center | 410 ft (125 m) | 26, revised to 30 | 1987 | Completed |
| World Coal Center | 41, revised to 25 | Never completed | ||
| Galleria | 24 | Never completed | ||
| Kincaid Towers | 333 ft (101.5 m) | 22 | 1979 | Completed |
| World Trade Center | Completed | |||
| Radisson Plaza | Completed | |||
| One Eleven | 24, revised to 22 | Never completed | ||
| Park Plaza Apartments | 24, revised to 22 | 1987 | Completed | |
| Gameday Center | 15, revised to 7 and then 10 | Never completed | ||
| Bel Ali Apartments | 12 | Never completed | ||
| West Vine Place | 9 | 1985 | Completed | |
| Woodlands | 9 | 1984 | Completed | |
| Nunn Building | 5 | , 2007 | Under renovations/Under construction | |
| 500's on the Main | 5 | Estimated 2007 | Under construction | |
| Main+Rose | 4 | Estimated 2007 | Under construction |
[edit] Chevy Chase district
The Chevy Chase district, centered around the intersection of East High, Euclid Avenue, and Fontaine Street, hosts a collection of small boutique shops, restaurants, and a television station. It contains notable structures such as the Ashland Plaza buildings and many stately homes, along with new development projects such as the Mark Lofts. Located at the corner of East High Street and Woodland Avenue, it will contain 36 units and ground-level offices and retail. Construction began in the summer of 2006 and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2007 [10].
The district is also home to one unique development project that was proposed but never constructed. The nine-story Chevy Plaza and Chevy Chase Plaza were to be located along East High Street at Euclid Avenue and South Ashland Avenue where WDKY-TV and numerous other shops are located at today. The $25 million project, proposed in March 1984, would have included residential and commercial spaces into a nearly two-block footprint [15].
[edit] "College town" district
[edit] New developments
Center Court is located within the College Town, Lexington district adjacent to the University of Kentucky and is geared towards university faculty and other professionals. It is a four floor commercial and residential development located along South Upper Street at Bolivar Street. Shelbourne Plaza, currently being constructed along South Broadway, will feature an urban grocery store. The project is not scheduled for completion until 2009, but will feature 230 residential units and 80,000 square feet of retail space [10].
[edit] University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky is home to many notable structures, including three high-rises. Major construction projects are underway or are being planned that includes a new hospital, School of Pharmacy building, and several new college structures.
The tallest of these is the 18 floor Patterson Office Tower. Constructed in 1968, it houses faculty offices, numerous conference rooms, and several computer labs. It was constructed over White Hall.
Kirwan Tower and Blanding Tower, part of the Kirwin-Blanding Complex, are two 23 level towers that house undergraduate students.
[edit] Trivia
- The Government Center parking garage, adjacent to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government building, is speculated to have been an office structure or a storage facility but later converted into a parking garage. The garage is estimated to be over 50 years old, and suffering from structural ailments, such as steel corrosion and other deterioration. The cost to repair the facility is between $1 million and $1.5 million [16]
[edit] Gallery
 The Main+Rose residential and commercial project at East Main Street, Rose Street and Elm Tree Lane in downtown Lexington. |
 Windows are now being installed on the 500's on the Main project along West Main Street. |
[edit] References
- ^ "Computer Controls Energy Flow." 14 Sept. 1980. Sunday Herald-Leader.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Berman, Michelle. "The road east new business, new life at the other end of Main." 27 Dec. 1987. Herald-Leader [Lexington]. 9 Nov. 2006.
- ^ "CBD (Central Business District) Office Properties." Webb Companies. 11 Nov. 2006 [1].
- ^ "Hotels Properties." Webb Companies. 11 Nov. 2006 [2].
- ^ "Lexington Financial Center." Emporis. 19 Oct. 2006 [3].
- ^ "Park Plaza Apartments." Emporis. 7 Nov. 2006 [4].
- ^ Gaines, John. "Webbs Announce Plans for 3-story Office Building." 27 Oct. 1984. Herald-Leader [Lexington]. 5 Dec. 2006.
- ^ Amann, Diane. "Proposed changes for downtown area." 11 July 1983. Herald-Leader [Lexington]. 16 Nov. 2006.
- ^ Davis, Merlene. "Architects design park to be built over viaduct." 11 Oct. 1984. Herald-Leader [Lexington]. 16 Nov. 2006.
- ^ a b Fortune, Beverly. "Grocers might return to downtown." 12 Oct. 2006. Herald-Leader [Lexington]. 3 Nov. 2006 [5].
- ^ a b c "Urban Life & Style tour 2005." Lexington Downtown Development Agency. 3 Nov. 2006 [6].
- ^ "Downtown." Schneider Designs Inc. 3 Nov. 2006 [7].
- ^ "NewPast." 3 Nov. 2006 [8].
- ^ Honeycutt, Valarie. "Projects large and small creating downtown Lexington of the future." 30 Nov. 1986. Herald-Leader [Lexington]. 10 Nov. 2006.
- ^ Gaines, John. "'Mid-rises' proposed in Chevy Chase area." 20 March 1984. Herald-Leader [Lexington]. 16 Nov. 2006.
- ^ Vos, Sarah. "Parking garage at Government Center is in 'fair to poor' shape, engineering report says." 3 Nov. 2006. Herald-Leader [Lexington]. 3 Nov. 2006 [9].
