1 downtown lexington: 1964 – 2009 …45 years of change by: helm roberts aia architect/planner...

1

Downtown Lexington: 1964 – 2009

…45 years of change

By:By:

Helm Roberts Helm Roberts AIAAIA

Architect/Architect/PlannerPlanner

Lexington, KYLexington, KY

Downtown Lexington… 45 years of change 2

1964…as it was1964…as it was

A Diverse Commercial AreaA Diverse Commercial Area

Lots of Lots of People People

Activity... Activity... Pedestrian Pedestrian

OrientedOriented

The GOODThe GOOD


Railroad Railroad Blocks Blocks Main at Main at MidlandMidland

Broadway and Broadway and Vine Railroad, Vine Railroad,

Industry and Industry and WarehousingWarehousing

Train Tie-up on LimestoneTrain Tie-up on Limestone

The BADThe BAD


Overhead WiresOverhead Wires

Billboard Wall SignsBillboard Wall SignsBillboard Wall SignsBillboard Wall Signs

SignSign““Jungles”Jungles”

…and the UGLY

…and the UGLY


MainMainB

roadw

ay

Bro

adw

ay

Bro

adw

ay

Bro

adw

ay

ShortShort

VineVine

High

The Way it Was....1965 Flying along Vine Street

The Way it Was....1965 Flying along Vine Street

Flour MillFlour Mill WarehouseWarehousess

RailroaRailroadd

WarehouseWarehousess


Bro

adw

ay

Bro

adw

ay

Bro

adw

ay

Bro

adw

ay

MainMain

Vine/RRVine/RR

Up

per

The Central Core of Downtown

The Central Core of Downtown

Mill

Mill RailroadRailroad

Court HouseCourt House


Bro

adw

ay

Main

Vine/RR

Upper

MainMain

Up

per

Up

per

Lim

esto

ne

Lim

esto

ne

Phoenix

K.U.K.U.

ShorShortt

Upper and Limestone StreetsUpper and Limestone Streets

1st Security1st Security


MainMainMainMain

Harr

ison

Harr

ison

WolfWolf Wile

ShortShortShortShort

Lafayette HotelLafayette Hotel

Waln

uW

aln

utt

Esplanade AreaEsplanade Area

Esp

lan

ad

Esp

lan

ad

eeEsp

lan

ad

Esp

lan

ad

eeSearsSears


MainMain

South

east

er

South

east

er

nnShortShort

VineVine

Midland/RR

Midland/RR

Herald Leader

East EndEast End

Thoroughbred Park

RailroadRailroad

10

How did it Start?The Beginning of a Downtown

Plan


AIA Downtown Design Group Study - 1964

AIA Downtown Design Group Study - 1964

Volunteer Volunteer EffortEffort

Supported by Supported by Planning Planning CommissionCommission

Eleven Eleven Architects and Architects and Landscape Landscape Architects Architects Involved + Involved + Planning Planning Commission Commission StaffStaff

Volunteer Volunteer EffortEffort

Supported by Supported by Planning Planning CommissionCommission

Eleven Eleven Architects and Architects and Landscape Landscape Architects Architects Involved + Involved + Planning Planning Commission Commission StaffStaff


Illustrative Development PlanIllustrative Development Plan


Proposed Street Plan Proposed Street Plan

ExpresswayExpressway

SeconSecondd

SeconSecondd

Bro

ad

wa

Bro

ad

wa

yyB

road

wa

Bro

ad

wa

yy

Rose

Rose

Rose

Rose

Downtown ExpresswaySecond Street Parkway

Main Street 2-wayVine/High One-way Pair


Detailed Area PlansDetailed Area Plans


Near Northside Area Plan

Near Northside Area PlanDeep BlocksDeep Blocks


Original “Westside” Area Plan - 1965

Original “Westside” Area Plan - 1965

MainMain

VineVine

Versailles Rd.

Versailles Rd.


Adopted by Adopted by Planning Planning CommissionCommission

Incorporated Incorporated many many proposals of proposals of the AIA the AIA “Design “Design Plan”Plan”

DowntownPlanDowntownPlan

18

“Urban Renewal” - 1970


Urban Renewal, The “Money Tree”Urban Renewal, The “Money Tree” Federal Program, Nix(on)ed in 1972Federal Program, Nix(on)ed in 1972 How the Projects are FinancedHow the Projects are Financed

The Urban Renewal ProgramSurvey and Pl anni ng 100, 000$ Property Acqui si t i on 4, 000, 000$ Rel ocat i on 300, 000$ Demol i t i on 1, 000, 000$ Publ i c I mprovements 5, 000, 000$ Local Admi ni strat i on 500, 000$ Gross Proj ect Cost 10, 900, 000$ Land Sal e Proceeds 2, 500, 000$ Net Proj ect Cost 8, 400, 000$ Federal Grant (90%)90% 7, 560, 000$ Local Share 840, 000$ (May be State Funds)


Rupp Arena added to project for local support.Rupp Arena added to project for local support.

One-Way Pair

One-Way Pair

Main/Vine: One-way PairMain/Vine: One-way Pair Triangle Park CreatedTriangle Park Created

Proposed “Civic Center”Proposed “Civic Center”

Proposed Rupp ArenaProposed

Rupp Arena

Triangle Park

Triangle Park

21

The Urban Renewal Project in Progress


Demolition

Demolition

1968 – The Beginning


First Projects - 1973First Projects - 1973

Vine Street

First Securit

y

Citizens Bank


Rupp Arena – 1975Rupp Arena – 1975


Lexington Center Completed – 1980

Lexington Center Completed – 1980


Festival MarketFestival Market


Vine Center

Vine Center


Victorian Square

Victorian Square

19701970

Interior


Financial Center

Financial Center


Phoenix Park

Phoenix Park

Public LibraryPublic Library

Park Plaza Apartments

Phoenix ParkPhoenix Park


Courthouse Square

Courthouse Square


19801980

19651965

Pedestrian Bridges Proposed

Pedestrian Bridges Proposed


Pedestrian Bridges Completed by 2002

Pedestrian Bridges Completed by 2002


Phoenix Park

Financial Center

FountainsFountains

Triangle Park

35

Where are we?......

Can you Can you guess guess where where these next these next photos photos were taken?were taken?

This is a Test!


Main at Broadway, Triangle ParkMain at Broadway, Triangle Park


Triangle Park toward Victorian Square

Triangle Park toward Victorian Square


Victorian Square, Broadway at Main

Victorian Square, Broadway at Main


Victorian Square, Broadway Facade

Victorian Square, Broadway Facade


Broadway at MainBroadway at Main


Broadway at HighBroadway at High


Vine at LimeVine at Lime


Lime at Vine/RRLime at Vine/RR

20022009


Vine at Lime, Looking WestVine at Lime, Looking West2002

2009


High at LimeHigh at Lime


Broadway at Triangle ParkBroadway at Triangle Park


East Vine from Viaduct East Vine from Viaduct


Vine to the West

Vine to the West


High at MillHigh at Mill

20022009


Main to WestMain to West

51

The Last 5 years… A residential explosion


Since 2002: New ResidentialSince 2002: New Residential


New Residential… Last 7 years

New Residential… Last 7 years

33rdrd St. St.

22ndnd St. St.

RupRuppp

MaxwellMaxwell

EuclidEuclid

VineVine

HighHigh

Newtown 2010

Newtown 2010

Ver

saill

es

Ver

saill

es

MainMain

New

tow

n P

ike

New

tow

n P

ike

Rose

Rose

Bro

ad

way

Bro

ad

way

Up

per

Up

per

Lim

esto

ne

Lim

esto

ne

54

What are today’s Downtown Issues?

Where do we go from here?

Government Center?Government Center? Financial Center?Financial Center? Shopping, Convenience Stores?Shopping, Convenience Stores? More Downtown Living?More Downtown Living? Traffic, Parking / 2-Way Streets?Traffic, Parking / 2-Way Streets? Pedestrian / Bike Paths?Pedestrian / Bike Paths? Amenities: Events, Parades, BG 10k? Amenities: Events, Parades, BG 10k? Other Issues?Other Issues?


““The best way to predict the The best way to predict the future is to future is to inventinvent it.” it.”

Alan Kay

““The best way to predict the The best way to predict the future is to future is to inventinvent it.” it.”

Alan Kay

““Those who cannot remember the Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat past are condemned to repeat it.”it.”

George Santayana

““Those who cannot remember the Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat past are condemned to repeat it.”it.”

George Santayana

Our Past … and Our FutureOur Past … and Our Future


Questions…Comments?Questions…Comments?

1 downtown lexington: 1964 – 2009 …45 years of change by: helm roberts aia architect/planner...

Documents

downtown lexington

main slide

security slide

high slide

lime slide

beginning slide

ky slide

ugly slide