Center Point

[Come On already]

I cannot believe that there are people against the newly proposed high rise in downtown. While other cities similar in size or bigger would welcome new growth, they want to keep old run down buildings. Then they wonder why downtown is dead. Cincinnati is starting construction on what will be it's tallest building very soon, and are proud to do so. Take a look at all the new development in Atlanta. We Lexington to stand out and have an identity of something other than a small big city that has trouble attracting events etc... but we have those that want to hold it back. If it's the green space that they want they have PDR. There was even mention that 40 stories is too tall. With this kind of mindset Lexington will lose this development and possible future development. This building has a very attractive design, will bring in hundreds of jobs, bring more activity to downtown, and will give Lexington a new face to it's small skyline.

[The Voice]

A few problems with Centerpointe:

One...it's mostly unneeded. They want to bring hotel rooms, but the Hyatt and Radisson are rarely booked up...and this is going to probably cost both hotel chains downtown some jobs. They want to add condos to it, but the other condos in Lexington are having trouble selling (The initial lot of Main on Rose sold 70 of the 90 units, but of those 70, 40-50 are up for resale with no takers).

Two...they've asked for NO public input, and are completely ignoring the design standards set forth when the LFUCG obtained input from the public as to how downtown should be developed. Even after the initial public outcry, they did no research as to why there was an outcry.

Three...our sewer system is already stressed to the max. Add another hotel chain, and we're likely to face more EPA trouble.

Four...It's very sterile. It doesn't fit with the design of any other buildings around it. Alot of the public is afraid it'll end up as an eyesore, like the 5/3 building.

Five...this town just doesn't want to trust the Webbs, and with good reason. Most of the projects they undertake are massive failures. 5/3 and WTC still don't have all their floors filled, Victorian Square is just now starting to get people in it, and Festival Market (Now the Triangle Center) is a deserted disaster.

Six...they want to tear up some of the little greenspace we actually have downtown by putting a parking garage in the middle of Phoenix Park.

The potential for that block is huge...but this project just isn't the right fit. At least not in my eyes.

[Change Is Good]

I think this would be perfect for lexington.Some people are so stuck on Lexington being a small town setting,and thats ridiculous. Reason I say that is look at the problems now wit lexintgon. Lexington has nothing but fast food and retail, and another thing is that the traffic is terrible on new circle,why cant we make the two lanes to three lanes.For the second largest state in Ky we have nothing exciting for alot of people.For alot of people to be complaining about The centre point size, why didnt they think of that when the 5/3 or central bank buildings was built.

[AAA]

I agree with you, Change Is Good. There are so many little problems in this town that could be corrected and it would be so much better. Better timing on the traffic signals for one. How much gas is wasted sitting at a red light when there is no cross traffic? It happens to me every single day multiple times. Plus, Lextran needs to have more routes, more busses, and better planning to make it a viable alternative to owning a car.
Center Point is just the jump start this shithole needs to drag it screaming in the 21st century.

[Rob Snyder]

No one, I repeat, no one in Lexington is against the development of the Centre Pointe project in Lexington.

Some groups of people though have consistently asked for the project to be improved, by including at least a couple of the existing buildings on the block as part of the project (the Dame building and Rosenbergs), and some people, have asked that Lexington have higher standards for design generally.

These requests so far have been ignored, because the developer or the investors prefer, for some reason, to level the entire block, to erase any trace of the history of Lexington on the block, and for no good reason, since their project can easily and substantially be improved by inclusion of some renovation in the project.

[Jeminy Kriket]

It seems so simple: make the project a source of pride, not scorn -- make it accessible on the street level; make a home for the Farmers' Market; offer fabulous music venue; a home for art in the center of town -- and then make it beautiful and appropriate and with a reflection of the past and the future. But, rather than simplicity this project has been approached with arrogance and the bull-headed desire to do it the cheapest designed way possible. The same tower has been built across the country and across the world. Don't we at least deserve a uniquely suited building? There's already a ten YEAR backlog of unsold condominiums downtown -- we don't need anymore. The project is too tall and too unwieldly and just too ... average.

[hawkgt64]

I can't believe anyone would want to keep the slum that was there in place of this beautiful new proposal. I am from Lexington but moved away to Louisville many years ago. I recently had a chance to drive thru downtown, and I was very dismayed. It looked ragged and very worn. Lexington was a boom town in the 60's thru the 80's, then it just suddenly stopped. In someones brillance there was choice to limit growth, and Lexington put the brakes on. Needless to say other cities did not, and it shows today. This particular block is among the worst and should have gone a long time ago, good riddance! Lexington had the chance to vault ahead of Louisville but lost it. As anyone can see Nashville is not so shy and has vaulted ahead of asleep at the wheel Memphis. Lexington should wake up and smell the coffee if it is not already too late. By the way, the new low rise government center is a monstrosity, who dreamed this mess up?
Still there is still a lot to love about one of the most unigue cities in the USA.

[MYMY]

I AM NOT AGAINST DEVELOMPENT OF THE DOWNTOWN, ESPECIALLY WHEN DESIGNED AND INTENDED FOR THE BETTERMENT OF LEXINGTON, BUT I WILL DEFINATELY BE MISSING THE DAME AND BUSTERS. THIS TOWER MAY OFFER NEW ENTERTAINMENT TO REPLACE THEM, BUT AS WITH MOST NEW DEVELOPMENTS IT WILL PROBABLY BE OVER PRICED AND LACK THE ASTMOSPHER OF THE FORMERS.
THE DAME AND BUSTERS WILL BE MISSED.

[Just Thinking]

I'm not opposed to the Center Point project proposed for downtown Lexington, but I do question the way in which it was presented to the residents of Lexington. It seems sneaky and suspicious. If it is such a good thing for this city, why was so much planned before asking for any input?

It seems to me that the Webb's are trying to bully the city with threats of "taking away aspects of the buidling that would benefit us". I would prefer to see a spirit of cooperation to make this a building that Lexington could really be proud of and use for many years to come.

Why not incorporate the new city government building into it? This could help Lexington greatly by saving money on another (much needed) building project and ensure the new building was occupied. Why not make use of some solar power? Why not incorporate a method of catching rain water for an irrigation system?

There are many features that could be planned to enhance this proposed new addition to downtown. Why not take this opportunity to make it the best addition possible?

[Renaldo P]

I think any kind of new development is a good thing for a city, I moved to KY in 01 and had come to Lexington on many occasions and did not find it to offer much. So I moved to Louisville and found that city to be thriving. I relocated to Lexington for other reasons in 2008, and still find it to be very bleak. Someone mentioned Lex Tran, YES !!!! needs to offer more routes within the city and surrounding counties. I ride the system often and find that you have to walk such a far distance to reach your destination. They focus on key points to drop and pick up passengers. Louisville's public system runs buses on major routs well beyond the midnight. If I wanted to take in a late movie which I tend to do, I have to invest into a $20.00 cab ride home. There are ways Lex Tran can fund the additional hours and routes. I am from NYC, 24 hrs of Local transportation throughout. GROWTH for Lexington will only happen when you can attract folks who see it as a place to come and have a great time with venues and 21st century thinking. KY is known for a hand full of things Football, Horse racing, Bourbon, Derby. Lets welcome change and diversity into this city to help fund a forward moving city.

[notashill]

Wow, I see we have some shills from the Webb brothers here. Hey fellaz, there are LOTS of people against that eyesore you have proposed. Nobody is for it who doesn't have money invested in it already. While I'm sure you guys would love to delude yourselves into thinking this is something we need and want, it also was fought heavily in council(who appear to need to be investigated at this point to see why they wouldn't listen to the citizens).

Now, it's a big hole sitting in the middle of town and since the economy just tanked nothing is being done.

Webb brothers venture = utter failure for our city. That's been the outcome for years and years.

[lexkyguyRN]

no matter what happens the Webb brothers will come out for the better and everone else the city and everone else that has any dealings with them will come out short on this deal just like everything else they have done here in lexington and ever other place they have any dealings with get nothing

[Kim]

This has been my home my entire life and I have to let those of you who have moved here and think you know something about Lexington that you are absolutely wrong. Lexington did not extend outside the circle when I was young. Outside of the circle were vast beautiful green rolling hills with HORSES on them. I know this is shocking to those of you not from here, but this is the horse capital of the WORLD, not just the state.

Lexington needs to stop growing. It is a terrible eyesore to drive around and see asphalt where fencing once stood. Believe me, there are enough condos and cookie cutter houses that can be traded around for new section 8 housing for years to come. We do NOT want to look like Louisville. Who wants to go home to have to drive around with your windows rolled up and doors locked all over town. We are a city based on tradition. Revitalize downtown but don't turn us into NYC with a cement phallus on every corner, the blue one we already have is enough.

[hawkgt64]

A big hole is far better than what was there, Ugh! Those who long for a Lexington of a bygone era that did not go out beyond the circle are also themselves remnants of the past. For our sake, and generations ahead, you better hope for growth and prosperity - time waits for no man - and no city!

[tina]

hawkgt64 wrote:

A big hole is far better than what was there, Ugh! Those who long for a Lexington of a bygone era that did not go out beyond the circle are also themselves remnants of the past. For our sake, and generations ahead, you better hope for growth and prosperity - time waits for no man - and no city!

so we are going to let thieves and robbers build out city the webbs are nothing but a bunch of thieves

[owl head]

For those of you who oppose Centre Point I have one simple suggestion, go buy the property and do what ever the hell you want with it. At one point we were a free country and had private property rights.

The other point I would like to make is that most people who oppose Centre Point have never taken a risk in their lives. Step up to the plate, invest your own money, and sign on the line for tens of millions of dollars. The Webb's, like them or not, are greatly improving what was nothing more than a block of buildings that should have already been condemed.

[Fresh Jive]

I grew up in Lexington, went to high school and college here and have always thought Lexington was a great town. After graduating from UK I wanted to stay and work in Lexington, but there were no viable opportunities here. So I decided to take a job in Charlotte, NC and lived/worked there for 5 years. Recently I was fortunate enough to get a job that allowed me to move my family back to Lexington. I'm sad to say Lexington has not changed much since I left, but there seems to be some movement to get Lexington out of the rut it has been in for 20+ years.
Centre Point is a great concept and one that should be embraced by this city. It could spur a lot of positive growth for Lexington and the surrounding counties. People need to get over their issues with the Webb brothers, at least they are trying to get something going in this town. Downtown Lexington is a drab looking city because all the building already look the same. It needs a major overhaul, starting with getting rid of the overhead power lines.
This town needs to support the growth of downtown or any future growth will be spread out over the area which means all the horse farms will be gone. Downtown needs to be a place where people can go out to eat, get their groceries, see UK play, etc. Right now there is no reason to go downtown besides work. Centre Point will help push that movement forward.
Get on board or get the hell out

[Booze MOnsTer]

Hey... When are they going to put something in that big pit they put out front my office? I hope they put something there... maybe a parking lot or something. That'd be better than the pit that is there now. Here's a great story with an update of the centerpoint fiasco http://boozemonster.blogspot.com/2009/02/cent...

[Anthony]

When I first heard of this project I was estatic. I moved to Lexington from South Eastern Kentucky (small town). As a child when we would visit Lexington...I always wanted to live in Lexington. Kentucky is home for me and always will be. I have traveled all over the US and then I come back here and begin to get depressed. This project will definately begin yet again to take us into the 21st century. I am excited that the small town feel will leave this town temporarily. Lexington needs more projects like this. It makes us competitive to the rest of the area's larger cities, which is a good thing. Hence it will bring jobs and visitors to our beautiful city. Lexington has so much potential but few to have the drive to clean up downtown from the hum drum look it currently has. A vibrant downtown tells us what the rest of the city is like. Currently its so blah blah, that to do anything fun or entertaining you have to go to Louisville or Cincinnati, or even fly to another larger city. I am on board for this project and welcome the change.

[SOMEONE WHO Knows u]

The Voice wrote:

A few problems with Centerpointe:
One...it's mostly unneeded. They want to bring hotel rooms, but the Hyatt and Radisson are rarely booked up...and this is going to probably cost both hotel chains downtown some jobs. They want to add condos to it, but the other condos in Lexington are having trouble selling (The initial lot of Main on Rose sold 70 of the 90 units, but of those 70, 40-50 are up for resale with no takers).
Two...they've asked for NO public input, and are completely ignoring the design standards set forth when the LFUCG obtained input from the public as to how downtown should be developed. Even after the initial public outcry, they did no research as to why there was an outcry.
Three...our sewer system is already stressed to the max. Add another hotel chain, and we're likely to face more EPA trouble.
Four...It's very sterile. It doesn't fit with the design of any other buildings around it. Alot of the public is afraid it'll end up as an eyesore, like the 5/3 building.
Five...this town just doesn't want to trust the Webbs, and with good reason. Most of the projects they undertake are massive failures. 5/3 and WTC still don't have all their floors filled, Victorian Square is just now starting to get people in it, and Festival Market (Now the Triangle Center) is a deserted disaster.
Six...they want to tear up some of the little greenspace we actually have downtown by putting a parking garage in the middle of Phoenix Park.
The potential for that block is huge...but this project just isn't the right fit. At least not in my eyes.

this is the best Post i have read on this issue.