A tipster reported that Spalding University has installed a construction fence at the site of an old gymnasium from 1938 slated for demolition and said the sidewalk and part of Breckinridge Street have been blocked. I already wrote an in-depth article about the gym and why it should be saved, but Spalding University has demonstrated little interest in historic preservation over the years.
Demolition is likely imminent and demonstrates a clear failure of creativity on the part of Spalding University. Library Lane could have been a great pedestrian corridor but with the destruction of this gym forming the gateway to the alley on Breckinridge, it will be much more difficult to create the quality of urban space that might have been. Spalding insists on arbitrarily creating green space without a clear plan and are in the process of transforming a quality urban campus into a nondescript accumulation of buildings. A loss for everyone.
Our tipster credits CART’s recent Operation Sidewalk Defense campaign for raising his awareness of blocked sidewalks and speculates if the fence remains in place for too long, there might be a similar rally help in the SoBro neighborhood.
I don't know if I have a problem with Spalding/Presentation tearing down this old outdated building for green space. Some people complain there isn't enough green space in inner-city neighborhoods and others complain if you want to tear down an old building. I am all for saving old buildings if there is some real history there, but this is just an old outdated gymnasium. I bet the students at Pres and Spalding would love some green space for eating, studying, and just plain hanging out. I went to JCC years ago and the only green space there was the courtyard in front of the old seminary building on Broadway and that wasn't much green space. Any other outdoor space was concrete. I would have loved something like Pres/Spalding is planning.
wow! what a great place for a Louisville History Museum!! Downtown, easy access, on a now-existent TARC line.