Raining On The Iron Quarter

Oct 1, 2008

The remainder of Main Street between First and Second Streets to the east of the recently announced O’Shea’s project and the hot-off-the-presses Whiskey Row Lofts is still slated to be… planned to be… hoped to be… the Iron Quarter, the project with the biggest entrance onto the development scene followed by the quickest retreat. The buildings comprising the Iron Quarter will be torn down (except for those facades, mind you) if the project goes through, so a leaky roof slowly eating away at the interior and structure of the buildings should be no biggie… right?

Problem is, after the University of Louisville spurned the project for its new Graduate School of Business instead running over to the Museum Plaza, it’s looking more and more like Humana’s decision where to expand its downtown offices will be the make-it-or-break-it moment. The Iron Quarter does have location ostensibly on its side as it’s located next door to Humana’s riverside campus, but the carrot the insurance giant is dangling in front of developers has spawned oh so many proposals for office towers in the area that a few will get their hearts broken.

The base of the Iron Quarter faces an uphill battle as well for retailers. Cobalt Ventures, the development force behind the proposal, wants to see upscale retailers new to the Louisville market sign up for the building. They envision a sort of tiny urban mall around an atrium that brings to mind a miniature Time Warner Center in the Big Apple. That’s going to be a challenging aspect of the project, but one that could really set Louisville’s urban core apart from its peer cities and create a real retail destination.

If the project for some reason falls through, that leaky roof will become a major pain. In the event that a “facade-ectomy” won’t be part of the future plans of the site, a weakened and water damaged interior will make redevelopment even more difficult.

Market Street Rebuild Finishing Dormers

By Branden Klayko -

Oct 1, 2008

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The three-story row building on East Market Street near Shelby Street has been tearing itself apart and building itself back up over the last year. Before the massive renovation, the building’s brick facade was bowing out over the sidewalk hinting at possible collapse. The wall was carefully dismantled by hand and rebuilt brick by brick. A new roof with dormers appeared as part of the project, two on the front and one large dormer on the back.

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This week an EIFS coating was being applied to the formers giving them some extra, albeit styrofoam, detail. There’s still a ways to go on the renovation work, mostly on the interior and storefront, but so far it’s looking good. The structures along this stretch of Market Street date back to the 1870s and represent an austere southern vernacular style represented by simple limestone columns and lintels and little or no ornament. It’s good to see another building near collapse brought back to useful life.

[Editor’s Note: Per the discussion happening in the comments, added a photo of the old Bainbridge Row once located near Seventh Street and Jefferson Street. The new dormers on this structure were apparently modeled from those on the old row houses. (3-3-2009)]

East Market Electric Pole Art

Design

By Branden Klayko -

Oct 1, 2008

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Tiny colorful rectangles have been attached to electric poles along East Market Street. Maybe these mini-artworks have been around a while and eluded our camera or maybe they are new for this Friday’s Trolley Hop? You tell us. One of the electric pole artworks situated in front of the NuLu Green Building is actually a solar powered light box.

Morning News Roundup

By Broken Sidewalk -

Oct 1, 2008

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Bike Production (Diagram by the Economist)

Transportation

Cyclist in critical condition after being hit by van (Fox 41)
Bike production outpacing car production (Economist)
Mayor’s complaint ends in damaged bike rack (Ville Voice)

Continue

Bank Shot Billiards Property For Sale

By Branden Klayko -

Sep 30, 2008

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The family-owned Bank Shot Billiards Bar, Cafe, and Pro Shop, long known as one of the best places to shoot a game of pool in Louisville, will soon be closing its doors. The business at the corner of Market Street and Preston Street has placed its half-acre property on the market for $1.5 million and hopes for a suitable buyer to turn the historic German Security Bank into a landmark for the Louisville community.

The Greek-revival limestone building dates to 1911 when the German Security Bank opened a branch to serve the growing German population in Louisville. The Ionic columns on the facade stand in front of a once all-glass wall looking into the marble-lined 30-foot tall interior. Great chandeliers hung from an ornate ceiling and one of the largest vaults for the time west of New York City sits in the back of the building. A suspended acoustical tile ceiling hides the former glory of the old bank, but original details abound throughout the building.

The structure encompasses a total of 7,600 square feet on two levels. The first floor measures about 4,100 square feet and the basement covers another 3,500. The for sale sign on the side of the building has generated a flurry of phone calls from a diverse group of interests from speculative buyers to interests ranging from a hotel to professional offices. The owners feel building is perfectly suited towards a grand restaurant. Still no buyer has yet been found.

The property includes vacant land on both sides of the old bank which can hold up to 37 vehicles during baseball games at the nearby Slugger Field. The building is located in the downtown form district, however, so parking requirements are waived, making a more dense, urban proposal more feasible. The building also qualifies for many historic tax credits that can offset the cost of redevelopment. With the construction of so many urban buildings in the area, it would be great to see the urban edge continued east with new structures built on the vacant land.

Interestingly, in 1918, the bank removed the word “German” from its name reflecting national sentiments during World War I, and was subsequently known simply as “Security Bank.” Anti-German sentiments ran strong in Louisville during this time. In addition to many businesses changing their names, German books were removed from the Louisville Free Public Library and many German street names were changed.

While it is certainly regrettable to lose a downtown landmark like Bank Shot Billiards, the family realized current levels of downtown development meant their property was more valuable than it has been in a long time. The business will likely be open for some time, possibly until the property is purchased, but the owners seem optimistic about the prospects of the Security Bank in future of Louisville.

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Video: Alternative Transportation: TARC raps about bikes

By Branden Klayko -

Sep 30, 2008

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Backseat Sandbar recently posted this gem of a video made by TARC to demonstrate how to use those handy bike racks on the front of their buses. The song and dance are performed by Mr. Theo and the TARCettes. It’s evidently been around a while, but it’s new to us, and just too good to pass up.

Development Watch: Wright-Taylor Building

By Branden Klayko -

Sep 30, 2008

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Stabilization of the Wright-Taylor Building on Fourth Street near Chestnut Street is, for the most part, complete. City Properties Group purchased the two-story building along with the adjacent Henry Clay building in 2005 from the City of Louisville for $850,000 and has since successfully renovated both properties.

The Tudor Revival–style commercial building dates to 1928 and was likely built for the Wright & Taylor distillery, makers of Old Charter Bourbon, who are known to have had offices in the vicinity in the 1920s. The building has been vacant for nearly two decades, but with a newly restored facade and the resurgence of the Fourth Street corridor brought about by the Henry Clay among other projects, the building shouldn’t be vacant for much longer.

In 2006, an upscale Japanese steakhouse called Kaiwa Moru (meaning “Ocean Ring”) was signed to operate a giant restaurant filling the entire two-story space. The restaurant was the brainchild of Ray & Dee Balmorez who operate Jeffersonville-based Kobe Steakhouse. Plans called for an atrium with a giant sailboat doubling as a sushi bar, fountains reflecting its ocean theme, and outdoor balconies on the second level for additional dining. In all, the restaurant would seat around 400 and cover all of the structure’s 13,500 square feet. Plans for the restaurant fell through and another tenant has not yet been found. Kobe Steakhouse still displays Kaiwa Moru as “Coming Soon” on their website, but it appears it hasn’t been updated in a while.

City Properties Group, headed by Bill Weyland, has already signed a diverse retail selection for the Henry Clay, including Road to Morocco, Kentucky Backroads, Dooley’s Bagels & Deli, and the Bunbury Theater. Weyland is interested in creating a lively street atmosphere filled with shops and restaurants that enhance urban living. Rumors arose earlier in the year that CPG was planning to move their offices from 8th Street to the Wright-Taylor Building but those have proven to be false. Weyland is more concerned with finding the right tenant than an easy spot for offices. The space is shelled-out now, so it’s ready for any use that comes its way, but it seems likely given its size that two retail uses could be accommodated, one hopefully a restaurant as the property is two-doors-down from the Palace Theater and other attractions. We’ll see where this one goes.

The Henry Clay (Official Site)
Kobe Japanese Steakhouse (Official Site)
City Properties Group (Official Site)
History of Old Charter Bourbon (Straight Bourbon)

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Morning News Roundup

By Broken Sidewalk -

Sep 30, 2008

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Vote

Register to vote, time running out (Business First)

Transportation

Soon to be easier to tattle of government drivers (C-J)
Blaming the rain for traffic problems (C-J)
Pimping bikes in Oakland (StreetsBlog)
Rapid bus transit in Paris (StreetsBlog)

Continue

Development Watch: The Village in St. Matthews

By Branden Klayko -

Sep 29, 2008

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The Village in St. Matthews was scheduled to be opening right around now, but as you can see the parking lot on St. Matthews Avenue just off Shelbyville Road is still full of cars. The mixed-use project is being developed by Burdorf’s owner Allan Morris who is responsible for relocating the home and office furniture center from Distillery Commons to downtown St. Matthews in 2001. The planned three-story building will have retail on the ground floor and apartments and condos above with a rooftop garden.

The building formally faces St. Matthews Avenue but will share a parking lot with the Burdorf Center and will be accessible from both sides. In all, there will be 6,800 square feet of retail with 16 one- to two-bedroom apartments above with three floor plan options. The building is being designed by Brandstetter Carroll Architects of Lexington.

The Village in St. Matthews. (Courtesy Brandstetter Carroll)

Originally planned to break ground last March, a major retailer interested in the project fell through and construction on the building now hinges on finding one or two retailers for the space. The developers are still excited about the project and expect to break ground next Spring.

The town center of St. Matthews is currently overrun by the massive Shelbyville Road and its mega-intersection with Chenoweth Lane, Westport Road, and Breckenridge Lane. Several years back, a traffic circle with a possible monument in the center was proposed after a traffic study, but St. Matthews business feared the loss of eight parking spots and nixed the idea.

Despite the many urban buildings lining its streets, St. Matthews still must build on its pedestrian character, filling in parking lots and widening sidewalks. The Village in St. Matthews project promises to propel this effort as it attempts to spread commercial activity from the corridor’s linear framework onto a more urban grid that allows for the dispersing of local traffic and enhancement of the pedestrian realm. Hopefully we’ll see bulldozers next year.

Brandstetter Carroll Architects (Official Site)