River Jam 2008: A Look Back at Ohio River News

By Branden Klayko -
0
River Jam 2008

2008 has been an action packed year for river-related news. First up is the river-story-of-the-summer: the sinking of two iron-ore barges and their heroic rescue by “Large Marge” (pictured below).

Earlier this summer, two Ingram barges loaded with iron ore broke loose just before entering the Portland Canal. The barges quickly sank but the Coast Guard reported no major injuries or pollution occurred. White buoys were installed marking the location of the submerged barges and the river was opened up to traffic as a salvage operation was being devised. Ingram Barge of Nashville, TN had some ‘splainin to do less than a week later when another of its barge tows loaded with coal collided with the submerged vessels, causing damage to two barges and requiring emergency repair. Oops!

Next, while trying to free a grounded barge, two rescue barges collided, rupturing an oil tank and dumping a dozen gallons (!) into the Ohio River’s pristine natural habitat. A Coast Guard Pollution Response Team was rushed in to clean up the mess with absorbent pads tied to sticks which “greatly minimized the environmental impact” of the spill. The Coast Guard is investigating the incident.

Lastly, the Ohio River may have seen the last of the wooden steamer the Delta Queen. The Majestic America cruise boat is being denied an operational exemption for wooden boats by Congress. Company President Joe Ueberroth is understandably upset:

When we look at the circumstances surrounding the Delta Queen, it symbolizes what is wrong in America. I ask myself, what has America come to when unions are actively fighting against American jobs? What has America become when our politicians are not fighting to protect our history and traditions? What has our Congress evolved to when committee chairs are so powerful that they, at their sole discretion, will not let legislation that has passed 9 times even reach the floor for a vote?

Will this national landmark be saved and return to fight the Belle of Louisville in next year’s Great Steamboat Race? Will we see the giant vessel tie on to the wharf, delivering hundreds of tourists to the streets of downtown Louisville? Or will the boat be burned by Congress and become a floating museum?

1 of 6
River Jam: Large Marge Saves the Day
River Jam: Large Marge Saves the Day
River Jam 2008
River Jam 2008
River Jam 2008
River Jam 2008
River Jam 2008
River Jam 2008
River Jam 2008
River Jam 2008
River Jam 2008
River Jam 2008

Manhattan Grill Expands to 5th Street

    By Branden Klayko -
    0
    Manhattan Grill

    Manhattan Grill, currently located in the former Legal Arts Building on 7th Street will soon be opening a new location at the corner of 5th Street and Muhammad Ali Blvd. Owners Cheryl & Mitch Lary are spending $100,000 to renovate the 2,300 square foot space previously occupied by a coffee shop.

    The new location will seat up to 80 and operate between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The Lory’s hope to expand hours to as late as 6:00 p.m. in the future. The restaurant will take the highly visible corner location in the Republic Building, owner by Venterra Real Estate. The 11-story structure was built in 1911 and is nearly completely leased. Manhattan Grill’s menu tops out at about $6.00 and includes a wide selection of breakfast foods, sandwiches, burgers, pastas, and desserts.

    The current Manhattan Grill location will continue to operate until its lease expires in November. The owners are currently negotiating to extend the lease with new owners Jaytee Properties.

    Manhattan Grill
    Manhattan Grill’s Current Location. (Branden Klayko / Broken Sidewalk)

    Historic Preservation Activity

    By Branden Klayko -
    2
    Ouerbacker House (BS File Photo)
    Ouerbacker House (BS File Photo)

    Ouerbacker House

    Metro Louisville took control of this property on the corner of 17th Street and Jefferson Street from a foreclosed tax business in 2005 and has been seeking redevelopment of the site. During the city’s stewardship, the property experienced decay and vandalism including two fires. Earlier this year, a portion of the east wall collapsed and the city was prepared to issue an emergency demolition order if no one could be found to renovate the property.

    Scott Kremer of Studio Kremer Architecture was selected from a pool of interested parties to redevelop the house and purchased the property from the city for $1.00. Kremer plans to invest $2 million in the restoration of the property. Final use for the property has not yet been determined, but it likely will serve as a music school operated by KMG America in honor of Stephen “Static” Garrett, a notable hip-hop and R&B musician. Kremer received a $100,000 grant from Metro Government to stabilize the east wall and begin construction. The wall has not been rebuilt and awaits the next steps of redevelopment.

    Vogt House

    The Tudor Revival–style building nestled into the Medical District on East Broadway is actually two structures. The original Victorian mansion dates to the 1890s and was built by industrialist Henry Vogt. The two-story Tudor addition facing Broadway was built in the 1920s to house the Lemon English Silver Gallery. Norton Hospital had proposed demolition of the structure to make way for a one-story radiation center on one of Louisville’s grandest streets. After outcry from the neighborhood, the hospital compromised and has agreed to incorporate the Vogt Mansion into their new building.

    Hub on Main Street Property

    A three-story brick building on East Main Street near Floyd Street has been sold to Cobalt Ventures who has proposed a five-story luxury condominium structure on the site. The building had recently undergone renovation worth up to $1 million but now tenants have been removed and an “Intent to Demolish” warning has been posted and is gone after its 30 day notice period. Original plans for the development show the building remaining with new structures to each side. It is unclear what plans remain for the structure and demolition could arrive any day.

    Colonial Gardens

    Developers propose to tear down the wooden structure dating to 1902 and build a strip mall in its place. After hearing neighborhood concerns, the group proposed rebuilding a new structure resembling the historic beer garden originally called Senning’s Park. In order to build a replica of the original Colonial Gardens on its original footprint, the developers would need special permission from the city as current anti-urban setback codes make the historic property illegal to build today. A petition has been submitted to declare the structure a Local Landmark making demolition much less likely. The landmark status is pending a hearing before the Louisville Metro Landmarks Commission. Of notable interest, Elvis is said to have performed at the location in 1956.

    Bauer’s / Azalea’s Restaurant

    Charles Bauer, the owner of a historic structure dating to 1868 on Brownsboro Road in Mockingbird Valley, proposed demolition and replacement of the longtime restaurant with a modern Rite-Aid drug store. A Local Landmark petition was submitted and the property was declared historic by the Louisville Metro Landmark Commission. The neighborhood outcry was strong, including local notable Rick Pitino who lives nearby. The structure has operated as a blacksmith shop, general store, wagon shop, and most recently as a restaurant.  Bauer has hinted before that he may challenge any historic designation in court.

    Wayside Mission Properties

    The Wayside Christian Mission proposed earlier this year an addition to their campus in the East Village on East Market Street that included demolition of three structures dating to the Civil War sparking Louisville’s first gentrification war. Drawing concern from the neighborhood, the charity agreed to rebuild likenesses of the original facades using some original stones from the buildings. The neighborhood submitted a Local Landmark petition to stop demolition but days before the wrecking ball was scheduled to arrive, a group of local businessmen agreed to purchase the entire East Market Street campus from Wayside for $5 million. The group, headed by Gill Holland of Gallery NuLu, plans to turn the complex of 10 buildings into a creative hub for the area.

    Water Company Block Properties

    Four structures of varying historic quality sit on the block of the proposed City Center development proposed by the Cordish Company, developers of 4th Street Live.  The company has not decided formally which buildings may or may not be saved, but with the desperation for downtown development evident in the Abramson administration, anything Cordish says will likely go.  Time will tell with these properties.

    Book Review: “Traffic” by Tom Vanderbilt

    By Branden Klayko -
    0
    Illustration by Joon Mo Kang, New York Times

    The New York Times recently reviewed Tom Vanderbilt’s new book, Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do.

    Here’s what they had to say:

    Traffic jams are not, by and large, caused by flaws in road design but by flaws in human nature. While this is bad news for drivers—there’s not much to be done about human nature—it is good news for readers of Tom Vanderbilt’s new book. Traffic is not a dry examination of highway engineering; it’s a surprising, enlightening look at the psychology of human beings behind the steering wheels.

    Read the rest of the article here or pick up a copy of the book and read more reviews here.

    Uncertain Fate of Baer Fabrics Building

    By Branden Klayko -
    1
    Baer Fabrics Building

    The Baer Fabrics building on Market Street adjacent to Interstate 65 faces an uncertain and gloomy future. The Baer Fabrics Company closed its doors last month after failing to repay loans to Fifth Third Bank. The business had been in operation for 103 years selling standard and specialty fabrics and sewing goods.

    Widening Interstate 65
    Widening Interstate 65.

    Owner Stuart Goldberg still owns the brick three-story building but the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has previously said they want the property to widen Interstate 65 as it enters the proposed redesign of Spaghetti Junction. The span of Interstate 65 crossing Market Street is 8 lanes with narrow shoulders. The new stretch is nearly twice as wide with 12 and expanded shoulders. As a result, more than half the block will be covered by a new highway bridge and the Baer Fabrics building with its signature blue awnings will be reduced to a pile of rubble, effectively destroying yet another important block of real estate in downtown Louisville.

    These maps come directly from the Ohio River Bridges Project and are generally to scale. Blue indicates bridges, revealing the width of the highway shoulders and the remaining colors indicate Interstate traffic lanes. Note how much land is required to expand Interstate 65 and imagine the impacts on development of adjacent land this mega-highway will have. Then imagine walking under 300 feet of noisy, dirty, smelly, and dark highway bridges on each block and hum to yourself, “Only in Possibility City!”

    Widening Interstate 65
    Widening Interstate 65.

    Back to Work at the Heritage Center

    By Branden Klayko -
    0
    African American Heritage Center

    After a series of budget shortfalls, slumping funds, and an audit of sloppy accounting halting the project in 2006, the African American Heritage Center is back under construction at the corner of 18th Street and Muhammad Ali. The politicians have come and gone to mark the resumption of work, construction bids arrived under budget, and $5.5 million in federal funds are stirring up the dust at the site as construction crews get back to work.

    African American Heritage Center
    African American Heritage Center. (Branden Klayko / Broken Sidewalk)

    The complex, a series of brick trolley barns connected with a modern metal and glass structure, should open in 2009 and a fundraiser seeking $3 million is underway to create exhibits and pay operational costs. $17 million in public money has already been spent on the center. The exhibits have already been designed and will spotlight stories of African American progress in Kentucky from antebellum times onward.

    The Heritage Center will include an auditorium, a central great hall for exhibitions, offices, gift shop, gallery and performance space, meeting space for catered events, and an education center with classrooms and a possible research library.

    The community is invited to leave their own lasting impressions on the center by donating an inscribed brick available through October 1st. The center expects about 50,000 visitors including many school groups to attend the first year.

    African American Heritage Center
    African American Heritage Center. (Branden Klayko / Broken Sidewalk)

    Panera Bread to Open Downtown Location

      By Branden Klayko -
      0
      Panera Bread on Fourth Street

      A Downtown Panera Bread Bakery-Cafe will open in mid-October at the Aegon Plaza across from the Kentucky International Convention Center. The 5,600 square foot location will have outdoor seating in the plaza. The St. Louis–based Panera chain offers “antibiotic-free chicken, whole grain bread, and select organic and all-natural ingredients and a menu with zero grams added of trans fat.” At the end of each business day, “Panera donates bread and baked goods to community organizations.”

      Louisville Science Center Expands

      By Branden Klayko -
      0
      Louisville Science Center Expansion

      The Louisville Science Center has begun expanding into the Alexander Building it bought last year for $2 million at the corner of West Main Street and Eighth Street, next door to its current facility. The expansion will cost about $1 million and will house a 5,200-square-foot science education center with modern laboratories.

      Construction will last until next spring and the space will serve school field trips and after school programs. The first phase now under construction will occupy the first floor of the building and the Center will continue to expand into four upper floors over the next decade.

      Old News But Good News

      By Branden Klayko -
      0
      Rooftop of 21c Museum Hotel (Photo by LA Times)

      These stories came and went, but the national exposure they shed on Louisville is too much for us to pass up, so feel free to live in the day old glow of the national Louisville spotlight.

      The Los Angeles Times has written a travel piece on Louisville which is quite flattering all around. Louisville is portrayed as a town of festivals and contemporary art; the article acknowledges that we have kept Louisville weird and finds delights in the Kentucky Art Car Weekend, IdeaFestival, and Wild & Woolly Video. Here’s the state of pleasant surprise the author experienced upon arriving in the River City:

      The moment seemed unusual and, well, hip—a scene more fitting for Austin, Texas, or Portland, Ore.—than for an older city that is mainly known to outsiders for its traditionalism, symbolized by the illustriously unchanging Kentucky Derby.

      Next, Ralph Lauren Magazine has written an article taking a closer look at Louisville’s emerging art scene. The story wraps itself around West Main Street and East Market Street, and, like the Angelenos, has a strong affinity for the 21C Museum Hotel. Also similar to the previous article, Ralph Lauren hints at surprise that our town isn’t as backward as it seems:

      Most people’s image of Louisville doesn’t stray far from Churchill Downs’ julep-steeped parade of sleek Thoroughbreds and their blue-blooded, extravagantly hatted owners come Derby Day. But among the city’s younger residents, a foremost source of pride these days is Louisville’s dynamic contemporary-art scene, which some liken to the heyday of New York’s SoHo. With its creative class reaching critical mass, Louisville is poised for national recognition with Museum Plaza, a new 62-story multi-use skyscraper that will serve as an anchor for the city’s art institutions.

      1...260261262...269Page 261 of 269
      Copyright © 2008–2017 Broken Sidewalk, LLC. All rights reserved.