I posted an item Thursday that reproduced a brief story from the July 6, 1826, edition of the Kentucky Whig about how Lexington celebrated the 50th anniversary of Independence Day. It mentioned two downtown establishments — Sanders’ Garden and Mr. Connetts — where Lexington residents partied that day. I have no idea where they were or what they looked like. After all, there’s not much left of Lexington from 182 years ago.
It’s worth noting, though, that 1826 was the year Morton’s Row was built. It was the store of William “Lord” Morton, an early Lexington entrepreneur. Since 1929, the building has been Joe Rosenberg’s jewelry store and pawn shop. Any day now, it could be a pile of dust. Joe Rosenberg and Dudley Webb have permits to demolish the building to make way for CentrePointe, their $250 million luxury hotel, condo and retail development.
In an unsuccessful attempt to appease critics of the project, Webb proposed incorporating the pediment facade from the main Morton’s Row building into CentrePointe. No word on whether that proposal still stands, now that a demolition permit has been issued. Let’s hope the facade is preserved. Once our historical legacy is gone, it’s gone for good.
A demolition permit has been issued for Morton’s Row, built in 1826, to make way for the CentrePointe development. Since 1929, the buildilng has been owned by the Rosenberg family. Photo/Tom Eblen
July 6, 2008 at 11:54 am |
You’d think in Lexington that we would recognize a dead horse.
July 6, 2008 at 6:09 pm |
You’d think we would want to preserve our history.
July 6, 2008 at 6:16 pm |
We do recognize a dead horse.
It’s called Centre Pointe.
We also know that you can lead a horse to water, and we know about horse trading too, but also when it’s time to get another horse.
July 6, 2008 at 7:31 pm |
Believe it or not, you folks in Lexington are very fortunate to have even handed coverage of this story by your newspaper.
A similar project in a small town, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has the local newspaper owning fifty percent of the project. An institution in the town, an old and wonderful department store with deep roots in the local economy was closed a number of years ago. Ideas to rehab it included putting a branch of the local community college there which would bring much needed people to downtown every day.
Instead, the newspaper and the other investors coerced the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster to de-certify it from the National Register of Historic Places and it was torn down except for the facade, thus losing its Historic Registry status.
Be thankful your newspaper isn’t invested in this and that you get some real news about the project and not some sugar coated crap to appease and befuddle you as the buildings come down.
July 6, 2008 at 9:59 pm |
I just cannot understand why anyone would want to save that block in downtown Lexington. Save it for what? It is an eyesore.
Lexington isn’t Asheville, NC and it surely isn’t San Antonio, Tx. I’ve been to San ANtonio and it has a huge vibrant downtown and many, many tall buildings. WE have to remember that it is on the water, too. It doesn’t look “old” to me, but Texas is NOT Lexington. Texans, like Tennesseans have a swagger and they really don’t care what anyone thinks of their ideas or partying.
Even Little Rock, ARK is far ahead of Lexington as far as “downtown” things to do. I have family there and there is a huge open food market…vegetables, fruit, meat from all over the world. There are vendors from other cultures selling their foods; prepared or unprepared and a lot of art work.
Also, Lexington’s provincial outlook would never allow such free-wheeling fun as what we experienced in San Antonio. People outside drinking…singing aloud…raising a little cane. Our city fathers would have a heart attack.
July 6, 2008 at 10:02 pm |
I might add, that these cities have free parking downtown so that citizens can actually enjoy the area. That’s another draw. If anyone tries to park in Lexington, their car will be towed. I’ve chased the Winchester Tow Truck down the street on foot trying to get my car back.
July 6, 2008 at 11:34 pm |
There is nothing beautiful about the Dame or Busters. Have you ever walked passed those two establishments? All we smell is urine, trash, and musty, funky dampness. Look up into their 2nd story windows and it looks nasty and dusty. I remember it took months, if not years to tear down the old Woolworth building which is now a parking lot. On the other hand, McCarthey’s is nice and clean, and I have no problem walking near or into their establishment. I do agree with Weber’s statement about helping Lexington’s economy. Our family will continue to spend our money in downtown Louisville and Cincinnati until downtown Lexington is updated. A friend of mine from Chicago once asked me, “When you have out of town relatives or friends come to Lexington what do you do? Does Lexington have any downtown attractions, a zoo, or an amusement park? I said, “Well we take them out to eat and shopping at Hamburg or Fayette Mall. If they want a downtown or anything else we take them 65-70 miles west to Louisville.” Bottomline, Preservation Lexington continues to keep downtown Lexington living in the past. Lexington needs to get a clue from Louisville and stop being a third rate city. Maybe, just maybe CentrePointe will re-energize downtown Lexington.
July 7, 2008 at 9:18 am |
Ed,
It’s good that you name San Antonio as a good example. San Antonio has possibly the most effective and far reaching Preservation organization of any city in the US. The city accepts renovation as a requirement and that is exactly why it is so attractive and why you have visited it along with others worldwide. Those buildings and places downtown in San Antonio, by the hundreds, were formerly derelict and stinking of urine, as Rebecca mentions and have been preserved because of the local preservation society. What they’ve preserved includes the riverwalk itself, countless buildings that form the riverwalk, the Alamo . . .
http://www.saconservation.org/about/
http://www.sanantonio.gov/historic/?res=1280&ver=true
Rebecca, you are simply wrong about the the Dame, and Busters, and Rosenbergs.
July 7, 2008 at 10:09 am |
Rebecca,
I’ll add that no one has asked that some of these buildings be restored instead of doing Centre Pointe.
Preserve Lexington has asked that we do both. Do Centre Pointe AND renovate some of these buildings.
We’ve put men on the moon, so we should be able to figure this out too.
This ain’t rocket science and it’s really not that difficult a problem.
July 8, 2008 at 5:36 pm |
The Fayette Alliance has just announced that it is withdrawing its support for CentrePointe.
http://www.fayettealliance.com/
I am very happy to see that Fayette Alliance has insisted that this development be of higher quality than what we are currently being offered by the Webb Co.
July 9, 2008 at 9:53 am |
Alice – that’s awesome news! Thanks for letting us know. :)
July 22, 2008 at 8:04 pm |
Rob,
You lose.
July 22, 2008 at 11:40 pm |
Rob,
Wrong about what? Half of Rosenburgs’ sign is missing (Ro enb rg’s) and the building is just not taken care of. McCarthey’s on the other hand is well kept and clean, sorry I can’t say the same for Busters and the Dame. Bottomline Preserve Lexington and the Preserve the Bluegrass will continue to push us and our family/friends to visit Louisville and Cincinnati for entertainment (the zoo, Six Flags, Kings Island, the Beach) besides shopping and eating. Also have you seen or been downtown Louisville lately? It’s beautiful for a city that size….I can not say the same for the city I live in. Once again maybe if you give CentrePointe a chance it will re-energize Lexington….from the way it sounds, over half the city is against it so it will indeed fail. Questions 1. What is Historic about the buildings that house the Dame, Busters, and Rosenburg’s BESIDES being old? 2. You have a 1924 Trailer on your lot but you have the opportunity to build a brand new brick house. BUT YOU MUST tear down the 1924 Trailer in order to have the land to build the house. SO WHAT DO YOU DO?
July 23, 2008 at 12:01 am |
Change is a necessary part of life. The problem I see is that Preserve Lexington is having a difficult time determining what is historic and what is old. I met one individual with Preserve Lexington and she directed this comment towards me, “Every structure, no matter what it’s condition tells all of us a story. As long as the building stands the story continues.” My response was so if a building smells like urine and funky dampness what kind of story does that tell?
August 9, 2008 at 2:33 am |
Rebecca,
Don’t forget the vomit! Rob didn’t respond. His silence is deemed consent. Rob, you lose.