Some Downtown Demolition Halted While Other Buildings Come Down

Save

Posted: 9:38 AM Jul 2, 2008
Last Updated: 4:00 PM Jul 2, 2008

14 comments

A | A | A

A hearing has been set to determine whether the demolition of several buildings can take place in downtown Lexington.

Developers of the CentrePointe project started tearing down some buildings on Wednesday morning, but the project didn't get very far.

The environmental group Preserve Lexington filed an injunction to stop demolition.

Circuit court Judge Pamela Goodwine set a hearing in the case for July 22.

The Webb Company, which is overseeing the large building project, got the go-ahead last week from the city's division of building inspection.

The board gave permission for four buildings on South Broadway to be torn down. The Webb Company also submitted a request to tear down several other near-by buildings, but there's a waiting period for that type of permit.

The company wants to build a 35 story high rise in the block of Main Street between Limestone and Upper Streets.

More Stories
Family Defends Man Nearly Killed In Jail Beating

Siblings Charged With Bank Robbery

Ky. Soldier Killed In Iraq

Girl Injured On Thrill Ride Wants Trial Moved Up

Boaters Say High Gas Prices, Economy Not Affecting Lake Traffic

School Shooter Wants New Trial

Police Arrest One Person Suspected in Church Burglaries

Wrong Way Driver Critically Injured In I-75 Wreck

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: viewer on Jul 4, 2008 at 12:46 PM
I cant see any problem with getting rid of that bunch of old eyesore bldgs down town they have needed to go for years

Posted by: Rob Location: Lexington on Jul 3, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Wow,all we hear is about Festival Market.....what about all the other Webb properties!!!This is good for downtown!!!Preserve Lexington needs to mind their own business and stay outta of everyone elses!!!That block was dangerous!!!If one of our fireman would have ever had to go in those buildings during a fire,it would be another headline.....Grow if you want to grow,otherwise start tearing down horse farms to go eleswhere.lexingtons Main street,if it was for the redlights,it would take 2 minutes to drive the whole thing.Main Street in Hazard is bigger than Lexington!!!!!!

Posted by: Mark Location: Lexington on Jul 3, 2008 at 01:20 AM
If you were to read more articles about this issue, Preserve Lexington isn't against the development, they just want it completed in a way that keeps the character of the neighborhood in tact. The buildings on Main Street are under the Courthouse Area zone, which means their demolition can be contended due to the historic nature of the buildings. It remains to be seen the economic viability of this large building, which will more than likely have vacancies in the years after its construction, just like every other large building in downtown Lexington. Make something that citizens of Lexington can use, not just a building with temporal purposes.

Posted by: Kimberly Location: anonymous1 on Jul 2, 2008 at 06:56 PM
I agree with Roy. Centerpointe will be another "Festival Market debacle. I will not stop whining "sick of whiners"! Why don't you tell the others this who agree? All we need is this much more traffic. I think of those who lost their jobs at businesses because of thIs! I do have a heart. For those of you out there, I know the Ockermans. I plan to join "Preserve Lexington". I thought Starbucks was doing great businees. Now they are closing 600 stores! Building this big "high rise" will only create more prblems. The Webbs are in it for money, they don't care about other people's lives.

Posted by: C Location: Lex on Jul 2, 2008 at 04:47 PM
I agree with Gilbert, those are ratty old eyesores. And that old Dame was filthy, floor was always filthy and covered with cigarette butts. Time to clean up ol' nasty downtown, it's disgusting and foul.

Posted by: Roy Slade Location: Lexington on Jul 2, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Centerpointe = another "Festival Market" debacle. Does anyone recall how Festival Market was hyped in the mid-80's by the Webbs as "jewel in the crown" for downtown Lexington was supposed to draw thousands for boutique shopping,dining at the food courts and employ hundreds? What happened to that pipe dream? Anyone ever wonder why that venture by the Webb's wasn't successful? Festival Market's original tenants left after a couple of years after its grand opening and it has remained pretty much an abandoned structure for many years(with the exception of Starbuck's, a few offices, and Sawyer's Restaurant). I predict the same tragic fate awaits for Centerpointe.

Posted by: Chris Location: Lexington, K.y. on Jul 2, 2008 at 01:56 PM
Just build the hotel already! How many times are we going to hault the construction? Let's stop whining about these old moldy buildings and just build the thing already.

Posted by: SAM Location: LEXINGTON on Jul 2, 2008 at 01:18 PM
OCKERMAN AND HIS GROUP LOST THE WATER BATTLE-NEXT TO GO DOWN IS PRESERVE LEXINGTON

Posted by: Steve Location: Lexington on Jul 2, 2008 at 01:16 PM
Furthermore, like a previous poster stated...5 years ago it was whine whine whine about growing upward, not outward because they had to "save the farms". Now that someone is willing to put their money where their mouth is, it's "let's tell them they can grow upward as long as they use the outside walls of a bunch of dumpy buildings to be their outside, devaluing their property by millions when they're finished, but it makes me feel good about a hole called The Dame being gone". Give me a break. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Here, in a TERRIBLE economy, someone is willing to create a LOT of jobs by building a building such as this, which will create hundreds of jobs through construction, then staffing the new businesses and the hotel afterwards...and all we can think about is the ugly facade that was there before??? These are the reasons why our recession will only get worse, because do-gooders are blocking anyone willing to risk during these bad times, and we all suffer!

Posted by: Sick of whiners!!! Location: ky on Jul 2, 2008 at 01:00 PM
IKimberly, Stop your whining!!!! Just because a building is old does NOT make it historical!!! Change is going to happen if you like it or not so, you mind as well enjoy it!

Posted by: Gilbert Location: Lexington on Jul 2, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Those Ratty Old Eyesores need to go..and NOW!!!Make way for CentrePointe!

Posted by: Mac Location: Lexington on Jul 2, 2008 at 12:38 PM
I can see that "halted demolition" going on as I speak right outside my office window. Doesn't look like anything has been stopped to me.

Posted by: Robert Location: Lexington on Jul 2, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Environmental group no need to say anything more, it seems that environmental groups only want to tell other want they can and can not do with their property. What happened to grow Lexington up and not out?

Posted by: IKimberly Location: anonymous on Jul 2, 2008 at 12:00 PM
It's about time something was done about this. I send Preserve Lexington my prayers in halting the demolitions. I hope they win! This is the last thing we need downtown. It is sad to see that the Webb brothers don't have any respect for those who had busineeses downtown such as The Dame. All people think about is build, build, build. Don't the Webb brothers have friends or family who might have frequently visited downtonw businesses? Or are they in it for the money? Remember, The Dame had a good crowd when Kenny Chesney came to town!!! Why didn't the Dame just relocate? I hope Judge Goodwine is reading this . She will get an e-mail from me on it too.

Posted by: Chris Location: Lexington on Jul 2, 2008 at 11:25 AM
I wish people would decide what we want for this city. Two years ago all anyone would say is "lets grow up, not out" to save the horse farms. Now people are fighting that just to save some buildings just cause they are old; Ive yet to hear a good enough historical reason to keep them. I just wish we could make up our minds. It just goes to show you cant please everyone.

	Rental Guide Video tours to help you find your next apartment.

	Happy Hour Deals Save 50% from local merchants.

	Desktop Alert Download weather alerts to your computer desktop.

	Classifieds THE place to buy and sell items. Most ads free.

	Experts Got a question? Ask our Health Experts.

	Crime Find out how Ray Larson is stopping crime.

Untitled Document

Kentucky Gas Prices

Lexington Gas Prices

Historical Gas Price Charts

Current Average Gas Prices

Across the Nation

Click Here for the AAA Fuel Price Finder

WKYT Mobile