Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader

UK and Shriners Hospitals Plan New Facility

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:31:31 +0000

The University of Kentucky is in final negotiations with Shriners Hospitals for Children to build a facility for the charitable organization on South Limestone across the street from UK's new patient bed tower. It's not clear what would happen to the Shriners hospital on Richmond Road, but C.J. Parrish, spokeswoman for Masonic Homes of Kentucky, confirmed Tuesday that the organization has had informal discussions with Shriners officials about buying the 29-acre property for a seniors community.

Developers Buy Back Prime Property

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:46:04 +0000

The Webb Companies, which turned a block of old downtown Lexington buildings into Victorian Square in the 1980s, has bought back the property from Alex Campbell and Bill Young Jr. for $1.7 million. Dudley Webb, chairman of The Webb Companies, said the block of restored 19th-century buildings across from Rupp Arena and Lexington Center would be "reinvented" to become a downtown destination.

UK Students Have Plenty of Housing Options

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:40:17 +0000

Hayley Myers has lived for the past six months at 5 Twenty Four Angliana, a large housing complex on Angliana Avenue targeted at University of Kentucky students. On Tuesday, as temperatures approached 90 degrees, Myers and a couple of friends were in their bikinis lounging beside the swimming pool, one of many amenities Myers enjoys by living off campus. The 740-bed complex, which backs up to The Red Mile racetrack, has a fitness facility, stand-up tanning beds, movie theater, pool table and ping-pong tables.

UK Administrator to Manage Rupp Project

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:45:17 +0000

University of Kentucky administrator Frank Butler will be project manager for the Rupp Arena, Arts and Entertainment District, leading the effort into phase two, which will develop a detailed design and a financing plan. In a statement Thursday announcing the appointment, UK President Eli Capilouto said it was important for the university and city to work together to make the entertainment district a reality.

Fire Department Under Federal Investigation

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:07:35 +0000

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the Lexington fire department's employment practices, city officials confirmed Monday. "The city was made aware of the investigation in early April. Federal officials have our full cooperation and we welcome their investigation," city spokeswoman Susan Straub said in a written statement. Diversity in the ranks of Lexington's firefighters has been a topic of public concern for several years. Only five black men and four white women have been among the 119 graduates of the fire recruit academy over the previous six years.

UK Athletics, Toyota Among Donors for Rupp

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:14:59 +0000

The University of Kentucky Athletics Department and Toyota were the two largest donors to a task force that recently developed a plan to revitalize Rupp Arena and the surrounding portion of downtown. UK Athletics gave $50,000 and Toyota gave $35,000 to the group, which raised $380,950, according to a list obtained by the Herald-Leader under the Open Records Act. Many of the other donors included members of the task force, including Greg Goodman, whose Mount Brilliant Family Foundation gave $10,000. W.T. Young LLC gave $20,000. Young's son Chris served on the task force.

Homeless Shelter Neighbors Share Concerns

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:34:42 +0000

Steve Crook lives less than a block from The Community Inn, an overnight homeless shelter at 824 Winchester Road, and he said the shelter has created continuous problems for neighbors and nearby businesses. "The number one issue is folks get there hours before the place opens. They can't get inside, so they loiter on the sidewalks. They go to the bathroom in the street. Children can't go outside and play," said Crook.

Proposed Ordinance to Stop Copper Thefts

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:21:06 +0000

An ordinance to crack down on copper thefts goes before the Urban County Council on Thursday. It would require scrap-metal dealers to register with the Division of Police and obtain a $500 seller's permit. Dealers also would have to file daily reports with police, and hold copper and magnesium for three business days after purchasing it so police would have time to investigate. Materials suspected of being stolen could be held longer.

State Agency Urges Cash Donations

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:27:01 +0000

The Kentucky Emergency Management Center in Frankfort urged people Tuesday to donate cash to help tornado victims instead of such goods as clothing, water and food. If people want to donate items, they are encouraged to donate through groups like the Salvation Army or the Christian Appalachian Project, which coordinate with state and federal officials and have storage to hold collected items until needed. Do not give to small groups that head out to the hard-hit areas to distribute the materials because many communities have been deluged and don't have storage space, said Buddy Rogers, spokesman for the emergency center. Financial donations were encouraged.

Volunteers Chip in to Clean Up

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:23:43 +0000

Scores of volunteers have surged into Menifee County to clear roads of fallen trees, secure people's property and begin cleanup after Friday's tornado swept through this rural area. By 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Marietta Flannery was in the kitchen of Botts Elementary School on Ky. 460 with a half-dozen volunteers to start cooking breakfast for displaced families and work crews. County leaders met at 9 a.m. Sunday in the fire station to draft a plan of action that would ensure the best use of volunteers. "You can't give nobody enough credit for what they're doing. I can't say enough for how citizens have pitched in to help," Menifee County Sheriff's Deputy Donnie Fugett said.

Mayor Unveils Changes for Rupp Arena

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:51:11 +0000

Lexington Mayor Jim Gray unveiled a conceptual drawing Tuesday that showed the inside of a renovated Rupp Arena with an eight-sided scoreboard over the center of the basketball floor and a reconfigured lower level with more seats. Gray said during his annual State of the Merged Government speech in Lexington Center that the lower arena seating capacity would increase by 800 to 1,000 seats. The upper level would be rebuilt with all chair-back seats. Premium seating would be added. Other features would be enlarged concourses, additional restrooms and a lobby entrance off Triangle Park.

Design Approved for Rupp Renovation

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:32:17 +0000

A committee appointed to reimagine Rupp Arena and a new downtown arts and entertainment district voted unanimously Saturday to renovate Rupp, approving a design that would strip the arena's industrial siding and replace it with a glass and translucent covering. When architectural consultant Gary Bates asked the planning committee for its reaction to the design, chairwoman and former Lexington Mayor Pam Miller responded, "We're bowled over." Bates walked the committee through the master plan during a conference call Saturday morning.

Consultant Unveils Reinvention of Rupp

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:35:37 +0000

At a public meeting Wednesday, a consultant unveiled ambitious preliminary ideas for reinventing Rupp Arena and the surrounding area in downtown Lexington. Architect and urban planner Gary Bates, hired by the city's Arena, Arts & Entertainment Task Force, proposed a route tying the University of Kentucky campus more closely to downtown, and a continuous commons area — a central park connecting public spaces from Cox Street to the East End.

Study Says Renovated Rupp Arena Would Benefit UK

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:01:33 +0000

Renovating Rupp Arena would cost less than half of what the city would spend to build a new arena, and at the same time would include the priorities that the University of Kentucky says it wants in a basketball facility, according to a new feasibility study. Renovation would cost between $110 million and $130 million, compared to $300 million to $325 million for a new arena, according to the technical study that looked at long-term needs for the downtown arena and adjacent Lexington Center.

Downtown Lexington Streets Go Two-Way

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:23:11 +0000

Downtown Lexington's confusing pattern of one-way streets might soon be a thing of the past, as the city moves to implement one of Mayor Jim Gray's first promises upon taking office. Last week, the city advertised for consultants to submit detailed plans to convert the four pairs of one-way streets back to two-way traffic: Short and Second, Main and Vine, High and Maxwell, and Upper and Limestone.

Rupp Arena Faces Crossroads on 35th Birthday

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:30:57 +0000

Thirty-five years ago this week, Rupp Arena opened with its first concert. Since then, the arena named for the legendary Kentucky basketball coach has hosted countless concerts, basketball games, circuses, ice shows and monster-truck rallies. It has undergone two extensive renovations and has been an economic bedrock for downtown Lexington. On the 35th anniversary of its opening concert, Rupp sits at a crossroads as community leaders again debate its future. The question: Can the iconic arena continue to evolve for another 35 years? Or has it become outdated, a relic that needs to be torn down and replaced by a modern complex packed with luxury amenities and electronic gadgetry?

Lexington Racetrack to Sell Land for Student Housing

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:16:52 +0000

Lexington's Red Mile's Standardbred racetrack has a contract to sell 10 acres facing South Broadway, including the former Tattersalls sales pavilion, where a developer plans a major student housing project. Hallmark Campus Communities of Columbus, Ohio, proposes to build an 832-bed project with four four-story buildings, a swimming pool, a pool house with an exercise center, and outdoor volleyball and basketball courts.

Lexington Considers Fireworks Ordinance

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:14:53 +0000

After hundreds of people complained that Lexington sounded like a battlefield during the Fourth of July weekend, the city has taken the first steps toward stricter controls on the sale and display of fireworks in Fayette County. The law department has drafted an ordinance to limit when and where fireworks may be set off.

Kentucky Plans Full Day on 9-11

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:22:21 +0000

People will gather in churches, in parks and on military bases Sunday to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Across Kentucky, events will include prayer, meditation, patriotic music and remarks by public officials.

30-Degree Drop Ends Near-Record Heat

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:35:48 +0000

Sometimes a 70-degree day feels downright balmy, but that wasn't the case Monday. Bet you grabbed a sweater or a jacket before leaving the house, right? That's because over the weekend, Central Kentucky sizzled when it hit 98 degrees Friday and Saturday. That was close to the record of 100 for both days. "When you get a 30-degree switch, you're obviously going to feel a shock," said Ryan Sharp, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Louisville.

Lexington & Louisville Team Up

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:43:14 +0000

At the 2011 Leadership Louisville luncheon at the Galt House East on Thursday, the mayors of Lexington and Louisville went before more than 1,000 leaders to pitch their vision for a regional economic development initiative to improve the cities' competitiveness in advanced manufacturing. Mayors Jim Gray and Greg Fischer pointed to the Toyota plant in Georgetown and the Ford and GE plants in Louisville as evidence that the state's two largest urban areas already are a center of advanced manufacturing, but it can do more.

Firework Complaints Could Spark Restrictions

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:13:02 +0000

After receiving numerous complaints that Lexington sounded like a war zone during the Fourth of July weekend, at least one Urban County Council member wants stricter local restrictions on fireworks. There were 553 general noise complaints to Lexington's 911 call center Friday through Tuesday, said David Lucas, director of the Division of Enhanced 911. That's up from 308 complaints during the holiday weekend last year — before bottle rockets, mortars and firecrackers could be purchased legally in the state.

Lexington Library Targets 'Isolated' Bedbugs

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:11:22 +0000

The Lexington Public Library is taking steps to eradicate bedbugs from the Central Library on East Main Street, but officials say it remains a safe place for patrons. Two bedbugs were found in recent days in the library, which has as many as half a million visitors each year, said spokesman Doug Tattersall. "We're still busy, and people need to know they are safe here," he said. A pair of bedbug-sniffing dogs from a pest control company in Evansville, Ind., found evidence of bedbugs Wednesday in "isolated pieces of furniture" on the first, third and fourth floors of the library, and in some staff areas, Tattersall said. Furniture identified by the dogs was "immediately removed," he said.

Iconic Lexington Hotel Sold

Beverly Fortune, Lexington Herald-Leader — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:03:06 +0000

The future of a landmark Lexington hotel remains uncertain after it was sold for $9 million at a master commissioner's sale Monday. Crowne Plaza Lexington — The Campbell House, at 1375 South Broadway, was in default on its $21 million mortgage. The property was purchased by the mortgage holder, JPMC 2006-CIBC14 South Broadway REO, LLC. Circuit Judge Pamela Goodwine had awarded a judgment against the hotel's owners, Thoroughbred Campbell House LLC, on April 28 and ordered the property sold. She also appointed Chris Bryan, vice president of Hospitality Receiver LLC, to take over management of the hotel. Bryan hired Prism Hotels & Resorts, a hotel receivership and management company based in Dallas, to run the property on a day-to-day basis.