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UK Announces Plans for Additional Dorms

By Knox van Nagell | May 22nd, 2013 | See all in Fayette Alliance Blog, What's New

Work continues on the new dorm being built on the old Haggin Field on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington, Ky. Monday, June 04, 2012. The new dorm at Haggin Field will be the first production of a joint public-private endeavor to build more housing on campus. Ground was broken for the project on April 17. | Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff, Lexington Herald-Leader

Click Here to download the final recommendations & findings of U3 Ventures report on Lexington, KY.

Haggin Hall Demolition Photos

K-Lair, iconic University of Kentucky eatery, set for demolition

by Morgan Eads, 5.13.13, Kentucky.com

After marking a popular University of Kentucky dining spot for 52 years, the signs at K-Lair were taken down Monday.

The building that housed K-Lair will be demolished to make room for a new dormitory as part of UK’s master plan to increase the number of beds on campus. Haggin Hall, the student housing adjacent to K-Lair, also is scheduled for demolition.

A small group of people, including former K-Lair employees, watched as the restaurant’s sign was removed…Read more at Kentucky.com

University of Kentucky moves forward with 3 more dorms holding 1,610 beds

by Linda Blackford, 5.14.13, Kentucky.com

The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees approved the next phase of new dorm construction on campus Tuesday, allowing UK to move forward with three new dorms at the old Cooperstown complex near W.T. Young Library.

The residence halls are the latest fruit of UK’s partnership with a private developer, Education Realty Trust. In this phase of the partnership, Education Realty Trust (EdR) will put up $101.2 million in equity for the construction of 1,610 student beds, several classrooms and study spaces.

The board approved the measure without discussion. The university already has approved seven other new residence halls since Feb. 2012 with 2,982 beds, bringing the total cost of the partnership to $264 million…Read more at Kentucky.com

University of Kentucky planning five new dorms with private developer

by Linda B. Blackford, 8.20.12, Kentucky.com

The University of Kentucky is planning the second phase of its ambitious dorm-replacement project, building five new residence halls with a private developer at a total cost of $118 million.

The UK Board of Trustees will hold a retreat in October to discuss the proposal, which would create 2,098 new beds, university officials said Monday.

The developer, Memphis-based Education Realty Trust, is already building the first dorm in the $500 million project — a 600-bed, $28 million hall on the old Haggin Field that is due to open next fall for honors students…Read more at Kentucky.com

Omar Blaik, president of U3 Ventures, and Henry Ford Health System CEO Nancy Schlichting bask in a beautiful day in Midtown Detroit at the Avalon Bakery on Tuesday. They are working on Midtown’s resurgence. | KATHLEEN GALLIGAN | Detroit Free Press

More Information about Town-Gown Integration,

“UK’s Student Housing to Provide Boost for Local Economy” by Margaret Buranen, 8.21.12, BizLex.com

“University of Kentucky dorm project moves along” Herald-Leader Staff Report, 06.04.12, Kentucky.com

“UK Needs to Take Time over Planning of New Dorms” by Dan Rowland, 05.24.12, Progress Lex

“Report calls on UK to build housing that benefits downtown Lexington” by Linda B. Blackford, 05.17.12, Kentucky.com

Placement of Student Housing Crucial to Lexington

Lexington, Kentucky: Anchor Institute Study – Findings and Recommendations” April 2012

“Editorial: Don’t squander opportunity for town-gown planning” Editorial, 05.20.12, Kentucky.com

“Ivy League Role Model: Penn offers example of effective and deliberate town-gown integration” by Jane S. Shropshire, 3.17.11, BizLex.com

2011 Lafayette Seminar “Town and Gown III: The University-Neighborhood Connection”


Cinema Complex Plans Altered

By Knox van Nagell | May 22nd, 2013 | See all in Fayette Alliance Blog, What's New

Two companies that specialize in building and operating movie theaters have expressed interest in building a six-screen movie complex in downtown Lexington. One of the potential sites includes the two parking lots on High Street that sit atop the Lexington Transit Center parking garage and bus transfer center. | Photo courtesy of Kentucky.com

Plans for new downtown cinema, entertainment complex altered

by Greg Kocher and Mary Meehan, 5.08.13, Kentucky.com

Plans for a downtown Lexington movie and entertainment complex have hit a bump.

Jeff Fugate, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, said plans are off to build a movie theater on top of the Transit Center or behind the Kentucky Theatre.

However, movie-theater developer George Krikorian of California said he is in negotiations for an alternative site that he didn’t wish to identify…Read more at Kentucky.com

2 companies express interest in building downtown movie complex in Lexington

by Beverly Fortune, 9.10.12, Kentucky.com

Two companies that specialize in building and operating movie theaters have expressed interest in building a six-screen downtown movie complex.

Metroplex Theatres, doing business as Krikorian Premiere Theatres, in Torrance, Calif., and Look Cinemas in Dallas responded to a request by the city to hear from companies interested in pursuing a downtown theater, entertainment and restaurant project.

Both have experience with theaters in urban settings.

The first step is to “vet the developers themselves,” said Jeff Fugate, president of the Downtown Development Authority. “We want to look at their qualifications, their financial wherewithal, their capacity to pull off a project like we have in mind.”…Read more at Kentucky.com

City Looks at Partnership to Build Movie Theater Atop Transit Center

by Erik A. Carlson, 8.21.12, BizLex.com

Lexington, KY – Lexington officials have requested developers to step forward and offer ideas for a “Cinema, Entertainment, Restaurant” project to encompass a swath of downtown already boasting films and theatrical performances in the hopes of forming a defined Theater District.

“The Lexington Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) and the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) have determined certain city-owned parcels of property in the downtown area could be redeveloped to build upon the ongoing renaissance of Lexington’s downtown night life,” states a Request For Qualification (RFQ) issued by the city last week…Read more at BizLex.com

Related Issues,

Rupp Arena Arts & Entertainment District


Fayette County Tourism Has Large Economic Impact

By Knox van Nagell | May 9th, 2013 | See all in Fayette Alliance Blog, What's New

Impact of Kentucky’s Travel and Tourism Industry

Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet recently released the 2011 and 2012 Economic Impact of Kentucky’s Travel and Tourism Industry. Findings show that  Fayette County’s travel expenditures in 2012 totaled more than $1.8 billion, the second highest in the state, only behind Jefferson County.

At the state level 2012 tourism contributed $12.2 billion to Kentucky’s economy, $1.227 billion in tax revenues, and a total of 174,006 jobs with over $2.7 billion in wages to Kentucky workers.


Additional Information,

Fayette County’s Agriculture “Cluster” has $2.4 Billion Impact on Local Economy

 


Down To Earth Garden Club’s Plant Sale

By Knox van Nagell | May 8th, 2013 | See all in Fayette Alliance Blog

Fox Glove

Down to Earth Garden Club’s 2013 Plant Sale
Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 8 am- 2 pm
Woodland Christian Church, 530 E. High Street

Featuring a wide selection of plants including: Wildflowers, Irises/Daylilies, Vegetable/Herbs, Grasses, Hostas & more—including a huge selection of native plants!


UK Masterplan Continues to Move Forward

By Knox van Nagell | May 2nd, 2013 | See all in Fayette Alliance Blog, What's New

Click here to see the latest report on UK’s Masterplan.


http://www.uky.edu/EVPFA/Facilities/MasterPlan/process.ht

University of Kentucky is in the process of updating their Master Plan. With the help of Sasaki, a Massachusetts planning firm that specializes in campus master planning, UK hopes to develop sound long-range strategies for the growth and transformation of the campus. In 2002, UK commissioned Ayers Saint Gross to create its most recent master plan. The plan focused on creating academic communities, connecting to downtown Lexington, and growing sustainably. The structure of this 2002 Master Plan is guiding the current Master Plan update process. Several of the issues that the new plan hopes to address are increasing residential capacity, accommodating enrollment growth, strengthening town-gown relationships, and enhancing the student experience.

For more about this process visit the UK Master Plan: Update 2012 Website:

In the news,

University of Kentucky to buy campus of Lexington Theological Seminary

by Linda Blackford, 5.13.13, Kentucky.com

The University of Kentucky will buy the Lexington Theological Seminary’s 7-acre campus on South Limestone for $13.5 million, officials announced late Monday.

The UK Board of Trustees is expected to approve the deal at its meeting Tuesday, adding room for expansion on the west side of Limestone. The seminary has moved almost all of its instruction online since 2011 and plans to relocate to a smaller campus in Lexington.

“When high-quality space adjacent to your campus becomes available, the responsible thing is to explore the possibilities,” UK President Eli Capilouto said. “The Lexington Theological Seminary space represents great potential for the university as we grapple with how to grow and manage within our existing footprint.”…Read more at Kentucky.com

Capilouto appoints task force to study University of Kentucky alcohol policy

by Linda B. Blackford, 5.7.13, Kentucky.com

University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto appointed a task force Tuesday to examine longtime rules that strictly limit alcohol on campus.

The 15-member group, which includes a mix of university officials and community representatives, is called the Work Group on Student Health and Safety. It will look at factors leading to alcohol misuse by students, current alcohol policies, and best practices to prevent alcohol abuse, as well as other health and safety issues.

Capilouto first said he was interested in revisiting the alcohol policy last September, when UK started creating a new master plan for campus. Many neighborhood groups have said UK’s policy of zero alcohol in campus living spaces has pushed student drinking into nearby neighborhoods…Read more at Kentucky.com

University of Kentucky master plan weighs renovation against demolition

by Linda Blackford, 4.27.13, Kentucky.com

In the early stages of developing the University of Kentucky’s master plan, hired consultants Sasaki and Associates took a deeper look at some of UK’s oldest buildings, putting an emphasis on renovation over demolition.

“We do believe that the cultural and architectural values of places are embedded in built landscapes,” said Mary Anne Ocampo, a UK graduate who is now an urban designer with Sasaki, based in Boston. “We’re kind of deciding what are costs and benefits.”

For example, when the UK administration adopted a plan in October to build new student housing, it was assumed that the Kirwan-Blanding complex would be torn down to make way for new dorms…Read more at Kentucky.com

Additional resources,

“University of Kentucky asks for community input on master plan” Staff Report, 11.5.12, Kentucky.com

“UK Board Approves Housing Plan and University’s Course for Next Year” by BizLex Staff, 10.16.12, BizLex.com

“UK Board of Trustees OKs plan for five more private-developer dorms” by Linda B. Blackford, 10.14.12, Kentucky.com

“Capilouto listening to neighborhoods as UK updates master plan” Editorial, 9.20.12, Kentucky.com

“Capilouto says University of Kentucky will take another look at alcohol policy By Linda B. Blackford and Beverly Fortune, 9.18.12, Kentucky.com

U3 Ventures: Report on Town-Gown Integration and Lexington, KY

University of Kentucky’s “Creative Pathway and Portal” Project

UK Announces Plans for Additional Dorms & Town-Gown Integration

Placement of Student Housing Crucial to Lexington


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We are a coalition of citizens dedicated to achieving sustainable growth in Lexington-Fayette County through land use advocacy, education, and promotion.

As the voice for sustainable growth, we believe that preserving our unique and productive Bluegrass farmland, advancing innovative development, and improving our infrastructure are essential to our collective success in Lexington.

Since 2006, we have worked with city-hall to usher over 55 major land-use policies into law that further sustainable growth. Through our efforts at government and beyond, we positively impact planning and zoning laws - which are the building blocks of a better quality of life, economy, and environment for all of us.

Join today, and together we can achieve a world-class city in a world-class landscape in Lexington.

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