How We’ve Made a Difference

Red Mile Redevelopment Receives $25.32 Million in Tax Increment Financing

By Knox van Nagell | August 31st, 2011 | See all in Creating a Dynamic City for Everyone, Fayette Alliance Blog, How We've Made a Difference

Red Mile Design Proposal

Red Mile redevelopment might include instant racing

by Janet Patton, 8.31.11, Kentucky.com

The Red Mile last week received final approval from the state for more than $25.32 million in tax increment financing for a re development project near downtown Lexington that would include instant racing.

The Lexington harness racetrack — just off South Broadway, about a half-mile from the University of Kentucky campus — proposed an 80-acre mixed-used development of apartments, a hotel, retail and restaurant spaces, parking garages and offices.

According to the approval from the Kentucky Economic Development Financing Authority, the TIF portion from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government would be reduced to slightly less than $13.79 million “if in the future instant racing is determined to be an ineligible activity.” Read more at Kentucky.com

Urban County Council Approves Red Mile Text Amendment

On Thursday, September 24^th, 2010 the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the Entertainment Mixed-Use (MU-3) Text Amendment. Once approved by Council, this text amendment will allow “Entertainment Mixed-Use” projects on parcels larger than 10-acres in Lexington.

This text amendment will facilitate not only “Entertainment Mixed-Use” projects throughout the Urban Services Area, but also on 62-acres at the Red Mile Race Track.

At the Red Mile, the applicant aims to construct:

150 to 200 condominiums for young professionals;
Over 300,000 square feet of retail and office space;
A 130 – 150 room hotel; and
A 15,000-25,000 square foot entertainment area—anchoring over $170 million in mixed-use development in downtown Lexington.

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The Alliance Supports Accountable Development

By Knox van Nagell | August 11th, 2011 | See all in Creating a Dynamic City for Everyone, Fayette Alliance Blog, How We've Made a Difference

The Fayette Alliance supports a proposal to improve the development process at city hall. These changes will provide greater accountability and efficiency, ensuring that developers actually build what was proposed to government and permitted during the zoning process.

For decades, Lexington has struggled to enforce accountable development that follows the zoning ordinance. These proposed changes are a step in the right direction–giving government the tools it needs to ensure that developers can efficiently follow the community’s vision and public safety is maintained.

More effective enforcement of development through the zoning ordinance will create responsible and sustainable growth. Creating a Lexington we can all be proud of.

Tell Council you support an accountable development process.

Allies of the Alliance Habitat for Humanity Build—Success!

By Knox van Nagell | August 11th, 2011 | See all in Community Outreach, Events, How We've Made a Difference, Past Events

A special thanks to all our volunteers for making the Lexington Habitat for Humanity Build a success! The Allies of the Alliance spent Saturday, August 13th helping Habitat for Humanity on several affordable housing projects in Lexington. Putting up siding, cleaning up build sites, and preparing homes for upcoming dedications were just a few of the tasks tackled that day.

Allies Helping Out at Habitat Build Site

Allies Member Sarah Razor Wielding a Vacuum

Allies Help Clean Up Habitat Build Site

Lexington Habitat for Humanity Build
Saturday, August 13th
8:30 a.m. -3:30 p.m.

Interested in volunteering with us for future events?
Email Charlene Mingus for more information about the Allies of the Alliance and upcoming events.

Learn More about the Allies of the Alliance.

“Working on a build for Habitat for Humanity provides a unique opportunity to make a lasting, positive impact on a local deserving family, inner city neighborhoods and the community as a whole. Lexington Habitat’s mission is to help families in need achieve ownership by purchasing simple, decent affordable homes they help build with community partners. Lexington Habitat homes are built on inner city lots and the families who purchase the homes complete extensive hours of education on managing finances, budgeting and home maintenance.

In addition to having a hand in the construction of some of these homes and making that community impact, I have personally cultivated friendships, teamwork and gained knowledge of building procedures that goes way beyond the scope of my limited expertise. Each build site has at least one leader who is always extremely helpful and patient with the most construction “challenged” people such as myself (the girl who used to call on friends to hang a simple shelf)! My experiences have ranged from painting and caulking to installing siding and kitchen cabinets and each time I complete a build day, I leave amazed at the progress made from one day of teamwork and elbow grease from a group of volunteers without construction experience.”

-Anna Hovekamp, Alliance Volunteer

Tags: habitat build, Habitat for Humanity, KY, lexington, The Fayette Alliance, volunteer, Volunteer opportunities No Comments »

Alliance Helps Bring Omar Blaik to Lexington… Will You Help Too?

By Knox van Nagell | July 18th, 2011 | See all in Community Outreach, Fayette Alliance Blog, How We've Made a Difference

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

Omar Blaik: Universities and Communities Working Together

Bluegrass Community Foundation, 7.14.11

As Lexington and the Anchor Institutions have grown over the years it has impacted the Universities, the city, and the region. It is time for us band together and recognize we are interdependent and look at how we can move our economy, sustainability, community, regional health, and Anchor Institutions toward excellence. A first step it to hire Omar Blaik of U3 Ventures, a consultant, to help us with a road map for success.

Anchor institutions, better known as higher education institutions and healthcare facilities, are an often-overlooked as an integral part of communities and regions they occupy and vice versa. These institutions, which hire and employ thousands and purchase hundreds of millions of dollars in goods and services annually, can have an important economic and physical impact on their surrounding neighborhoods and host cities. In addition the health and economy of the host communities and neighborhoods impact these institutions. Working together benefits everybody.

Lexington and its anchor institutions – The University of Kentucky, The UK Healthcare campus, and Transylvania University and BCTCS- are inextricably linked to each other and the fate and destiny of all are critical to each other’s success. While these anchors and the city are geographically linked, they have neither unlocked the potential economic opportunity, nor developed a sustainable physical connection associated with a truly integrated campus and community.

Omar Blaik, President and CEO of U3 Ventures have a track record of turning ideas into reality for campuses and communities across our country. U3 Ventures proposed to start working in June 2011 with the City of Lexington and its anchor institutions to define and implement a strategy that will leverage the institutions’ economic impact and improve the quality of life for all residents. They envision this engagement as a long-term partnership that begins with the first phase being a thorough analysis of the local context, and a definition of the potential impact of coordinated economic development strategies.

Our community is ready to move forward with this progressive proposal. To do so we need your help. Please join the University of Kentucky, the Blue Grass Community Foundation, and Transylvania University, BCTCS, citizens across Lexington and the region as we join together in supporting this effort .

With your contribution our future starts today. This link will allow you to make an on-line contribution or get information for sending a check through Bluegrass Community Foundation. All contributions are tax deductible and any amount will be appreciated.

For More Information,

“Penn Offers Example of Effective Town-Gown Integration,” 3.18.11. FayetteAlliance.com

“Town and Gown III: The University-Neighborhood Connection”, by Omar Blaik, 2.16.11, 2011 Lafayette Seminar in Public Issues

2011 Lafayette Seminar “Town and Gown III: The University-Neighborhood Connection”, 2.15.11, FayetteAlliance.com

Tags: BCTC, Bluegrass Community Foundation, lexington, Omar Blaik, Town and Gown, Transylvania University, U3 Ventures, University of Kentucky 1 Comment »

Council Adopts FY 2012 Budget, Including $1 million to PDR Program

By Knox van Nagell | July 1st, 2011 | See all in Fayette Alliance Blog, How We've Made a Difference, Protecting Our Farmland

KY Farm | Photo courtesy of Jeff Rogers | www.jeffrogers.com

The Fayette Alliance supported Mayor Gray’s recommendation to allocate $1 million to the LFUCG Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program during this year’s budget.

Thank your council member for supporting the $1 million local match for the PDR program and farmland preservation.

As Council approved the $1 million “local match”, PDR will receive $1 million in matching funds from the Federal Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program-thereby doubling the program’s revenues for farmland preservation in Fayette County.

Even in today’s lean budgetary climate, this is an exciting opportunity for cityhall to invest twice the money for half the price in farmland protection- a win-win for the community considering there are currently 37 farms in the PDR pipeline waiting to sell easements on 3,100 acres. The $2 million in local and federal dollars will result in an additional 700 acres of prime Bluegrass soils under conservation easement here in Fayette County.

This is a great investment even in today’s challenging economic times, constituting less than 1% of the overall LFUCG budget. PDR has accomplished incredible results for the benefit of the entire community—including protecting over 25,000 acres of farmland in Fayette County which is the “factory floor” of our $3 billion signature agricultural industries supporting over 20,000 local jobs, our future food security, internationally acclaimed Bluegrass brand, and unique quality of life that attracts investors, professionals, and visitors alike.

Also, farmland pays for itself and then some, as it generates more revenue on the dollar than it demands in city services—a net gain of 7 cents to be exact. This money goes into LFUCG coffers to pay for trash collection, police, fire, and other essential services that benefit all of us.

While we understand the need to reduce the annual PDR local match from $2 million to $1 million during the current recession, the Alliance hopes that full funding can resume next year hopefully when the economy recovers. Simply put, PDR and farmland preservation are critically important to Lexington-Fayette County and they must continue to be a major priority for our community.

Moreover, along with PDR, the Alliance will continue to promote the adoption of a land bank, vacant land commission, affordable housing programs, design guidelines, and other incentives to facilitate new, responsible growth inside our city as feasibly possible. While many of these programs are not likely in today’s fiscal climate, hopefully they will become a reality as our economy improves in the years to come.

No doubt, urban and rural vitality are essential components in making our community one of the premier destinations in America, and thank you for spreading this message to Council. On June 24th, the Council adopted the FY 2012 LFUCG budget by a vote of 11-4, including a $1 million allocation to the PDR program. In this tight fiscal time, our dedication to farmland preservation, agribusiness, environmental stewardship, and local food is the right choice. We appreciate the work of the PDR program and its role in our community.

Together we can accomplish a sustainable community for all of us!

Please email Knox van Nagell, executive director of the Alliance, if you have any questions.

Tags: Bluegrass, Conservation Easements, Farmland, Lexington Budget, LFUCG, Mayor Gray, PDR, Preservation No Comments »

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Who We Are

The Fayette Alliance is your voice at city-hall advocating for sustainable growth in Lexington…to achieve a world-class city in our world-class Bluegrass landscape.

Since 2006, the Alliance has worked with local government to usher over 50 major land-use policies into law that promote farmland preservation and our signature agricultural industries, responsible development, and improved water quality and infrastructure in Fayette County.

We are charting Lexington's future by positively impacting local zoning and policy decisions—the very building blocks of our community. Although many challenges still remain, we are accomplishing sustainable growth in Fayette County for a better quality of life, economy, and environment for all of us.