SHE WON'T GO!
Last night after our initial report on the sale of 101 W. Main St. to the Webb Companies, the always rockin’ Ms. Beverly Fortune of the Lexington Herald-Leader tracked down Lexington’s leading historic preservationist, Mr. Dudley Webb, to get his vision for his continued historic preservation of downtown Lexington.
Developer Dudley Webb has bought the historical building at 101 West Main Street, at the corner of North Limestone and Main, and said he plans to restore the structure that houses Taste of Thai and Sam’s Hot Dog Stand.
Webb said he bought the building because “it was available. It’s a high-profile location, and it would be one of our neighbors if we get going across the street.”
If we get going across the street.
That’s one for the ages.
Webb says he’s not kicking the current businesses out just yet, though it appears he hasn’t actually talked to either business.
Webb’s plan to open up windows on Limestone side of the building — and any other changes, be they restoring the building’s front or preserving a path for bulldozers, will have to go through the Courthouse Area Design Review Board. That Board was instrumental four years ago in the Webb’s effort to restore the historic pre-CentrePointe buildings.
The Review Board has changed, however, in that time, with Michael Speaks and Darren Teodoro the latest replacement/additions. Hopefully they will not stand in the way of Webb’s proven historic preservation track record:
Harry Richart – Vice-Chairman of the Board
Banking community representativeMichael Meuser – Chairman of the Board
Preservation related professionalMichael Speaks -
Design professional - Dean of the UK College of DesignDarren Teodoro -
Property or business owner within the Courthouse Area Overlay Zoning DistrictKevin Atkins-Chief Development Officer -
Employee of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
Another piece of good news… the Webbs new historic addition to their increasingly impressive portfolio allows for a new stretch (in orange) of pedway to add to Lexwebbington’s status as the Pedway Capital of the World.
As for the question of “IF WE GET GOING ACROSS THE STREET” it’s unclear what more Dudley could do to historically preserve the CentrePointe block.
The more pressing question is… since the Webbs’ initial plan for CentrePointe was presented so long ago, will they now have to jump through all the government hoops again? The TIF… the Courthouse Area Design Review Board…
And if they ever do get going across the street, will that be the time when this dream of opening windows crumbles to rubble?
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