Changing the face of a block, one building at a time
September 19, 2008 by David Stephenson
Filed under David Stephenson, Multimedia, Second Look, Videos
During the summer of 2008, 15 buildings on a block in downtown Lexington were torn down – one by one – to make way for a hotel and retail development called CentrePointe. View large version here.
Tom Eblen’s take on the video above
View shorter, breakout videos from the block demolition:
Brown’s Booterie, Levas’ Building, Mad Hatter
CentrePointe, An Alternate Design
Well, once it’s cleared it’s going to make a nice park, er, parking lot.
Ahhhhhh, David and everybody, this is wonderfully done and hard to watch. I’ve been gone for six months. How can it all be gone already?
Beautiful, David. Thank you.
Joni Mitchell put it best “They paved over paradise, put up a parking lot.”
So sad…..
This video purports to show both sides of the issue, yet journalistic intent was clear as the theme song sets an overtone that is intended to convey sad feelings. I watched the construction with interest as it was going on and I would have paid Diversified Demolition for the opportunity to sit in one of their machines and rip down that ghetto.
That’s a powerful piece.
David, I really must say a job well done. I work for Diversified Demolition. I am a part of this project. Left with no comment , I just wanted to congratulate you! Nicky
Great video, very sad to see that the Webb Company is at it again. What a shame to lose such a historical block just for an eye sore that will be empty & paid for with OUR tax dollars……Shame on the WEBBS for this.
Nice video although the low somber music pretty much indicates what the creator’s opinion of the construction is.
I still do not understand why people are so sad to see these buildings come down. Is it because they held such architectural value? Because they were thought to be the cornerstone of downtown entertainment? Or because the Webb Company is involved?
Most of the buildings had 30 year old facades that were in bad condition and the interiors were even worse. Unlike some people who complain I have actually been in those buildings over the past 15 years, frequently.
Prior to the announcement that the block was to be demolished where was all the love and adoration for those buildings? Where were the large protests crying out for the city to restore them to their former glory? Where were the grand plans and designs?
Mia’s and The Dame have relocated to much better locations. There are many other bars open and thriving downtown. So before you blame the Webb’s for wanting to improve downtown why not ask yourself what have you done to make downtown a better place?
And to Rita Robinson “They paved over paradise, put up a parking lot.”, really? Which building exactly was paradise located in?
Nice work on the video. I am, however, very excited for the new development and glad to see the dilapidated block gone.
good riddance. old nasty gay clubs. Bye bye drag queens
It was going to happen one of these days. Personally I’m for now rather than later. ~ Larry
Nice job. I’m afraid we will regret this for generations. But, in Lexington, the developers have free reign. The acquiecence by the city officials who were supposed to protect the public interest was shocking, however.
Mayor Newberry has a lot to answer for and I hope he enjoys his one term. Responsible public servants do not destroy public confidence by working in the back rooms with the big money people.
I had lived in Lexington practically my whole life. Recently I moved to Cincy and got wind of the goings on via some friends still there. I read a few publications in town and saw plenty of blogs and what not protesting the building of the new hotel. I cant help but think back to all the movements to “beautify downtown” and to “bring new life downtown.” It seems as though all those efforts were forgotten in this endeavor. The buildings themselves, I remember to be falling apart. No one seemed to care then. The big complaint was that they were running local buisness away, but a recent visit revealed they relocated to better locations.
My opinion as a long time citizen of Lexington is the following. The town is growing and though this change is happening its not enough to bring about big excitement. The local groups of people who are itching to protest and be rebellious latched on to these already crumbling buildings and started a foolish movement to save them. As I stated earlier no one put money or protest into renovating them before this so its one of those “in the moment” ideas that became viral. Lexington is growing, and always will. This is good. It might even attract jobs that will stop the brain-drain that has plagued our beautiful state. I reluctantly had to move away from the beautiful state I call home because I cannot find work in its borders. People who appose growth and change need to hang up that hat for one of a brighter future especially in the shadow of our limping economy. Embrace the change, don’t oppose it.
It’s heartbreaking to watch the city I knew and loved become just another nameless, faceless, corporatized, big-box suburb like every other city of its size. Lexington is (was) one of the few places that had managed to hold on to its old southern charm and small town appeal despite its rapid growth. Now, with the destruction of downtown mirroring that of Hamburg Pavilion and other outlying areas, it seems the city I loved so much is becoming just a memory that I can’t hold onto.
I have lived in the lexington for over 10 years. Istepped foot in that huge blue building once.That block had tons of places I visited and enjoyed. Now another building I will not use because its of no value except to the one benifiting from the revenue from it.
benefiting
downtown never looked so better
thank you webbs!
bye bye eye sores!!!
hurry up and clean up the entry ways from 75 to downtown lexington too
got hood?
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