Home News Ace Sunday Editorial: Buster’s Rallies for the Distillery District Monday, Nov 30

Ace Sunday Editorial: Buster’s Rallies for the Distillery District Monday, Nov 30

Can We Put Our Money Where Our Mouth Is?
Ace Sunday Editorial

LFUCG has a budget meeting Tuesday. On Monday, Buster’s will host a petition-drive/rally for Lexington’s Distillery District, at their Distillery District home on Manchester Street at 5 pm.

Although Buster’s is already a crtical and popular success, the neighborhood needs infrastructure improvements if it is to survive and thrive. This is the note from Buster’s proprietor Jessica Case, and Nathan Cryder, circulated this weekend:

“Please join ProgressLex, Buster’s, The Blue Grass Trust For Historic Preservation, The Town Branch Trail, Barrel House Distilling and others in supporting the Lexington Distillery District at Buster’s Billiards & Backroom on Monday, December 1, 2009 from 5-7.

The Distillery District is at a crucial tipping point and needs your help to make this unique business, entertainment, and arts district a reality. Although the state recently approved the city’s request for $45.8 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) reimbursement for the District, the project’s momentum is in jeopardy. On December 3, the Urban County Council needs to be persuaded to make a difficult decision to bond a $3.2 million infrastructure investment in the project. Thanks to the TIF, such funding will be 100% reimbursable to the city through future tax revenues generated by the District.

Please make your support known to Council for the District, the Trail and this crucial kickstart investment by:
1) adding your petition signature to the hundreds already collected: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/LexingtonDD
2) sending a short note to your Council Member:
http://www.lexingtonky.gov/index.aspx?page=325
3) grabbing a friend or two and heading over to Buster’s Monday from 5-7p to learn more about the issues at hand and how you can play a part in ensuring that this watershed project becomes a reality.

Your action can speak volumes about Lexington’s commitment to activating its creative class and transforming our city into one of the most vibrant and unique destinations in the nation.”
—Jessica Case; Nathan Cryder

To this, Ace would also add, much of LFUCG still rolls old school, and as such, the 19th century impact of sending your Council Person a real letter, with a real stamp, from a real constituent, with a physical address in their district identified, should not be dismissed. Do not overestimate LFUCG’s capacity to take in the impact of facebook, twitter, or even email. The Tates Creek Sidewalk project this summer delivered both constituents-in-the-seats and mail at City Hall. And Tates Creek is getting sidewalks.
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The East End Legacy Project is also inviting the community to the East End Holiday Celebration and tree-decorating Monday, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Isaac Murphy Park on the corner of East Third Street and Midland Avenue. The East End has had a big year with the Isaac Murphy Garden, the Art Stop, the Lyric announcements, and more.

More importantly, the Distillery District and the East End are up-by-the-bootstraps developments—- organic in nature—- launched largely within neighborhoods, by neighborhoods, and for neighborhoods. The Art Stop Lex Tran Shelter (sculpture by Professor Garry Bibb) at the corner of Third and Elm Tree serves as a signpost that maybe things are on the way up. The London Ferrell cemetery near that same corner was a hive of activity all summer as a community garden spearheaded by SeedLeaf (voted Best Grassroots organization by Ace Readers in the 2009 Best of Lex poll). Meanwhile, Buster’s continues to draw national press as a model project. (They just turned up in Billiard’s Digest this week http://www.billiardsdigest.com/new_current_issue/nov_09/story_3.php.)

In a two-hour window on Monday, there should be time for Community Members to stop in and see what both East and West have to offer Lexington these days.