Today’s Forecast

78º | Cloudy | 5% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:22 a.m. | Sunset 8:47 p.m.

A developing story

High Street Redevelopment project gets green light to begin construction

A rendering of three buildings in downtown Lexington with people walking around

The project includes parking, apartments, retail + more. | Rendering courtesy of Lincoln Webb LLC

Lincoln Webb LLC + the Lexington Center Corporation have agreed to terms for the High Street Redevelopment project, aka the 17-acre parking lot across from Rupp Arena.

This agreement means the development group — created through a partnership between Dallas-based Lincoln + Lexington’s Webb Properties — has the green light to begin construction.

🏗 What’s next?

Lincoln Webb has 180 days to do due diligence for financing, meaning secure investors + lock-in commitments.
The group will have 16 months to get permits + approvals for the property, with the possibility of a six-month extension.
Lincoln Webb will pay $1.6 million per year while the land is being developed (which could be as early as 2024).
Once the project is ready, the lease payment will bump up to $2 million annually.
The lease term is 99 years.

A video of three renderings of downtown developments in Lexington. — The lease payments will help offset the loans from the expansion of the Central Bank Center. | Photos courtesy of Lincoln Webb LLC

While any updates to the original development plan haven’t been released yet, one key aspect of the agreement is parking, parking, and more parking.

🏗 What’s being built?

The initial plans for the multi-use development called for —

Apartments
Retail + grocery store
A hotel
Five parking garages

The land will be developed in phases and the parking lot will still be in use during construction.

Events

Monday, May 22

Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour | Monday, May 22 | 6:45 p.m. | Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center, 300 E. 3rd St., Lexington | $10-$15 | Enjoy live bluegrass music from the Hosmer Mountain Boys and Eric Vincent Huey + a special performance from an “incredible Woodsongs kid.”

Tuesday, May 23

Big Band & Jazz | Tuesday, May 23 | 7 p.m. | MoonDance Amphitheater, 1152 Monarch St., Lexington | Free | Pack your picnics, blankets, and lawn chairs to enjoy big band or jazz music at our city’s longest-running concert series.

Wednesday, May 24

Murder Mystery Dinner | Wednesday, May 24 | 7-9 p.m. | The Kentucky Castle, 230 Pisgah Pike, Versailles | $85 | The Grand Ballroom will greet you with a delicious four-course dinner, but don’t get too comfy, “Murder & Merriment” will have you saying, “whodunnit?”

Thursday, May 25

Sound Healing | Thursday, May 25 | 7 p.m. | SoulRebeLex, 105 Dennis Dr., Lexington | Local musician Ronnie Brown will lead this meditative experience bathing you in sound waves of gongs, singing bowls, chimes + more.

Friday, May 26

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time | Friday, May 26 | 8 p.m. | The Carriage House at Bell Court, 154 W. Bell Ct., Lexington | $12-$22 | This play, about a teenager solving the mysterious death of his neighbor’s dog, brings to life conversations about the neurodiverse community, authenticity + acceptance.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Travel

It’s (finally) summer: Get off your phone and out into nature.

An aerial shot of a historic Shaker village

The BBC has even named Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill one of the top five hidden travel destinations in the entire country. | Photo by Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

Did you know? The Shakers, a 19th century communal living movement, believed contentment was found through living in harmony with the land and each other, creating beautiful art and craft objects, and living simply.

Sound refreshing? Experience it for yourself at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Harrodsburg, KY — just forty minutes away. Discover 3,000 acres with 36 miles of trails, meet four-legged farm friends, eat incredible fresh food grown on-site, and explore Shaker history.

Escape for the day, or stay overnight at the historic Inn.*

See events calendar and start planning

News Notes

Ranked

Two Lexington middle schools were ranked in Niche’s “2023 Best Public Middle Schools in Kentucky” list. The education data site ranked schools using a grading system based on academics, diversity, and teachers. Congratulations to Beaumont Middle School + School for the Creative & Performing Arts for making the list. (Lexington Herald-Leader)

Pets

Calling all canine-loving crafters. The Lexington Humane Society is looking for pet-related businesses to be a part of the Vendor Village at its Mutt Strut event. The one-mile walk will take place Saturday, June 10, at 8 a.m. at Cold Stream Park. To apply, reach out to Katy Stoess.

Kids

The Lexington Public Library is fueling children with more than just literacy this summer. Through a partnership with Fayette County Public Schools, the Northside, Tates Creek, and Village branches will be serving snacks and lunches Monday-Friday from June 12 to July 28. See more fun happenings this summer.

List

Southern Living Magazine released its list of “The 50 Best Small Towns in the South 2023.” And while the Horse Capital of the World didn’t make the cut (that’s ok, we can share the love), some of our neighbors did. See where fellow Kentucky cities Berea and Danville placed on the list. (Lexington Herald-Leader)

Play

What could your $1 buy you — a camera, a boat… a house? Play the Kentucky Lottery’s Cash Ball 225 for $1 per play and win up to $225,000 daily. Bonus: You can even play online.*

Finance

$200 welcome bonus — check. Unlimited cash back — check. 0% interest into 2024 — check. This card checks all our boxes.*

The Word

Galleta. Start using it in conversation in three weeks.*

Travel

Which Vrbo Vacation Home of the Year is most your style? Maybe it’s the mountain views and woodsiness at this Big Sky cabin. Or maybe it’s a Hamptons holiday at this breathtaking retreat. If vacation means heat, spas, and golf courses, check out this Palm Springs poolside property.*

Civic

Creating a sense of community

Remembering Fayette County’s historical hamlets

A commemorative Juneteenth flag flying in downtown Lexington.

The program will officially launch on Juneteenth, Monday, June 19. | Photo by Amy Wallot

On Monday, June 19 — also known as Juneteenth — the A Sense of Place campaign will officially launch, helping to shine a light on + gather information about Lexington’s historic Black hamlets.

The event will take place at Cadentown Missionary Baptist Church, 2950 Cadentown Rd. beginning at 11 a.m. Here, the community is invited to come learn about this special place firsthand from area residents and historians. And if you or someone you know grew up in the area, you can offer oral histories and bring heirlooms that can be used for the project.

One guest speaker will be Dr. Alvin Seals, a former resident of the area who attended Cadentown Rosenwald School in the 1940s. The schoolhouse is still standing today off Old Todds Road + is celebrating 100 years this year. In fact, it’s the only Rosenwald School still standing in Fayette County today.

“Come learn about the history, the people, the community, and this space that was saved by residents of the neighborhood,” campaign leader Tiffany Brown said. “See how much these places matter to people that grew up in the area.”

LEX_Historic Black Hamlets — A map of Lexington’s historical hamlets. | Map provided by GIS

So, what is a hamlet?

Hamlets are communities known as places of religious, educational, and civic life that provide resources for residents — think churches, schools, grocery stores, and lodge halls.

The steering committee behind A Sense of Place has identified more than 20 historic hamlets in Fayette County and already hosted input sessions in Jimtown and Cadentown.

More input sessions will take place at other hamlets throughout the coming months. Tiffany + fellow organizer Mandy Higgins emphasized the community aspect of this project and invite you to share information, stories, or even donations to support its restoration efforts, including Cadentown Rosenwald School.

You can receive more information by signing up for updates on the project.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor

Here’s a question for those of you that have a green thumb. I’m ready to start planting my first vegetable garden and want to know the best place to buy starter plants. I’m thinking tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini. Send me your recs.

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