Old Louisville Journal, February 2005

More Development on Oak…
Meuter Building to be Restored

Old Louisville residents, Jeff Blanchard, Nathan Broom and Jon Coole have formed Oak Seed, Incorporated for the purpose of renovating and managing the 125-year old Meuter complex on the southeast corner of Sixth & Oak Streets.
They purchased the vacant structure in November, 2004, and are now occupying and actively working on updating it. The 7,000 square-foot building is comprised of three residential and four commercial spaces, including a 1500 square-foot corner unit previously used as a neighborhood restaurant and tavern.
What is now the Meuter building at 530 W. Oak was built in 1880 as a single-family home. The first floor was utilized as an office for various professionals, including doctors of medicine and dentistry. Later, the first floor was expanded to fill the front and side of the lot, adding 600 square feet to its footprint. To accomplish this, the entire north and west load-bearing walls were removed and replaced with steel columns and beams of timber, so that the ground floor would be one large, open space.
In 1922, Frederick J. Meuter purchased the building and opened a bakery. He demolished the wooden garage behind the building in 1928 and erected a ceramic block and brick carriage house. He later connected the main house and carriage house with a stucco annex, completely filling the 530 lot. Meuter leased these additional units to such businesses as a cleaners and a beauty shop for many years, and rented out the second-floor carriage house apartments to private residents. His bakery was successful; it was soon expanded into a delicatessen and confectionery, and later into a full-service restaurant.
In the mid 1960’s, Meuter retired and occupied the 1203 S. 6th St. apartment above 530 W. Oak, while leasing the latter as a neighborhood tavern. 530 operated as the Old Limerick Tavern until 1978, and was last used by Louisville Chair Co. for chair making and storage; it has remained vacant for almost two decades. Frederick’s son, Walter, who also operated a brokerage and insurance business out of 1205 S. 6th from the late ‘70’s to early ‘90’s, inherited the complex from his father in 1973, which included the adjacent 528 and 526 W. Oak lots. Walter Meuter left the buildings to his son Craig F. Meuter. Craig sold them in 2004 to the current owners.
Blanchard, Broom and Coole are presently renovating the adjoining cottage at 528 West Oak, which will be available for lease in March, 2005, and are concurrently clearing out the corner tavern, in anticipation of preparing it for use. They would like to see the space utilized once again as a diner or café, and additionally as a venue for musical performance.
Visit www.oakseedinc.com for more information, photos and schematics.

New Director Named for
St. James Court Art Show

The Saint James Court Association has selected Marguerite Esrock as the director of the Saint James Court Art Show. She has served as assistant to the director for the past two years. The association will make a formal announcement and introduction next month.

News from the Property
Improvement Committee:
New Tool Given to Metro Code Enforcement Officers
By William P. Schreck, Director
Metro Louisville Department of Inspections, Permits & Licenses

The Mayor and the Metro Council have passed amendments to the Property Maintenance Code which gives Code Enforcement Officers (CEO) the discretion to issue an immediate citation for violations.
In the past, CEOs could give notice and a specific number of days to comply. If the tenant or owner did not comply, the CEO could penalize them with a civil penalty or take the case to court for compliance. The process was taking an inordinate amount of the inspector’s time and the violations were lingering because of delays in reinspecting the properties. The new process greatly reduces the time by issuing citations, shortening the appeals time, and emphasizing to the inspectors the expectation that property owners and tenants should know that weeds need to be cut, signs need permits, you can’t park in front yards(grass), etc..
Under the new amendments, the CEO can issue immediate citations for such violations as rubbish, trash, vacant and open property, illegal signs, vehicles parked on grass. The CEO is to use his/her discretion as to whether to issue the citation. The CEO takes into account whether the property has been a re-occurring violator of the Code or if the violation is of such a scale to warrant a citation or if by owner contact, the owner is willing to correct the violation immediately.
There is a reasonable expectation on the tenant and property owner to cut their grass, remove rubbish and keep their property to the minimum standards of the property maintenance code. The ability to issue citations anywhere along the inspection process gives the inspector a tool to get the attention of violators. If the citation is uncontested and unpaid, the amount becomes a lien on the property or the tenant is taken to court. If the violation is contested and upheld by the Code Enforcement Board the maximum fine of an additional $100 is levied.
In an attempt to speed up the process, the appeal time for violations and citations is now 7 days (formerly 20 days).
Higher expectations of tenants and property owners, citations and shortened appeal process will all work to gain quicker compliance and safer and cleaner neighborhoods.
Editor’s note: The Code Enforcement Officer for Old Louisville is Michael Baugh.