Going Green
By Gary Kleier

Bob, Ann, John and Nancy are sitting in their favorite restaurant one Friday evening, enjoying a bottle of Australian Shiraz (shipped 10,000 miles from Australia) and lightly breaded Tilapia (flown 11,000 miles from China). Bob and Ann have just seen An Inconvenient Truth and Ann is telling John and Nancy about it. “That movie really bothered us so we decided to be more environmentally sensitive. Bob heard that we could save 4% on gas if we reduced the temperature in the house by 2°. So I immediately set the thermostat back to 74°. And to save even more we reduced the temperature in Bob’s Hummer and in my SUV by 2° also. We think this is a great start but we’re not sure what else to do…….”

If you are less than 40 years of age, you probably don’t remember the gas crisis of the mid-seventies and the dire warnings of some scientists that an environmental crisis was inevitable. Even if we believed the scientists, there was no proof and neither business nor government wanted to make the drastic changes that scientists were calling for. The truth is, until then we had never, as a society, even considered living a “green” life style. As a consequence, we had neither the technology nor the infrastructure to allow us to do so. Eventually the crisis eased and the “green” concept moved to the back of our social consciousness.

Thirty plus years later the issue of being “green” is back in our minds and this time it is not just that we are paying $3.00 for a gallon of gas. It may have taken over 30 years, but the scientists have been proven right. Fortunately, 30 years has also given us time to develop technology, infrastructure and, for some, a new way of thinking that can help us move in the right direction…… if we will only pay attention.

And that is the purpose of this column. Hopefully we are not as environmentally dense as Bob and Ann, but like them, many of us really are uninformed. So, over the next year or as long as there are subjects of interest, I will discuss things that you can do to reduce your impact on the environment, avoid the scams and usually save you some money. As an architect, much of my emphasis will be on the built environment. However, I am actively recruiting a wide variety of articles that will cover all aspects of our lives. Eventually, these articles will be available on the Old Louisville web site for future reference.

Let’s start on a positive note. An historic district like Old Louisville can be the most “green” neighborhood in the city. Just saving one of our historic homes is the equivalent of savings more than 2 million aluminum cans. In addition, the density of Old Louisville (between 10 and 15 dwelling units per acre) means that less energy is required to provide our infrastructure (utilities, roads, sidewalks, street lights, etc.) than in the suburbs where the dwelling units are more widely disbursed (2.5 dwelling units per acre). On the down side, consider the two houses that recently burned. They could have been saved and rebuilt, but the city decided to knock them down. Not only did we loose two historic homes, we threw the equivalent of several million aluminum cans into a land fill. And if you think that is bad, you should see what is happening in other neighborhoods. But let’s leave these and other issues for future articles where we will have more space for discussion.

As I said, I want to provide articles on a variety of issues. There are a number of items already under consideration, but I would like your input and feedback. I need to find more individuals with expertise in areas like automotive, cleaning products, heating & air conditioning, electrical, etc. I would also like to know what questions or issues are important to you. Do you have some ideas? Do you know an expert? Let me hear from you. gjkleier@netsacpe.net

Oh, yes, one more thing. My apologies to any couple named Bob and Ann who drive a Hummer and an SUV……..

Mark Your Calendars Now!
The Central Park Clean Up
scheduled for
Saturday, April 5

Solving the Truck Problem in Old Louisville
By Jessica McCarty
Member of West Saint Catherine Neighborhood Association & Chair of Truck Traffic subcommittee of the Property Improvement Committee

On January 10, 2008, the Property Improvement Committee unanimously passed a motion asking the Old Louisville Neighborhood Council to write a letter of support to Representative Meeks, Representative Horlander, Senator Denise Harper Angel, and all other Kentucky legislators representing our neighborhood requesting their action in proposing an amendment to existing Kentucky Administrative Regulations (KAR) and Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) that currently permit trucks to use our neighborhood as a cut-through. According to Mr. Tom Wright, District 5 Maintenance Branch Manager of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, existing KAR and KRS allow all trucks up to 80,000 pounds to travel on roads within a 15-mile radius of any interstate or parkway regardless of the classification of the road. The Property Improvement Committee’s proposal is for an amendment to all applicable KAR and KRS that would allow local and/or municipal governments to limit access of tractor trailers through National Historic Districts. Our commonwealth is home to over 300 historic districts, including Old Louisville. We feel that this proposal will be attractive to many communities in the state, not just urban populations.

However, as many neighbors have been working on the problem of truck traffic for years, a multifaceted solution is best. Therefore, the Truck Traffic subcommittee of the Property Improvement Committee is asking all neighbors and neighborhood associations to do their part. First, as a neighborhood, we should request that truck speed limits be lowered to 25 MPH on all roads in Old Louisville. This can best be accomplished by contacting Mr. Ted Pullen, Director of Public Works and Assets for Louisville Metro at 502-574-5810 or Ted.Pullen@louisvilleky.gov to request this change in speed limit. Second, should First and Brook change to two-way streets, as proposed, we should then request of Mr. Pullen that the lighting sequences on West Saint Catherine, Oak, Hill, and other east-west corridors in Old Louisville be changed from existing sequential green lights. Changing the light sequence will provide another disincentive for large trucks to use our neighborhood as a cut-through.

We can also use existing KAR to argue for the prohibition of truck traffic on many of our streets in Old Louisville. Several sections of 603 KAR 5:250 (See Selection of National Truck Network highways and reasonable access to these highways; http://www.lrc.ky.gov/kar/603/005/250.htm) disallow truck traffic on any route were specific safety hazards are present, existing roads are insufficient for truck maneuvers, or traffic accidents take place. These sections are provided verbatim below:

 “6) A route where a combination of two (2) or more of the following conditions on any segment of the route is of a magnitude to constitute a clearly-evident safety hazard;

(a) There exist high degrees of horizontal or vertical curvature;

(b) The roadway shoulders are less than four (4) feet in width; or

(c) There is a narrow bridge on the road segment;

(7) A route on which the turning radii of urban intersections are insufficient, as measured by template or on-site observation, to permit safe turning maneuvers by an STAA vehicle or a route on which the operation of an STAA vehicle constitutes a safety hazard to other vehicle operators or public or private property by reason of vehicle off-tracking or opposing lane encroachment; or

(8) A route on which the incidence of traffic accidents is of a magnitude to indicate that any portion of the route is unsafe for use by STAA vehicles.”

Clearly, several streets meet these limitations, including West Saint Catherine, Magnolia, and others. The Truck Traffic subcommittee of the Property Improvement Committee has already forwarded this information to Ms. Donna Sanders, Assistant to Councilman Unseld, who in turn relayed the information to Rep. Meeks. However, it is also necessary for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Louisville Metro Government to be aware of existing regulations that provide for limiting truck traffic. Therefore, all members of the neighborhood, neighborhood associations, and the OLNC are encouraged to contact Mr. Tom Wright (Tom.Wright@ky.gov),  District 5 Maintenance Branch Manager of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, and Mr. Ted Pullen (Ted.Pullen@louisvilleky.gov) , Director of Public Works for Louisville Metro to inform them of this existing regulation. The heavy truck traffic traveling through Old Louisville is an important issue that can only be solved through applying pressure to both the metro and state governments.

Additional Information: Websites of Kentucky Legislators representing Old Louisville:
Representative Reginald Meeks: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h042.htm 
Representative Dennis Horlander: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/h040.htm 
Senator Denise Angel Harper: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/S035.htm 

 

The Old Louisville Neighborhood Council is Your Way to Get Involved!  

The Old Louisville Neighborhood Council is a neighborhood agency dedicated to the promotion and upkeep of the neighborhood, and it is open to all residents of Old Louisville. Meetings take place at 7:00 p.m. in the Old Louisville Information Center in Central Park on the fourth Tuesday of every month (unless otherwise noted), and it is a way for you to have a voice in what is happening in your neighborhood. If you have an issue that you would like discussed, please email president Chuck Anderson at pcchuck@bellsouth.net one week prior to the meeting with your item so it can be placed on the agenda. Also, if you belong to a neighborhood association, please ensure that the president or other representative for the organization attends these meetings, as a portion of each meeting is devoted to reports given by the different neighborhood associations. In addition, updates are given on recent meetings of the Crime and Safety Committee, Zoning and Land Use Committee, and Property Improvement Committee, and their meetings are open to you as well. This is the ideal way for you and your neighborhood association to keep others abreast of what is happening in your organization while finding out what else is happening in the neighborhood, not to mention, it is the perfect way for you to contribute to the neighborhood. If you would like more information, please contact Linda Ewen at olnc@bellsouth.net.

 Why not start the new year off right with a commitment to start attending monthly meetings of the Old Louisville Neighborhood Council if you are not doing so already? Meetings in 2008 will take place on January 22, February 26, March 25, April 29, May 27, June 24, July 22, August 26, September 23, October 28, November 25 and December 16 (special date for holiday)..

 In December, a new board and officers were elected for the Old Louisville Information Center and the Old Louisville Neighborhood Council. The results were:

2008
Old Louisville Information Center Officers and Board

The Magnolia apartment complex renovation at the southwest corner of 2nd Street and Magnolia Avenue is nearing completion.

The existing structure was built in 1924 for a telephone company exchange. A major addition to the building occurred in 1928. More recently the building housed the Holy Angels Academy School.

The property-building was purchased during the summer of 2004 by a partnership represented by Robert Young. Architect Mark Bailey Associates was retained to prepare plans and specifications and the $2.4 million dollar renovation began during February 2007.

The structure was originally built exceptionally strong to house telephone company equipment.

The renovation of the building includes eighteen (18) one and two bedroom units occurring on three (3) levels and served via an elevator.

Architect Bailey’s planning includes third level roof terrace units, two-level townhouse type units, and lower level patio units.

All units are equipped with complete kitchens, a bathroom serving all bedrooms, and a washer and dryer. Security is provided and the building has a sprinkler system.

The renovation has been under review by the Louisville Landmarks & Preservation Districts Commission, the Kentucky Historic Preservation Office, and the National Park Service. It is an historic tax credit development.

Upon completion, the owners and the architect welcome all in the neighborhood to an OPEN HOUSE so as to visit, tour and inspect the renovation. The Open House is Sunday, February 17, 2008, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All visitors are invited to enter via the 2nd Street front door with address 1408.

The Manager of The Magnolia, Shannon Stotz will welcome all and be your tour guide.

The controlled off-street parking area to the north of the building will provide for spaces with landscaping.

Mr. Young reports that there is a keen interest in the units and that seven units have been rented prior to completion.

New Carpet Installed in the Old Louisville Information Center

Councilman George Unseld recently provided $2,300 to Metro Parks for the installation of new carpet within the meeting room of the Information Center. We estimate the old carpet was in place close to 30 years-it served us well.

Many thanks to Councilman Unseld for underwriting this improvement to our Information Center.

BJB Restoration & Remediation Masonry Historic Painting Mold remediation Tuck pointing Cornice repair Detecting, cleaning Waterproofing & caulking wood repair Removal & Stucco Plaster treatment Dennis Bolton 502-582-2833 office 502-648-7682 cell bjbbolton@aol.com 785 S. Shelby St. Louisville, Kentucky 40203

February 2007

Submit Journal contributions to the Editor:
Old Louisville Information Center
1340 S. Fourth St., Louisville, KY 40208.
Phone: (502) 635-5244
E-mail: olnc@bellsouth.net
Advertising rates available upon request.
Please submit “Letters to the Editor” to the above address.
The 15th of each month is deadline for submission of all ads and articles.

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