Old Louisville Journal, May 2003

Who We Are . . .
Old Louisville-Limerick
Part of Neighborhoods Study

Old Louisville-Limerick was one of 14 inner city neighborhoods analyzed in terms of housing and neighborhood conditions and compared with Jefferson County as a whole.

The study and written report identifies current conditions in the study area, discusses neighborhood challenges, and recommends reinvestment strategies.

Housing Conditions and Challenges in Louisville’s Western and Central Neighborhoods, by Steven C. Bourassa, Eric Schneider, and Bruce Gale of the UofL Urban Studies Institute and Jack Trawick of the Louisville Community Design Center is available in its entirety at the Old Louisville Information Center.

* One of only two neighborhoods to experience a population increase and one of only three neighborhood to have an increase in the number of housing units between 1980 and 2000.

* Dissimilarity index was close to zero percent in 1980 but has increased since then.

* In spite of gentrification, has the second lowest owner occupancy rate (16.5%); this rate has been fairly constant since at least 1980 due to the development of new and rehabilitated apartment buildings, including seniors’ housing.

* Houses requiring major rehabilitation tend to be on the periphery of this neighborhood, as substantial reinvestment has occurred in its core.

Tickets are $20 and are available at the Old Louisville Information Center
Call 635-5244 for further information.

Join us for a free concert featuring the sounds of jazz, Latin, and contemporary music
Rain location: Caldwell Hall, Conrad-Caldwell House Museum

I find myself in a unique situation -- a resident of Old Louisville and a participating artist in the St. James Court Art Show.

As a child, I grew up in historic homes. As a college student I rented a carriage house in the Cherokee Triangle and upon graduation, bought my first home – a 1905 Victorian cottage – in Crescent Hill. When we decided to move into a larger home it was a natural progression to come into Old Louisville and become part of a neighborhood with great historical and aesthetic importance. I’ve been selling my artwork for 21years and have preferred to enter only local shows - St. James Court Art Show being the biggest, the best, the most organized, and quite frankly, the most lucrative of all the shows

I appreciate the art show because it provides a means to take better care of the neighborhood. As homeowners, we are simply caretakers of these homes, and it is our job to insure that they are here for another one hundred years to enable future generations to be educated and inspired by their beauty and craftsmanship.

The neighborhood associations responsible for the organization and management of the St. James Court Art Show return any proceeds to Old Louisville neighborhoods to maintain, improve and perpetuate the area.

The 1300 South Third Street Block Association, of which I am a member, maintains the period street lighting and provides donations for projects such as the repair of the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, and the restoration of the Filson Club. We have purchased two mountain bicycles for the Fifth District Police Bike Patrol. Annual donations to Shakespeare in Central Park, and staffing/ financial support to the Oak Street and Central Park clean ups. All of these projects enhance my property, improve my quality of life and nourish my creative appetite.

The St. James Court Art Show draws thousands of visitors from all parts of the country. I have sold paintings to patrons from as far away as Alaska and Canada. I know of two artists who were so enamored with historic Old Louisville and its Victorian architecture, they purposely relocated here to become an active integral part of this neighborhood. Not only is the Art Show financially important to Metro Louisville, it also showcases a rare Victorian neighborhood not found anywhere else in the United States.

As an artist, I appreciate the beauty and history of my surroundings when I set up my tent that first weekend in October and, as a resident who very much wants to maintain and more importantly preserve and protect this treasure of a neighborhood, I applaud the St. James Court Art Show.

For sale: Parts of one slightly damaged Victorian-era fountain. Original cast iron centerpiece of St. James Court. Owner needs to clean out basement. Pieces from $.25 to $375.

Yes, it’s true! The St. James Court Association is selling the fountain- that is, pieces of the original cast iron fountain. The original was replaced in 1975 by a new casting, but in the process it (the original) was shattered. Seems it was dropped from a crane. This presented quite a challenge to the sculptor in charge of recasting, but it also created a unique marketing opportunity for the Court Association.

P.S The next time you are walking through the neighborhood visit the fountain. It’s back in operation for the 1984 season.

Old Louisville received favorable mention as a place to visit in an April 11, 2003, New York Times article entitled "Journeys: 36 Hours – Louisville, Ky.."

Listing things to do and see to sample the city’s traditions "…in the magnolia-shaded spring of Louisville," the article suggests that visitors explore the quiet streets on a Sunday morning. Visitors are encouraged to visit the "heirloom neighborhood" of Old Louisville. Belgravia and St. James Court are mentioned as "serene hideaways" not to be missed.

The Dupont Mansion Bed &Breakfast is mentioned along with the Brown and Seelbach Hotels as places to stay.

Thank goodness spring is here. It’s time to do all those things in our gardens that we’ve been thinking of all winter! But what will grow and prosper? What are pass-along plants? What did the Victorian era grow? Do I want a cottage or formal garden?? How about native plants -or- plants that will take care of themselves!!!
Please join us at the Old Louisville Information Center on Wednesday, May 14th at 7pm. There is renewed interest in forming an Old Louisville Garden Club and we want and need your input. Refreshments will be served.

If so, please let us know about it. People frequently ask for the names of a good carpenter, plumber, mason, plasterer, painter, etc.. The Old Louisville Information Center seeks to create a file which will help answer these questions. We invite neighbors to recommend workers and companies with which they have had a good experience; we will pass this information to interested parties along with the recommender's name and phone number.

Please call the Old Louisville Information Center (635-5244) with any recommendations.

Cook's Corner

Spring and Derby Bring Culinary Delights

Springtime in Kentucky means many things to many people. Perhaps spring is cool mornings and tender flowers like tulips in bloom. Others may consider it spring when the Derby Festival events finally arrive. For my family, spring means these things and more. We love to gather at someone's home and share a Sunday meal together, and spring for us means new additions to the Sunday dinner table. With fresh asparagus from my uncle's garden and old fashioned yeast rolls lovingly recreated from my grandmother's recipe, the entire family knows spring has sprung. There are the traditional dishes each of us is known for bringing, and then there are the ones we sort of slip in as "a little something new" to the tried and true table.

I remember flipping through the well-worn wooden box which has been home to my mother's recipes for at least 30 years. Though we lost her some 25 years ago, flipping through that file

makes me feel like she is in the kitchen working her culinary magic. All the old favorites are there including the dishes you hope never to see again. You know the ones I'm referring to...the chipped beef on toast from my childhood and that always interesting lime jello salad with cottage cheese and crushed pineapple. Not there there is anything necessarily wrong with it but, it has been absent from our table for over 10 years and no one seems to notice, thankfully!

A few years ago I stumbled across a recipe I did not recall ever tasting. Mom had it filed under "brunch items" and it caught my attention. I first made the dish for a Sunday brunch on the day after Derby and I'm happy to say it is the most requested brunch dish for our family. It just wouldn't be Derby weekend without that Sunday brunch and it wouldn't be Sunday brunch without this dish. I hope you try it and I hope it becomes a favorite of yours, too.

Debbie Powers

Sausage and Rice Casserole

1 pound ground sausage, (hot or mild to your choice)

1 large red onion, chopped

4 celery stalks, sliced or chopped in small pieces

2 carrots, shredded

1 green pepper, chopped

4 1/4 cups boiling water

2 envelopes of chicken noodle soup mix

1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice

Brown sausage in large skillet, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.

Drain and set aside. Bring the water to a boil and add the soup mix and rice. Cook for 7 minutes. Combine soup and rice mixture, sausage and the chopped vegetables stirring to mix well. Pour into a greased 2 quart casserole dish. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Serve hot

Despite cold, blustery weather, over 115 neighbors and friends turned out at 8:30am on April 5, to clean up and improve Central Park.

Other goods and services were provided by the following: David Norton, Winn-Dixie (Jim Craven, manager), Marianne Lesher, Lois Tash, Malcolm Bird, Virginia McCandless, Ginny Keen, Metro Parks, Action Landscape Company, Bill Peake, Herb and Marjorie Fink, Ben Handy, Porter Paint, Morrison Greenhouse, Lose Brothers, Chuck Blust, Tim Beavin, Judy Seale, Polly Wood, Beth Duffy, 5th District Major Larry Watkins, Sergeant Doug Sweeney, and Officer Tara Long.

Herb Fink called the OLNC PIC committee meeting to order at 7:05PM.on April 10, 2003.

He introduced Doug Wilson, the architect with Michael Cook and Associates, who is working with the Center for Women and Families on their project at 900 S. Second. Mr. Wilson indicated that they have now begun remodeling the old Super 8 Motel property. Lynne Meyer with Center for Women and Families said that they planned on beginning to occupy the property by the end of summer and to be totally in there by this time next year. The Center houses women and families dealing either with sexual abuse, domestic violence or economic hardship. It is relocating from the current location at 3rd and Breckinridge which is now for sale. Ms. Meyer indicated they had people that were possibly interested in buying it, and although she would not say who the prospect was, she indicated that the neighborhood would be happy with them as neighbors.

Mr. Wilson answered a request made by Dale Strange at the last PIC meeting to allocate space inside the perimeter for people who wait on the sidewalk in the mornings outside the facility. Mr. Wilson said they had made arrangements for a waiting area, but Ms. Meyer said that she thought the people that had been waiting there were with Seven Counties who had shared the current facility with them previously, but were no longer there and would not share the new facility. She also said they were open 24-7, so there should be no reason for people to wait for them to open.

Herb asked Mr. Wilson if they would entertain some suggestions regarding the "reforesting" of the front of their new building. Mr. Wilson agreed that they would welcome help.

Ms. Meyer requested that Metro Police Bike Patrol be located inside the Center to help them deal with the Villager and other issues on First St. The Bike Patrol is currently located in Jim Cooke Buick. Lisa Doyle of the LPD said they would probably welcome the opportunity to move there and she would check on that.

Bob Bajandas then made a motion to advise the OLNC that PIC had reviewed the plans the Center for Women and Families presented, liked the layout and was excited about them relocating to this new property. Chuck Anderson seconded the motion. It was passed unanimously.

Bob Bajandas brought up the fact that he was involved in the process of getting funding from the Planning Commission to create a neighborhood plan for Sobro (South of Broadway). He said there were many jewels in that area such as the library, Spalding College and Center for Women and Families that needed to be connected by housing or other businesses to replace parking lots.

Virginia Woodward, with Project Women announced a plan to demolish buildings (a vacant manufacturing building and old post office) located at 5th and Lee Sts. and to build a new apartment building of thirty 2 & 3 BR apartments to house single moms striving to achieve a baccalaureate degree at several area colleges and universities. Parking for tenants will be located primarily off street. They are currently in the process of identifying an architect and applying for a change in zoning to OR-2, which will accommodate apartments. They will keep OLNC abreast of progress on the new buildings. Ms. Woodward said they wanted to be a good neighbor and looked forward to being a part of our community and building a facility that would fit well into our historic neighborhood.

Bob Bajandas made a motion to advise OLNC that based on the preliminary plans we heard for the Project Women group, we would like to encourage their efforts and welcome them to our neighborhood.

Herb announced changes to be made to ramps and streets near I-65 based on a study done for the "Downtown Development Corporation" and funded by KFEC, MSD, U of L and the City of Louisville.

There are five major areas parallel to the roadway corridors which are expected to experience development pressures due to:

* Improved access and visibilityfrom roadway corridors (including new Central Ave. and Phillips Ln)

The preliminary plans were presented at the meeting and Herb said that in 30-60 days we should hear more of the plans that have been made. It is believed that the City of Louisville and Project Steering Committee will be working with the Ky Transportation Cabinet to secure funding and begin design of these improvements. The preliminary cost estimate for these improvements is $22,845.208

It was mentioned that Kentucky’s largest Kroger store may be built on the southwest corner of Third and Central across from the old American Air Filter building.

Herb Fink told us that LPD wanted to pave their parking lot behind OLIC in order to make it easier for their dumpster to be emptied. No one at the meeting was opposed.

A review of the Central Park Cleanup was made by Herb Fink and he offered his thanks to all who participated in the project.

The last order of business was the impending Oak Street cleanup which will be held on May 17th beginning at 8:30AM. Once again, neighborhood associations will be asked to donate dollars to support the cleanup with food and drink. Again, barrels will be placed in front of the businesses and planted with flowers to adorn the area. A motion was made to request OLBPA to handle watering the flowers after they are planted. It was decided that due to the cost and time involved in watering the plants, if the businesses on Oak St will not maintain the barrels they will not be placed there in the future. This motion will be presented to OLBPA at their next meeting.