by C.A.Seller
LOUISVILLE – “A small slice of the city is poised for a major revamp.Preservationists and city leaders on Wednesday announced plans to turn Paristown Pointe into an arts and culture district.
The Paristown Pointe Preservation Trust will apply for state tourism tax credits to fund the estimated $28 million project, said Steve Smith, chief executive officer of Louisville Stoneware and a representative of the trust.
The area is between Smoketown, Germantown and the Highlands along Barret Avenue and Broadway.” Jacob Ryan for WFPK Louisville.
The Tri City Van & Storage building on Broadway and Barret has investors ready to renovate the space to the tune of 28 million dollars. Included in the renovation will be a performance space and a brewery among other civic minded attractions. “The other thing about this project we like in Frankfort is that it incorporates the old historic with new in an established neighborhood in Louisville.” Bob Stewart, secretary of the state Arts, Tourism and Heritage Cabinet said the project would draw an expected 250,000 visitors annually, leading to substantial economic impact.
Tax credits will be applied to the tune of 25% of the project’s cost. ‘Revitalizing’ the neighborhood around the building means property values will go up and the people living there will be displaced.
Gentrification. The artists are always the first wave. This appears to just co-op them. Then there are the poor. 28 million dollars could renovate the entire west end. Pshaw, tax credits. Pshaw, I say.
Bob Stewart describes the area as an “established neighborhood.” More double talk than a constipated Push-Me-Pull-Me. What the fuck is an established neighborhood?
The major problem I see is that we, the tax payers, are going to be paying 25% of the cost to renovate a building that will drive property values up displacing the poor. There are rental properties not 1000 feet from the building. I know the present owner and he is a slumlord who owns some of the most fucked up properties located on Breckenridge street. From start to finish all these guys want is money. It looks like nothing but a dirty trick flying under the flag of ‘revitalizing’ a neighborhood that is “established.” I find I am repeating myself out of the sheer terror of such a project. For shame. Why is it every ‘good idea’ is cloaked in bullshit when it comes to gentrification?