Aug 2 Local News New Owners Take Over Whiskey Row A group of local investors who are planning a multi-million dollar renovation of the historic Whiskey Row buildings in downtown Louisville have officially taken ownership of the properties. Led by developers Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown, the group purchased four of the buildings for $4.8 million from businessman Todd Blue, who had previously sought […] By WFPL News Aug 2 Local News New Owners Take Over Whiskey Row WFPL News
Jul 21 Local News Preservation Group Makes Last Stand at The Old Elmo’s Bar Building A small group of preservationists made a last stand today outside of the old Elmo’s Bar building on Main Street. The building is scheduled to be torn down and as WFPL’s Dalton Main reports, owner and developer Todd Blue officially has permission to demolish it as of Thursday. The 30-day waiting period mandated for the […] By Dalton Main Jul 21 Local News Preservation Group Makes Last Stand at The Old Elmo’s Bar Building Dalton Main
May 12 Local News Council Approves Whiskey Row Deal Receiving additional assurances from Mayor Greg Fischer’s administration, the Louisville Metro Council approved an emergency ordinance that allocates $1.5 million to help preserve a strip of 19th Century buildings downtown. Earlier this week, the mayor brokered a deal with local developers Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown to purchase four of the seven historic Whiskey […] By WFPL News May 12 Local News Council Approves Whiskey Row Deal WFPL News
May 12 Local News Council Receives ‘Fact Sheet’ on Whiskey Row Deal Hours before the Louisville Metro Council meets to vote on an emergency ordinance to preserve a strip of 19th Century buildings downtown, the mayor’s office has provided members with an outline of the financial plan to save the historic block. But Republican members say they are still unwilling to support waiving council rules to approve […] By WFPL News May 12 Local News Council Receives ‘Fact Sheet’ on Whiskey Row Deal WFPL News
May 10 Local News Whiskey Row Ordinance Deemed Emergency Members of the Louisville Metro Council have introduced an emergency ordinance to spend $1.5 million to salvage the historic Whiskey Row buildings and are considering suspending council rules to allow a vote Thursday. The sponsors of the bill say Mayor Greg Fischer has promised a memorandum of understanding to explain the deal before voting, but […] By WFPL News May 10 Local News Whiskey Row Ordinance Deemed Emergency WFPL News
May 9 Local News $4.8 Million Deal Will Save Whiskey Row Buildings A deal has been made to save the Whiskey Row buildings in downtown Louisville. Through a previous agreement between Mayor Greg Fischer and owner Todd Blue, the seven buildings were slated to be demolished to make room for a parking lot, then a new development. Preservationists fought to salvage the buildings, and Metro Government then sought […] By Gabe Bullard May 9 Local News $4.8 Million Deal Will Save Whiskey Row Buildings Gabe Bullard
May 9 Local News Hearing on Attempt to Delay Whiskey Row Destruction is This Week A federal judge will hear arguments this week over whether to further delay the demolition of the Whiskey Row buildings in downtown Louisville. Through an agreement between Mayor Greg Fischer and developer Todd Blue, the strip of buildings could’ve been destroyed as early as today. Preservationists fought the deal and last week they filed for […] By Gabe Bullard May 9 Local News Hearing on Attempt to Delay Whiskey Row Destruction is This Week Gabe Bullard
Apr 8 Politics Preservationists Allowed to Join Whiskey Row Case A group of preservationists and a local property owner have been added to a federal lawsuit between Louisville Metro Government and businessman Todd Blue concerning the Whiskey Row buildings along Main Street. U.S. District Court Judge John Heyburn signed an order Friday that allows DKH Properties, a neighboring business, and four non-profit organizations to intervene […] By WFPL News Apr 8 Politics Preservationists Allowed to Join Whiskey Row Case WFPL News
Mar 11 Politics Preservationists Seek Change in Whiskey Row Case The federal court ruling trumps the local Landmarks Commission. Porter told WFPL earlier this week that he thinks Heyburn will heed their request. The city is also seeking buyers for the property who would keep five of the seven building standing. By Gabe Bullard Mar 11 Politics Preservationists Seek Change in Whiskey Row Case Gabe Bullard
Mar 8 Politics DDC Head Quiet on Details, but Says Buyers Are Interested in Whiskey Row Blue would have final approval over any sale. He has repeatedly said that if anyone wants to save the structures, purchasing them from him is the best option. By Gabe Bullard Mar 8 Politics DDC Head Quiet on Details, but Says Buyers Are Interested in Whiskey Row Gabe Bullard
Mar 3 Local News Buyer Sought For Whiskey Row Buildings Developer Todd Blue owns the strip, but has said he is willing to sell them to someone who wants to save either the facades or the entire buildings, as many preservationists have called for Blue to do. By Gabe Bullard Mar 3 Local News Buyer Sought For Whiskey Row Buildings Gabe Bullard
Feb 28 Local News Blue Says Money Is Key to Saving Whiskey Row Facades Developer Todd Blue has just over two months before he can destroy the buildings to make way for a parking lot, then for the Iron Quarter development. The city has agreed to find the best way to preserve or recreate the facades, and Mayor Greg Fischer will ask the Metro Council to approve a $450,000 budget allocation to help Blue follow through on the plan. By Gabe Bullard Feb 28 Local News Blue Says Money Is Key to Saving Whiskey Row Facades Gabe Bullard
Feb 28 Local News Key Players in Whiskey Row/Iron Quarter Project to Appear on WFPL at 1:00 Developer Todd Blue was granted permission to destroy the buildings by Metro Government through a settlement in federal court. The city has also agreed to try to allocate $450,000 from the next city budget to help Blue preserve or recreate the facades. The buildings have been declared local landmarks, but the settlement in court apparently trumps the Landmarks Commission. By Gabe Bullard Feb 28 Local News Key Players in Whiskey Row/Iron Quarter Project to Appear on WFPL at 1:00 Gabe Bullard
Feb 28 State of Affairs The Future of the Iron Quarter STATE OF AFFAIRS 02/28/11: A row of historic buildings downtown on Main Street has been at the center of a controversy that continues to swirl. Developer Todd Blue, who owns the buildings, says they're unable to be saved. He wants to demolish the structures to make way for something new. Preservationists are crying foul; they say the developer isn't doing (or spending) as much as he could to save the buildings. Meanwhile, the city has given the green light to demolition, while conducting an investigation into the feasibility of preserving the buildings, or at least their facades. Today we tackle the issue on State of Affairs. Call and tell us what you think should be done with the buildings of the Iron Quarter. Listen to the Show By Laura Ellis Feb 28 State of Affairs The Future of the Iron Quarter Laura Ellis
Feb 21 Local News Preservation Louisville Encourages Followers To Attend City Budget Hearings Preservation groups have criticized a deal between the mayor's office and developer Todd Blue. Preservation Louisville director Marianne Zickuhr says she hopes Louisvillians will ask the mayor about the issue at the upcoming budget hearings. By Gabe Bullard Feb 21 Local News Preservation Louisville Encourages Followers To Attend City Budget Hearings Gabe Bullard