Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Outside, it's 2007 ... and the Publican invites Louisvillians to come wander the open air museum.

This morning, I posted the following at Robin Garr’s Louisville Restaurants Forum.

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As many readers know, I unapologetically beat the drum for the future hope being currently engendered by the behind-the-scenes work done by many good people, who have the ultimate aim of revitalizing downtown New Albany within the context of the metro Louisville area.

We hope that 2007 will be a very good year for the cause of forward vision in New Albany, as there are at least three food- and drink-related projects on the drawing board for downtown, and it is hoped that these will join the already growing entertainment infrastructure. Planned ventures include a bakery café, music and bar venue, and informal sports bar/eatery. Prospects are good that all will come to fruition by spring.

Up until now, most of you have heard about Bistro New Albany, La Rosita’s and Federal Hill Café. All are excellent in differing ways. Also, Main Steet Café has opened in the space formerly occupied by the Main Street Grind. Ermin’s is a few doors down. Old standbys Tommy Lancaster, South Side and Little Chef are still around. There are certainly gaps. There also is more going on than at any time in recent memory as we attempt to educate and enable an appreciation for contemporary redevelopment strategies.

Downtown New Albany remains an undervalued entity within the whole of metro Louisville, and we have our share of problems like anywhere else, but this finally could be changing soon.

Construction has started on the Scribner Place YMCA project (State and Main), which represents the biggest investment in downtown since the founders arrived almost 200 years ago. Several entrepreneurs are beginning the rehabilitation of long unused upper floor spaces for apartments and condos. There is much interest in the arts as a catalyst for further progress. As the bland chain-influenced exurb grows, the value of refashioned older urban areas increases.

It may not always be the case to glean the good news from the reports provided in the Courier-Journal, and yet there is good news, nonetheless, and prospects are cautiously positive.

Speaking personally, I’d just like to invite the forum readership to consider coming over, having a meal at one of the establishments listed above, and strolling around downtown New Albany. It’ll be a “warts and all” experience, but it’s safe, and instead of recounting the obvious matters yet to be addressed, consider the possibilities. My wife Diana and I have invested in downtown by buying a house and living here, and if the proper opportunity presented itself, I’d gladly do the same with an extension of my current brewery/pub/pizzeria business.

Thanks for the time. Hope to see some of you around.

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In other news, 3rd district councilman Steve Price plans to organize a rally to urge forum readers to stay the hell away from New Albany, lest our cement pond status quo be upset by an influx of people who don't share our cultural values.

"Don't need no more of them people here," he twanged to a reporter. "Can't park yer pickup as it is. Can't afford it, either. None of it. Nickels and dimes add up to a mixin' of the cultures. Uppity. Don't wanna be like that Frank-fert avenoo, do ya? But whadda I know. Wrong side of the tracks. Nazis at the VFW. Gotta go tend to my yard couch."

Taking the bait, our mock Professor Erika promises to erect a blockade at the approaches of the K & I bridge, having seen in an anonymous blog posting that "pergessives on bikes" would be coming across.

Actually, they couldn't make it. Because of the barricade on the Louisville side.

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