Here's another view of the Main Street frontage, looking towards the west.
NA Confidential proposes to monitor the scene throughout the coming weekend, and adds that if readers who are in possession of the code requirements for signage in the historical district might forward these to us, it would be appreciated.
We'd call the city's ordinance enforcement officer for comment, except that Councilmen Dan Coffey, Bill Schmidt, Steve Price and Larry Kochert recently saw to it that there is no ordinance enforcement officer. For this, they are being acclaimed as heroes in some quarters, but then again, a quarter ain't nothing but an oversized coffee table without legs if you're one of the "little people."
Moments after I published the preceding, Knighttrain provided this update, which I've moved here from yesterday's "comments" section:
AFTER CHECKING---The pile of junk came simply from cleaning out a basement---that had not been emptied for ten years---the city was called the day the trash was set out---after three weeks they said that they do not have the manpower to pick up the junk---SO THE CLEAN-UP IS BEING PRIVITIZED OUT!!!--You would think that a utility as financially strapped as the sanitation dept. would have wanted to make some money, but instead they said the job was too big.--At the most--a truck two men and about 90 minutes.
Comments from the sanitation department?
I might note that the most recent two of the last three postings were undertaken in response to reader comments. I'm certainly not seeking to gang up on the business owners involved, but would find it interesting to take all this information, in addition to whatever ordinance details certain of you might be able to provide, and attend next week's Board of Public Works meeting (on Tuesday morning).
ReplyDeleteOne of the problems with the city is that you really have to know what you are doing in order to use the services that they have.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you want information you have to make them talk to you. They will not volunteer any information. If someone from one department tells you they can't help you must ask why not and ask who they would suggest that you call.
A couple things that I have found out:
It is the street department rather than the sanitation department that picks up trash (as opposed to garbage).
And, it is my understanding that they will bring you a dumpster if you are doing something like cleaning out a basement or remodeling a building. (of course I only found that out after I needed a dumpster).
It's too bad that whoever told the furniture store folks that the city didn't have time to pick up the trash didn't offer them a dumpster.
That said, I still have a problem with them just piling all that trash up behind their building. Seems to me like they should have ordered a dumpster or made some arrangements before they started.
When we remodeled we didn't just pile our trash out behind the building and expect the city to come pick it up.
I just looked at that picture again. Is that a dumpster or is that one of those portable storage units?
ReplyDeleteNA Girl,
ReplyDeleteDo you know if dumpsters are available for residential properties or does that just apply to businesses?
We have a lot of clean up work to do around our house. Some of the "trash" has been earmarked for reuse by others, but I'm still going to have quite a pile.
Thanks.
I wasn't aware the city would provide dumpsters, but I have seen them numerous times park a city truck at your site if you call. You can pitch the stuff in and they will take it away. I have known of them providing this service free for some people, but I have also known them (meaning the city) to charge.
ReplyDeleteSo, Bluegill, you could probably start with the sanitation dept and ask if they could park a truck overnight for you to throw your stuff in. If they can't, give the street dept. a try.
It's true that you really have to delve to get info--no one volunteers it.
But I don't think it's a good idea to just haul the stuff out and stack it up without making a few calls first to see who can pick it up and when it can be picked up.
knighttrain is correct, the sign was approved by the HPC according to our former MSPA delegate to the board. However, it's worth mentioning that it was approved AFTER the fact--the furniture store did not seek approval prior to putting it up.
ReplyDeleteI'll try to look through the historic ordinance about signage, but Brett Scharlow is probably knowledgeable about that since he's now on HPC. Brett, enlighten us if you can.
Thanks for the information, Brett, but OUCH. A hundred bucks on somebody else's schedule? I hate to admit it, but it may be cheaper to hire a private truck or dumpster.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder illegal dumping is such a popular sport in New Albany.
Brett, did they recently start the set $100 fee? I know they have provided this service free in the past to someone in my neighborhood, but that was under Overton's administration.
ReplyDeleteBluegill, I just thought of something else. You can dump stuff in the dumpsters down at the sanitation dept. for free. We did this a few weeks ago when we cleaned out a garage. You have to go during their hours of operation and you have to go sign in with each truckload you bring, but it's free. We took about 3 truckloads down there.
Thanks, Annie. Free is good.
ReplyDeleteIt's a little off topic but I thought this email excerpt from of one of Mrs. bluegill's former co-workers who just moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was worth sharing:
So far we're really enjoying small-town, Wisconsin life. We can walk to so many places from our downtown apartment, including a really nice Farmer's Market, some good restaurants and coffee shops, the amazing downtown library (with wireless internet for our laptop and 2500 dvds to check out!), and the new amphitheater on the river.
Sounds good, eh?
It does indeed sound good. Maybe someday it will happen here.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone heard anything about the coffee shop going into the old Abe's Rental building? The one that was being renovated for a quilt shop? I pulled a copy of all the design releases issued by the State Building Commission and it popped up on the list. It's called the Coffee Center, owned by Steve Clark.
I think that the East Spring Neighborhood Association was told that if someone was doing work or cleaning up the city would place a dumpster there and I think we were told there was no charge.
ReplyDeleteOf course things change and in light of the financial difficulties it wouldn't be unreasonable for them to charge for it.
I have also seen the city trucks being used for remodeling debris. I'm not really sure how much one of those trucks would hold but I would certainly shop around with the companies that provide dumpsters before deciding.
A dumpster would save you the time that would take to load up and haul away the trash. And you would not have to worry about doing it while the sanitation department is open. Besides hurling stuff into the dumpster is a lot of fun. If you have enough to fill one the price really isn't bad considering how easy it makes things.
If you have anything that can be reused either the Goodwill or Salvation Army (I can't remember but I can find out) has a store that will take doors, cabinets, light fixtures, etc. And they will pick it up.
I heard, maybe from Jane Alcorn, that Steve Clark's daughter was thinking of opening a sandwich shop/coffee shop there.
ReplyDeleteI also heard, not sure who told me, that the quilt shop was definately not going to open there. Evidently they ended up buying into a quilt shop in Louisville instead.
Salvation Army is good about pickups. And there is a Hospice Thrift Store on Spring Street, right before you get to Destinations, that accepts donations, also.
ReplyDeleteWhile roaming yesterday, I peeked into the Abe's Rental place and there looked to be a counter under construction and soe restaurant equipment, inclusing a conventional drip maker and iced tea urn. Looks like it might be a showplace someday.
ReplyDeleteIt remains a shame to me that the nice people at Main Street Grind just don't do very good coffee.
They have really good food there, if you don't care for the coffee. It's a nice place to hang out downtown, we go there quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteAs I've noted previously, Main Street Grind is open for business 30 hours a week, compared to something like 110 for a Heine Brothers branch.
ReplyDeleteCalifornia's changed so many times during its brief first run that you never knew what the format was before you went in, and Jim's moving Bean Street to a place where he has entrenched competition from two existing shops, not to mention that the Charlestown Road exurb would be the first place to get a Starbucks whenever that happens.
Sometimes I wonder why I've been doomed to wander through this wilderness.
Because you will.
ReplyDeleteMy "hanging out" time has to coincide with a 6-year-old's schedule. But it would be nice to have a little nightlife downtown, too. Ahhh, the carefree life of the young and the childless!
ReplyDeleteHow has Jeffersonville been able to develop their downtown and riverfront as nicely as they have? What have they done that we could learn from? Is it a matter of leadership? Opportunity?
I can't say I totally agree with that. We've got at least five times the architecture. The big earthen floodwall is a drag in some ways, but our ampitheater, though largely unused thus far, is much better with a lot more usable space. The Greenway in Jeff will also be interrupted by some big ugly monstrosities that I personally don't consider a bonus.
ReplyDeleteJeffersonville essentially has two or three blocks on one street although they've been much more agressive in pursuing its renovation. They're taking property from people and buying others at auction.
Their government seems to have responded to the downtown, historic call but they're not without their problems. The Jeff city council just demanded that they all get private offices in the quadrangle.
Jeff is painting murals on their floodwall. What could we do with ours?
I looked at Jeff's riverfront closely a couple of weeks ago. It wouldn't be possible for ours to have the same amenties as theirs. But it seems like we have this plethora of empty, decaying downtown buildings. I'm envious of their little shops, stores and restaurants.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely, Brandon.
ReplyDeleteThe Clarks own a Quilt Shop in Mid City Mall and told my bride they have scrubbed ideas of opening the Quilt Shop in NA.
ReplyDeleteAbout downtown Jeff, it takes people with vision and whether you liked him or loathed Tom Galligan he did a lot for Jeff to be where their are today with the downtown and river front projects. He had backbone and was not afraid to say this is what we are going to do instead of playing politics to see the projects started and finished. Remember another of his projects is the new look on 10th street and the Quadrangle.
As for Jim Book leaving NA, he still remains in IUS and hopefully he will come back with a shop in downtown NA.
Can anyone shed light on what the Palmer Sheet Metal building at 15th and East Market used to be? It is a really cool period structure with hords of possibilities.
ReplyDeleteAlmost certainly is was a filling station - just imagine where the windows used to be.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tom
ReplyDeleteIt's a stylish building down beneath the industrial grim, and might be the perfect location for Progressive Brewing Company.
ReplyDeleteYou speak my language. No churches or temples in the neighborhood. Parking?
ReplyDeleteAlmost none, near as I can tell. It might work only as a production facility.
ReplyDelete