Mayor still AWOL, so let's turn to others to evaluate options for the Sherman Minton repairs.

A shout-out to Brigid and Andrew for excellent commentary.

It's the morning after the Sherman Minton Bridge meeting, and Alka-Seltzer isn't helping Dear Leader's mood.

Sherman Minton Bridge leadership litmus test as Mark Seabrook stays for the entire meeting, while Jeff Gahan lasts seven whole minutes.

Once again a News and Tribune reporter (John Boyle) demonstrates that with a bit of space to actually explain things, journalism is at least possible. It's even more reason to dispense with the Sunday evangelism brigade and allow capable staffers to address issues of genuine local importance.

New Albany evaluates options for closure of Sherman Minton Bridge, by John Boyle (Hanson's Evangelism Page)

 ... Regardless of which option is chosen, it will undoubtedly have an effect on New Albany.

Business owners attending the meeting expressed worries over the future, given the duration of the project.

"It's going to affect business greatly and the amount of foot traffic," said Brigid Morrissey, who owns the co-working space the Root. "People will start avoiding the city all together. People won't even be coming by downtown New Albany. Of course I'm concerned as a business owner."

To Morrissey, the best option is a partial closure, where lanes are open toward Louisville in the morning and reversed toward New Albany in the afternoon.

"That's where the majority of the traffic is going to go," Morrissey said. "That's the path of least resistance where you can get the best of both worlds. It's obviously the lesser of two evils. That seems to be the way to accommodate the most people."

Andrew Nicholson, whose independent business aims to strengthen New Albany's downtown business core, said he would consider a full closure if it meant a shorter project duration. The downside of that, he said, would be worsening conditions for pedestrian traffic.

"I skateboard everywhere downtown to my 11 clients," Nicholson said. "The pedestrian traffic is already a nightmare. It’s just going to add to that if they do a full closure.”

If no benefits are gained from a full closure, though, Nicholson said the best option would be to keep at least some traffic open during the project.

“New Albany is growing, and it has this momentum," Nicholson said. "It’s attracting the attention of small, local business owners, like myself. Even people from Louisville who already have restaurants are coming now. No matter what, it’s going to slow that momentum, but we can’t just stop that momentum entirely."

The Root is celebrating its grand opening.

Photo credit: The Root. 

Brigid gave me a tour a few weeks back, and the interior is amazing. It's another first-rate job by Resch Construction. The Green Mouse was told earlier today that work is beginning anew on the Schmitt Furniture facade improvement following a period of dormancy, and I believe Todd Coleman is moving forward with windows, pain and awnings on the corner of Market and State.

I'm looking forward to a whole year of Pints&union and The Root, as I believe we can only help each other. Best wishes to the Morrisseys, who are wonderful people.

New Louisville-area coworking space to open this week, by Marty Finley (Louisville Business First)

The Root, an 8,000-square-foot center that converted a former grocery store in a historic building into a technology hub, has set its grand opening for 9 a.m. Friday at 110 East Main St. in downtown New Albany.

The Root is a venture of father-and-daughter duo Mark and Brigid Morrissey. Its resources include conference rooms, wireless Internet service, coffee and snacks, printer/fax/copy machines, business mailboxes and other accommodations found in an office environment.

The Root has 14 office spaces and three conference rooms in an open-floor concept. It has 23 members but expects that to quickly grow with the space available, according to a news release. The plan is to create a collaborative workspace for the area's "doers, thinkers and creatives."

"Our goal is to provide a multitude of work environments where our passionate members can be most efficient," Brigid Morrissey said in the release. "We believe that the work you do with the community inside these walls can have a major impact on the community beyond the walls" ...

The Root coworking space approaches completion at 110 E. Market, next door to Pints&union.

About a month ago, Steve Resch's crew made the final big push to get the Pints&union buildout finished so Joe Phillips' team could open the pub. Since then the heavy lifting of renovation has shifted next door to do the same for The Root, which now has entered the stretch drive toward completion.

Plant the seed, watch it grow. Start digging in your roots.

The Root provides a grounded co-work space to help your business flourish by connecting unconnected people in a versatile environment. Our vision is to successfully serve, connect, and empower professionals throughout our community, allowing for innovation and discovery in a serene, creative environment.

As with the pub, the planning period began more than a year ago.

New Albany coworking space to give independent workers a place to thrive; Father, daughter team want to help new businesses grow, by Danielle Grady (Tom May Content Rights Amendment)

NEW ALBANY — Mark Morrissey didn’t know what a coworking space was a few years ago. His daughter, Brigid Morrissey, had to explain it to him.

Now, the two locals are opening one in downtown New Albany — and they’re trying to educate others on what it is and why they believe it’s such a good idea.

“I’ve learned a lot about it,” Mark said. “So I’m confident that anybody who knows nothing about it will know as much as I do eventually.”

At the Morrissey’s 110 E. Market St. coworking space, called the Root, independent workers, such as freelancers and building-less business owners, will be able to work away from home in comfort and collaborate with other members ...

I'm delighted to get to know the Morrisseys, and to me, there's a great deal of potential symmetry between The Roots and Pints&union. Very soon, we'll find out.

Previously: 

Interior views of 110 E. Market St., once Ace Loan, now being transformed by Resch Construction into The Root coworking center.