"12 Hacks to Turn Your Unfinished Attic Into an Organized Haven."

At Good Housekeeping: Transform your go-to dumping ground into a clutter-free zone.


Is anyone looking?


Good.

PLEASE READ NO FURTHER UNLESS YOU WISH TO CONSIDER A REASONABLE, DISPASSIONATE DISCUSSION ABOUT MULTI-MODAL TRANSIT, ESPECIALLY BICYCLES. THANK YOU.

Now let's talk about the latest greenway extension press release from the municipals, as forwarded by the local chain newspaper: design/article_58768636-b59b-11ea-ac27-fbf8f2c391e9.html" style="font-weight: bold;">New Albany proceeds with next stage of greenway design.

Before you read the pull, know that to have surveyed the goings-on by the municipal higher-ups for the past decade or more is to see that when it comes to their attitude toward bicycles, it's as if none of them have ever been to a place in America or abroad where people use bicycles to commute and achieve actual useful tasks (as they would driving a car), as opposed to using bicycles strictly as recreational conveyances -- often, loading a bike onto a car and TAKING it somewhere else to ride.

In functional bicycle-friendly cities, the idea is to connect one's front door to a safe path to food, drink and a haircut as well as the recreational pathway.

Why do you think almost all the useful bicycle infrastructure was stripped from the Speck plan? The movers and shakers either don't understand, or they do understand and have made the conscious decision not to pursue genuinely multi-modal transport options. I tend to think they simply don't comprehend, because if they did, don't you think reality would reflect just a wee bit of it by now?

Let's read about the Democratic Party's plans for partial modernity.

Basically, the idea is to extend the Greenway to the little pocket park where people can park their cars next to Silver Creek. A quarter-mile, maybe?

It won't serve any constructive purpose as it pertains to people using bikes to connect from neighborhoods to the center, presumably because this would inconvenience drivers.

If there's another reason why they do these things, I wish someone would explain it to me instead of refusing to discuss it.

Note the quote from Adam Dickey about connecting bicycles to Clarksville via projected sidewalks. You know, where bicycles are NOT SUPPOSED TO BE in the first place. They're supposed to be on the street ... where we won't make it safe for people outside their cars. And yet Dickey adds that future plans should include provisions for walkers, not bicycles.

Automobile supremacy has us by the gonads, doesn't it?

 ... “This part called Silver Creek Landing not only expands northward up Silver Creek, but it also opens Silver Creek up to recreational use,” (redevelopment's Josh) Staten said.

Commission member Adam Dickey said the Clarksville Town Council has expressed interest in improving sidewalks along Providence Way, which could further improve safety and accessibility to the greenway.

He added that New Albany’s prior work on the greenway allows the city to explore additional connectivity to the pathway in the corridor.

“This is going to put us in a great position because no one else has moved up to Silver Creek, and I think this puts us in a leadership position,” Dickey said.

New Albany City Councilman Jason Applegate, who is also a member of the commission, emphasized the importance of opening up the greenway to other neighborhoods. He said safety is also a vital component of accessibility, and Dickey added the city should ensure that future roadway design centers around complete streets that allow for pedestrian use.

“We see the greenways being used so I think connectivity is so important,” Applegate said.

Silver Creek bridge on nearly completed Ohio River Greenway hailed by area politicians as the solution to our affordable housing dilemma.

No, not at all, but it's the long-awaited conclusion to a 25-year-long project that Germans would have completed in 1998, and a very good thing that took way too long to build. So it goes. Meanwhile ...

Harvest Homelessness in New Albany: Who do you believe, Mayor Gahan or your own two eyes?

The next step will be eliminating the homeless encampments that insist on reappearing within eyesight of recreational cyclists. Unsightliness? it simply won't do with a municipal election year approaching.

Pathway between New Albany, Clarksville now open to pedestrians and new possibilities, by Melissa Goforth (Picayune de la Tom May)

CLARKSVILLE – The completion of a newly constructed pedestrian bridge spanning Silver Creek has opened up a much-anticipated path for foot and bike traffic between New Albany and Clarksville – and it has local leaders dreaming big about the opportunities it brings.

The new bridge, which replaced an old railroad bridge, is the last major phase of a bigger Ohio River Greenway project called the Lewis and Clark Trail.

When completed in the spring, this seven-mile trail will link those two communities together with Jeffersonville along the Ohio River Greenway.

This is a significant milestone for the development because, for the first time ever, it is possible for pedestrians and cyclists alike to travel between all three communities, with access to and from Louisville.

While people have already begun utilizing the bridge, Clarksville’s Parks and Recreation Superintendent Brian Kaluzny is quick to note the overall project is not complete nor does the town have oversight of the bridge or trail at this point.

“It’s not ours yet,” he said. “It will remain under the contractor until next May or so” ...

Cha-ching: Wheelbarrows of someone else's money to Gahan for bright shiny objects, so let's hope them people don't get in the way.

On March 28, we surveyed the state of luxurious riverside improvements in the wake of the Horseshoe Foundation's "just give him some money and maybe he'll leave us alone" gift to City Hall.

City Hall describes the four major projects to be funded (in part?) through the Horseshoe Foundation's $5 million gift.

The gift is to help fund projects in downtown New Albany and along the Ohio River Greenway. Four major projects will be funded through this generous gift from the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County.

Greenway construction has proceeded throughout the year on the New Albany side of Silver Creek, and Jeff Gahan's deep-seated desire to make the waterfront safe for normal folks just like him was revealed when his original public housing putsch plans called for the demolition of Riverside Terrace ... after all, do suburban bicyclists really want to gaze down upon the impoverished and their tawdry clotheslines?

I mean, can't they afford the laundromat? Rest assured, Deaf Gahan feels your pain, appropriately perfumed (and gated) community residents, and by golly, he'll queue the cattle cars if that's what it takes to be re-elected.

One of the lingering questions about New Albany's patch of Greenway has to do with the disposition of the New Albany Boat Club. It's another of those queries rudely handled by Gahan's team of spin doctors, whose dismissive reticence is the best reason to believe chicanery has been at play all along.

Our most recent update came on January 26, 2017.

In New Gahania, only the riverside squatters survive.

Then there's the New Albany Boat Club. It clearly was squatting for decades (see links below), but was given an 11th-hour reprieve when City Hall exercised eminent domain against a property owner who'd only just emerged victorious in a lengthy court fight against the squatters -- who were given back the property, which hadn't been theirs in the first place, by a City Hall that operates by divine decree, and not rule of law.

All of which leads to the most recent heroic announcement in a series of North Korean-intensity screeds, as the tourism bureau now joins the casino foundation in paying Gahan to please-just-go-away.

It's free money, says City Hall -- just avert your eyes while we displace public housing populations; then, as the champagne corks bounce off the drop ceilings, we all can still pretend we're letter-perfect, Greg Fischer-style Democrats.

Gahan must play trombone, too, as he seems to have mastered slide lubricant.

City Council to Vote on Capital Development Bond with Clark/Floyd Counties Convention Tourism Bureau Mike Hall Press Agency)

At their meeting this Thursday, the city council is set to discuss a capital development bond for the Clark/Floyd Counties Convention Tourism Bureau. In June of 2017, the city, in partnership with the Culbertson Mansion, applied and was awarded $825,000 from the Tourism Bureau for the New Albany Visitor and Historic Generator Project. The Culbertson Mansion is currently undergoing many restoration projects, including a full restoration of the home’s original cast iron. As part of the $825,000 award, approximately $231,000 will be applied to the cast iron restoration at the Mansion.

The City is aiming to help promote tourism through several additions, including a new boat ramp, additional picnic areas, boat docks, increased walking and running trails, and more along the Ohio River, including updates to the scenic and historic Loop Island Wetlands.

The capital development bond will be paid for through the $825,000 grant awarded to the City. There is no financial obligation for repayment of the bond from the city – the Tourism Buereau is responsible and obligated to pay the bond.

“This generous gift from the Tourism Bureau will help restore one of our most historic properties, the Culberston Mansion,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “In addition, the city will continue working towards connecting our citizenry back to our river heritage, and will provide opportunities for everyone to enjoy our Riverfront Greenway.”

City Takes Steps to Save $220,000 Per Year Through Refinancing

At today’s New Albany Redevelopment Commission meeting, the board moved forward with refinancing three outstanding bonds in order to save approximately $220,000 per year. The refinancing proposal will not increase the original term length of financing, and lowers interest rates significantly.

The three outstanding bonds have a current rate of 4.125%, 4.870%, and 5.700%. Under the refinancing package approved at today’s meeting, the rate is 2.500% for all three outstanding bonds, saving approximately $220,000 per year.

“I’m pleased that we are able to refinance these obligations at a much lower rate,” stated Mayor Gahan. “This end of year action will net savings for the citizens of New Albany.”

The proposal will now move to the New Albany City Council for approval at their Thursday meeting.

Back into the Ohio River Greenway construction zone for interstate-wide photos. Do ruminations matter at this point?

Previously:

Just a photo of Ohio River Greenway construction.

And we have a winner in the Greenway Landing caption contest.

Recommended (February 2017): Into the Ohio River Greenway construction zone for photos and ruminations.

In New Gahania, only the riverside squatters survive.

And we have a winner in the Greenway Landing caption contest.

Congratulations to Stephen Scott, the LeBron James of NAC caption contests.

But Mark Cassidy's is pretty good, too.

Great minds satirize alike, don't you think?

Greenway Landing caption contest.

Bring your own grill?

Just a photo of Ohio River Greenway construction.

I always wondered how they'd manage a shared use path separate from the roadway at this bottleneck, which is on the western side of the new Greenway construction, near to the previously completed segment by the amphitheater.

That's all. Just recalling bicycle paths I've seen in Europe, and how simple (and inexpensive) they can be when the objective is getting the job done.

Cosmetic surgery: Horseshoe Foundation gives Jeff Gahan $5 million to spend on whatever he damn well pleases.

4:15 p.m. update: City Hall describes the four major projects to be funded (in part?) through the Horseshoe Foundation's$5 million gift.

---

The down and dirty: Horseshoe is tithing $5 million for New Albany.

$2.5 million is to be devoted to a westward expansion of the Greenway from its current amphitheater terminus toward the vicinity of QRS (recycling; presumably to be reclaimed), and another $2.5 toward facade grants (details undisclosed) and "beautification" in downtown, including amphitheater touch-ups.

There are no further details at this time. I shot some sloppy video. If you have the stomach for self-congratulatory rhetoric (not a word of which recognizes the investments made by independent local businesses), then have at them.

The public has had no input into the planning, and we can only hope the Foundation has some measure of control over the disbursements.

Jerry Finn introduces Mark Seabrook, who contemplates whether he's ever going to run for mayor.

Horseshoe's Brad Seigel.

Pat McLaughlin recognizes the power of his board appointments.

The dignitaries sign, and Jeff Gahan launches into agoraphobic outer space.

Just remember: We're all here because we're not all there.

Into the Ohio River Greenway construction zone for photos and ruminations.

For about a decade, sadly ending with the advent of Bank Street Brewhouse and ensuing time restraints, I helped organize seven beercycling extravaganzas in Europe. They were good times, indeed, and some of my finest travel memories are from this period.

It really was a peak of sorts. Most of the riding occurred in Benelux and Germany, and to a lesser extent in Czech Republic and Austria. Until you've experienced these local and regional networks, descriptions are probably inadequate. The Netherlands had the best infrastructure, and the Czech Republic the poorest, though this tells you little.

Simply stated, in Northern Europe it is usually possible to use a bicycle as alternative means of transport, and to be able to utilize a grid built for this purpose. The grid can be more or less elaborate, with functionality being the obvious impetus.

In 2003, I bicycled from Frankfurt to Vienna on the Danube trail, and for much of this passage, the bike path functioned as a superhighway for leg-powered, two-wheel transport. Overall, often there are dedicated (always surfaced) pathways, with no motorized vehicles allowed.

Some times you're pedaling local roads, which are invariably well-marked, and being driven by folks who know how the score. At times, the various paths connect by means of farm roads -- again, surfaced but being used by the occasional tractor, too.

The point to this digression is what I felt last week while walking the Ohio River Greenway construction zone.

Noticing all the trees removed so as to correspond with (a) inevitable federal mandates and (b) the local desire to implement what amounts to a "luxury" shared use path, I couldn't help thinking about all the places I've bicycled in Europe where the objectives were safety, connectability and usability without bells and whistles.

In 2003, I rode more than 700 miles in all, and apart from flat tires, there were no issues with any of the dedicated routes, or during those times when I was sharing a road with automobiles. Special infrastructure had been built in places, as with river crossings (at times, bike ferries), but otherwise the experience was about dependable functionality.

I'm well aware of the "act of Congress" aspect of the Greenway, which from the very start seems to have inched forward less as essential infrastructure than bright shiny bauble. I never thought much about this dichotomy until dozens of trees began falling -- and now there is a promenade being constructed, and so on, so forth and so it goes

To me, whether I ever saddle up again or continue walking, the it remains that the objective is functionality of non-automotive infrastructure, in the sense of local and regional grids, and how this might be achieved without spending millions ... and taking less than 30 years to achieve.

It can be done in Europe. Here in America, it's more likely to be dumb.

In New Gahania, only the riverside squatters survive.

A few years ago, there were several riverfront dwellings. One by one they've disappeared, so as to clear the way for the Ohio River Greenway. So have a couple hundred trees, but that's another unfortunate story. The property that used to occupy the cleared space in the above photo was actually well kept. Was it squatting, or did City Hall buy out the owners?

Then there's the New Albany Boat Club. It clearly was squatting for decades (see links below), but was given an 11th-hour reprieve when City Hall exercised eminent domain against a property owner who'd only just emerged victorious in a lengthy court fight against the squatters -- who were given back the property, which hadn't been theirs in the first place, by a City Hall that operates by divine decree, and not rule of law.  

Jeeebus, these villainies are tiresome.

August 27, 2016
Greenway work begins, but when it comes to the boat club, the fix is still in.

October 21, 2015
The Green Mouse muses on the Greenway, eminent domain lawsuits, squatting and the New Albany Boat Club.

Amid a symphony of chainsaws and forging of plaques, political luminaries jostle to take credit for the Greenway.

Cribbed from social media and slightly adjusted.

That's right: $32 million and two decades. One suspects the great pyramids were built more quickly, although admittedly they didn't require the rationale of an auto-friendly road where a simple shared use path would have sufficed.

But yes, please; build the bridge over Silver Creek AND GET ON WITH IT.

New Albany breaks ground on more Greenway; Next section goes from Eighth Street to 18th Street, by Jerod Clapp (News and Tribune)

NEW ALBANY — There’s still one more segment to go, but New Albany’s portion of the Ohio River Greenway Project is about to start another section from Eighth Street to 18th Street.

City officials, along with those from Clarksville and Jeffersonville, held a groundbreaking ceremony at the 18th Street entrance Friday morning. Mayor Jeff Gahan said as younger people in the city talk about the history downtown and the quality of life improvements in the city, he hopes Greenway will further add to what they like about the city.

Greenway work begins, but when it comes to the boat club, the fix is still in.

And yet these questions remains unanswered.

ON THE AVENUES: Federal funding mechanisms total eighty percent. The other half is unalloyed political malice.

What is the true story behind the New Albany Boat Club returning to its moorings and building astride the prospective Greenway?

And here:

GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: Greenway timbering east of the (former?) boat club.

If the boat club is coming back, it can only be at the behest of the city. But why?

Note to all the ambitious young journalists: Ask city officials to explain the boat club saga, and the eminent domain story that accompanies it. They don't want to talk about it. This should tell us all something important. Thanks.

Now, to the triumphant installation of vehicular "recreational" (that's a cruel bureaucratic euphemism, isn't it?) roadways where shared-use walking and bicycle paths should exclusively be.

But wait: Maybe "recreational" should be read as "access road to the boat club" -- right, Chris Gardner?

Greenway work to start in New Albany next week, by Madeleine Winer (Courier-Journal)

Construction on New Albany's $2.5 million portion of the Ohio River Greenway project will start next week.

The work will extend the greenway from East 8th Street to East 18th Street. Water Street will be restricted to local traffic only early next week, according to a release from the Indiana Department of Transportation. The over three-quarters of a mile of construction will include two boardwalks, a recreational road and a shared-use trail.

Seven views of the New Albany Riverfront Amphitheater's deteriorating observation deck.

Thanks to N for the photos. This strange structure, which looks somewhat like a coastal defense facility from the Spanish-American War, is dilapidated even by the standards of the amphitheater itself (apart from the new canary yellow roof dating to England III).

Will anything ever be done to improve and actually utilize the amphitheater? It seems highly unlikely in the sort term, and it's a huge waste of potential.

Here's an idea Irv Stumler won't want to miss: Beautify Tiger Truck Lines, and watch the city squirm.

Last weekend, we walked the Greenway from 18th Street to the Loop Island Wetlands, emerging where Irv Stumler's model local trucking firm parks all of its job creation junk.

• 1. Seemingly useless rubbish which sits around for months and is inevitably disposed of the day before it is needed.
• 2. A reference to something of little or no value
• 3. The male genitalia
• 4. A kind of Chinese boat
• 5. Heroin

Yes, months later, the squalor still aptly symbolizes ...

Tiger Trucking's affectionate "fuck you" to the residents of New Albany.

But we already know that Tiger as a unit is a recurring, discordant and anti-social element, so let's move on to the future of the wetlands and the former Moser tannery.

In recent months, there has been a noticeable uptick in graffiti and vandalism at the former Moser Tannery, and as the missus reminded me when I remarked on this, it's now city-owned property. It's getting gritty down there, with lots of broken glass and debris.

The story of the city's $800k transaction was published in June.

City buys former tannery, evaluating it for future development, by Marty Finley (Louisville Business First)

A former tannery that previously was pegged for redevelopment as apartments has a new owner and its potential uses are being assessed.

The city of New Albany purchased the former Caldwell/Moser Tannery, a four-acre site in New Albany near the Ohio River Greenway.

The city of New Albany has purchased the former Caldwell/Moser Tannery and an adjoining wetlands area near the Ohio River Greenway ...

No media account dealing with New Albany government would be complete without the requisite "he didn't call back" disclaimer.

It was not clear from the release how much of that investment is carried by New Albany. Mayor Jeff Gahan did not return a call seeking comment on the project, and (Mike) Hall was unsure of the amount.

Does he ever? Rest assured, if I were a TIF zone, it'd be time to buy Astroglide in bulk.

The bigger point is this: If Irv's worried about appearances, shouldn't he be actively convincing his pals at Tiger to clean up their act, so the city's adjacent squalor would be set in even greater contrast?

One fine Sunday at the 18th Street portal to the Greenway.

As Lindsey Buckingham once observed, you can go your own way.

All those trees felled, and yet ...

... there it is. Shouldn't the dog park have been placed atop the former city dump to the rear, and not the Native American archaeological site?

These pesky questions.

Tiger Trucking's affectionate "fuck you" to the residents of New Albany.

Last week I walked the Greenway from the amphitheater, going east. My exit point was just to the right ...

...of the Loop Island Wetlands sign. Moments before, exiting the Greenway near this inspiring sight ...

 ... a carload of out-of-towners stopped and asked me if the wetlands were near (yes, just over there) and whether it was legal for them to park (yes, on the tannery side as far as I know).

I hadn't seen the sign in the first photo, threatening trespassers with towing, and of course making no effort to explain the situation in coherent detail.

Of course, Tiger's area near the Greenway/Loop Island portal has been an unsightly, trash-ridden disgrace for a long time. But the company doesn't stop there.

Ever since the Main Street beautification project, Tiger has used tiny 13th Street as a de facto company connecting road although urban residential areas.

Throughout, a cowardly City Hall has done nothing. It's hard to determine which entity, Tiger Trucking or City Hall, is capable of greater flights of anti-social behavior. Just now that in the case of Tiger's signage near the Greenway, the confusion and distaste is in the minds of those people coming to visit.

In effect, Tiger is discouraging tourism.

And, as always, Jeff Gahan remains silent, and does absolutely nothing.

GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: Greenway timbering east of the (former?) boat club.

It's odd.

In 2015, the Green Mouse was told that after years of legal efforts, the owner of the property where the New Albany Boat Club has been squatting all this time finally succeeded in displacing it.

Yesterday I saw a few vehicles at the boat club, and a dumpster being filled. The club's docks are stacked a couple hundred yards away. Is the club coming back? The city undertook eminent domain proceedings against this very same property owner, whose land extends beyond the flood wall and includes the boat club and right of way for the Greenway project.

If the boat club is coming back, it  can only be at the behest of the city. But why?

Meanwhile, a whole slew of healthy, mature trees have been cut. We now know the excuses reasons for this: The Greenway master plan said so, and the timbering had to come before the bats in JOhn Rosenbarger's belfry begin nesting. Has any previous mayor felled as many trees as Jeff Gahan?

And do we or don't we have a Tree Board?

The Green Mouse muses on the Greenway, eminent domain lawsuits, squatting and the New Albany Boat Club.

Market, Elm -- whatever. After all, they're both one-way streets.

Them bats in Pinocchio Rosenbarger's belfry: BOW talks Greenway, and a night on Bald Mountain.

For your listening and dancing pleasure, a selection of waltzes from last week's (March 29) Bored of Works meeting.

Once again we're reminded that even though it is to be a "greenway" for walkers and bicyclists, there'll be some manner of "limited" automotive access, perhaps akin to the Spring Street Interstate, and to make room for a roadway necessary for cars, even if narrowed, we'll have to remove 109 trees.

And in removing 109 healthy trees, we'll have to do it right now --STAT -- without asking Mr. Naps' permission, because if not, the bats will begin nesting.

Now, we might actually go to the tree board, and we might consult the arborist, but since the project was approved a long time ago, what possible good would that do?

Can someone explain why there even is such a thing as a tree board if it isn't to be informed of such matters?

Of course, we must inform Mr. Naps first -- then the tree board. After all, the tree board never served as Democratic Party chairman.

Rosenbarger's last brilliant road calming success was the catastrophic (for the street) Main Street Beautification Project, which runs past his house, ruins the roadway, and yet enhances his own property values. He casually reveals that yes, the Greenway route for humans will be open for cars, and we'll put a few pull-overs in to help keep things calm -- nudge nudge, wink wink.

It's how you keep your job, long after the thrill of performance is gone.

Finally, worn down by minutes of ineffectual questioning, Rosenbarger speaks something approximating actual truth. He'd have informed the board sooner about the need to clear-cut those 109 trees, but then things dragged too far along owing to his department's historic, sloth-like vigor, at which point it became necessary to move very quickly ... to capture the money.

And you wonder why 5th Street was paved (gotcha, overpaid lawyer) before being destroyed by Break Wind construction.

Heck, boy, we'd have lost the money -- and how the hell is the paver going to kick back some campaign finance if he doesn't pave?

Then, there's the (now) bald knob behind the church on State Street.

Ever the straight man, Mr. Naps asks: Are they allowed to cut like that?

Planning Department replies: We'll have to check on it.

If they're not allowed, I'd like to see Rosenbarger on a tractor, reattaching all the trees that already have been cut, like toothpicks protruding from a long overdue forced retirement cake.