UPDATE: 90 days later, Deaf Gahan's "blight and eyesore" has been superseded by "eyesore and blight" -- and DNA jauntily approves.

(October above; August below)

Boy, what a difference three months makes. Now two-way traffic on Market affords motorists an entirely different view of the former eyesore.

As the Green Mouse says, "Those gaping holes and half-buried debris are all autumnal and shit."

Too bad the USA is dropping out of UNESCO, or else we might have a new tourist landmark: The Duggins Cool-newal Urban World Heritage Site.

I wonder how many public housing units would fit in this space?

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August 6, 2017: Thanks, Gahan: Deaf called it "a blight and eyesore for the area," so he acted swiftly ... to create another one in its place.

Curiously, NAC's forensics department verifies that Team Gahan only recently has been on the site it has helped keep derelict.

Back in March, a scandal-plagued Jeff Gahan explained why he had to demolish buildings at the corner of Market and Vincennes. He didn't say anything about creating a post-industrial wasteland in the aftermath, but maybe the memo got lost when Duggins took all the city's bulldozers over to the New Albany Housing Authority ... with Democratic Party approval.

But wait.

Maybe it's another case of contractor error.

Previously:

Once again, NA Confidential handily scoops Jeff Gahan's flailing propaganda commissariat, so let's take a glance at the mayor's new theme park.

River Run Family Waterpark is doing so well that an aquatic sequel is planned for the former Market Boy acreage.

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As an addendum, NA Confidential has been unable to confirm whether New Albany Mayor Jeff M. Gahan or anyone working in the city's administration is under federal investigation or indictment for corruption, bribery or racketeering. It is standard policy of the U.S. Justice Department to refuse to confirm or deny the existence or non-existence of investigations or subjects of investigations. A similar policy exists at the F.B.I.

Thanks, Gahan: Deaf called it "a blight and eyesore for the area," so he acted swiftly ... to create another one in its place.

Curiously, NAC's forensics department verifies that Team Gahan only recently has been on the site it has helped keep derelict.

Back in March, a scandal-plagued Jeff Gahan explained why he had to demolish buildings at the corner of Market and Vincennes. He didn't say anything about creating a post-industrial wasteland in the aftermath, but maybe the memo got lost when Duggins took all the city's bulldozers over to the New Albany Housing Authority ... with Democratic Party approval.

But wait.

Maybe it's another case of contractor error.

Previously:

Once again, NA Confidential handily scoops Jeff Gahan's flailing propaganda commissariat, so let's take a glance at the mayor's new theme park.

River Run Family Waterpark is doing so well that an aquatic sequel is planned for the former Market Boy acreage.

---

As an addendum, NA Confidential has been unable to confirm whether New Albany Mayor Jeff M. Gahan or anyone working in the city's administration is under federal investigation or indictment for corruption, bribery or racketeering. It is standard policy of the U.S. Justice Department to refuse to confirm or deny the existence or non-existence of investigations or subjects of investigations. A similar policy exists at the F.B.I.

As Duggins juggles hats and pay stubs, Redevelopment seeks a developer to shower with largess.

When the newspaper reported this story several days after you read it here first ...

Public Housing Putsch '17: Gahan, Trump remain in lock step as sycophants queue after the NAHA's director of finance resigns.

... it was noted that David Duggins remains on the city's payroll. But can he be on the city's payroll at the same time as serving as interim NAHA director? Isn't this both a federal and state violation?

By the way, if anyone knows the identity of the new insurance carrier for NAHA employees, can you let the Green Mouse know? Seems the bobbleheaded board of sycophants tabled the vote at the last public meeting, then took it into a closed door meeting.

According to Gahanism, this suggests a successful bid by Bob Norwood, who also is seated on the board. But what do we know?

Oh, yes; there's this. Redevelopment is looking for someone to subsidize. Have I started inadvertently repeating myself?

New Albany officials ask developers for ideas on Market Boy, Tommy Lancaster properties, by Elizabeth Beilman (Gahan Fluff Monster)

Redevelopment commission hoping for mixed use developments

NEW ALBANY — The famous Tommy Lancaster Restaurant and Market Boy Grocery are only memories to locals now, but soon the empty properties could hold brand new developments.

The New Albany Redevelopment Commission is advertising a request for proposals for the Market Street properties, as well as a grassy lot along Bank Street near the Underground Station.

"They're properties that have been underdeveloped ... in the case of Tommy Lancaster and Market Boy, they were blights to the neighborhood," New Albany Redevelopment Director David Duggins said.

The commission is asking for mixed-use developments for both, a concept that involves first-floor retail and upper-floor residential space often seen in urban settings.

The proposals don't request anything more detailed than "mixed use," in terms of the type of development. The commission is asking developers provide specifics on construction timeline, funding and other matters.

"Basically, [the proposals] ask for a developer to come to us to say what they would do there," Duggins said.

Son of a Duggins-geddon It: Tommy Lancaster Restaurant dies so that Gahan campaign monetization might live.

Half a block has been cleared without input from an elected official apart from the mayor himself. Coming next to this corner?

All hail redevelopment!

For demolition fetishists, don't worry -- we haven't left you out!

If a CVS materializes here, I'm going to start throwing Molotov cocktails.

Duggins-geddon It: Market Boy dies so that Gahan campaign monetization might live.

Once again, NA Confidential handily scoops Jeff Gahan's flailing propaganda commissariat, so let's take a glance at the mayor's new theme park.

Duggins-geddon It: Market Boy dies so that Gahan campaign monetization might live.

As you can see, the former Tommy Lancaster Restaurant still stands, but it's only a matter of time. Coming next to this corner?

All hail redevelopment!

Once again, NA Confidential handily scoops Jeff Gahan's flailing propaganda commissariat, so let's take a glance at the mayor's new theme park.

Clark County newspaper's New Albany editor capably eulogizes the late Tommy Lancaster Restaurant.

February 5, 2011: Tommy Lancaster's is no more.

Let's give credit where credit is due, because Chris Morris excels at eulogies, whether for people or buildings (below).

At the same time, it still strikes me as telling that throughout the process of the city purchasing properties in the vicinity of the former Tommy's, the fated verdict has been accepted without question.

The city will work non-transparently to purchase buildings; there will be no opinion proffered by the usual historic preservation watchdogs; the demolitions will follow in short order; and everyone at the newspaper from Morris on down will rinse and repeat: "Tommy’s, the building, needed to be torn down."

Probably. But of course, given this was the pre-determined outcome. How do we know for sure, when nothing about the process was above board, and everything about the process was intended to produce a pre-conceived result?

Enjoy your meals.

MORRIS: Tommy's was the perfect place, by Chris Morris (That Clark County Paper)

... If there was ever a New Albany institution, it was Tommy Lancaster Restaurant. The food was great, the beer was cheap, and it was a place where everyone in New Albany — from the rich and famous to the guy down the street who came in after work — gathered.

Once again, NA Confidential handily scoops Jeff Gahan's flailing propaganda commissariat, so let's take a glance at the mayor's new theme park.

Can someone help us out? Is this a scene from the 1917 twister, the 2017 public housing action plan or the remodeled front room at Tommy Lancaster's? Is there broaster chicken yet?

Discussions here at the blog started over the weekend.

It looks like the demolition of the old Tommy Lancaster's on Market is underway. Presumably, Gahanesque luxury is on the horizon.

The fever for Redevelopment Commission demolition: Lancaster's is coming down, Market Boy is next and incentives are sure to follow.

Now, four days later, City Hall has gotten around to revealing the latest "fix" to occur without substantive public discussion -- perhaps another gentrification project embellished in late-period Suburban Balsa architectural design, coming soon to Uptown just as soon as the abatements, incentives and sewer tap-in waivers are inked.

Verily, Gahan's still "not finished yet," but exactly what do you bequeath a city when you've already tiffed it a luxury indoor astroturf-clad recreation center, a luxury water slide, a luxury apartment complex and a luxury dog grooming park?

The Green Mouse has learned that the mayor plans to fill the space between Market, Vincennes and King Streets with a tourist attraction called Fort Gahan.

As a replica of the Colonial-era trading post built by the pioneering Gahan family, who since January 1, 2012 have officially predated the arrival to New Albany of those upstart poseur Scribners, Fort Gahan will feature an interactive museum dedicated to the city's founding Mac Eacháin family (their name later was shortened to "Jeff"), complete with a trendy eatery priced to suit the beautiful people; children's games like pin-the-tail-on-the-progressive, and a streamlined 24-hour campaign finance portal.

But first, down with those nasty buildings. Take it away, Mike; after all, we know you really said it, not him.

Demolition to Begin Next Week

March 21, 2017

Revitalization set to begin at Vincennes and East Market Streets. The New Albany Redevelopment Commission obtained possession of the old Tommy Lancaster’s Restaurant and Market Boy Convenient Store. Both structures, over years of neglect, have become eyesores and blight in the area. Tommy Lancaster’s Restaurant once served thousands of customers over several decades. However, the restaurant closed in 2011 and has been vacant and deteriorating since its closing. Market Boy, which sits adjacent to Tommy’s, has not seen any improvements for years and too has become a blight and eyesore for the area.

Both properties, Tommy’s and Market Boy, are set to be razed in the coming week. The properties were evaluated and determined to be unsalvageable. Upon demolition, the Redevelopment Commission will begin the process of revitalization by putting the properties together in a Request for Proposal to spur economic development in that area and along the Vincennes corridor.

“Tommy’s and Market Boy are two establishments that have served our community well over the years,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan, “but it is exciting to facilitate and make way for brand new development here in New Albany.”

The fever for Redevelopment Commission demolition: Lancaster's is coming down, Market Boy is next and incentives are sure to follow.

The minutes from September, 2016 (above) tell the story, as we'd already surmised here:

It looks like the demolition of the old Tommy Lancaster's on Market is underway. Presumably, Gahanesque luxury is on the horizon.

The bids were discussed in February, 2017 (March commission meeting minutes aren't yet available).

Potential incentives, abatements, municipal partnerships and campaign finance courtesy parameters have yet to be announced ... publicly, that is. Here is the satellite view of future luxury:

Birdseye, here we come: Is Vincennes Street to be the next victim of non-Speck "beautification"?

The Green Mouse called the phone number, which is posted on what used to be Tommy Lancaster's Restaurant on Market Street, near Vincennes, and was told the city of New Albany has a contract for the building.

Previously, people in the neighborhood told the Green Mouse that realtor Mike Kopp was working on a plan to buy property behind the Lancaster's location, perhaps including the adjacent Market Boy. The word used was "retail," which the Green Mouse suggests we might pronounce as "suburban strip mall chain dreck."

But there's even more.

The Green Mouse passes along yet another rumor heard out on the mean streets: The city wants to "beautify" Vincennes in precisely the same utterly misguided fashion as Main Street, entirely ignoring the street design proposals made by reigning universal expert Jeff Speck in his study, and doing so all the way from Main to New Albany High School.

It's hard for me to say this, but we must be realistic in the face of these vandals: If the fate of Jeff Speck's downtown street network proposals is for them to be systematically stripped of design significance and Gahanized into unrecognizable mush -- gutted, Dugginsed, shrouded in non-transparent secrecy and timidly implemented piecemeal over a period of years -- then it might be preferable to do nothing at all, and hope we can start all over in 2019.

However, there is one mayoral candidate committed to doing it correctly ...

Tommy Lancaster's is no more.

With the sort of reverence that accompanies memories of sitting at the bar with my grandfather, I relay that two different sources have reported the demise of Tommy Lancaster Restaurant on Market Street in New Albany-- Tommy's, to locals. Apparently, tonight was the last night of a more than 50 year history.

It would've been nice to know beforehand.



Instead of the usual eulogy, questions, and analysis, I'll simply point to the oral history work done by Amy Evans of the Southern Foodways Alliance and the words of Larry Morris, a bartender at Tommy's from 1960 to 2003 plus some. The photo was taken by Amy as well.

And now my family will have to find somewhere else to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner.

Tommy's is coping, Artesia is planning, and Downtown Diner is departed.

At the Tribune, in an article by Jerod Clapp, we learn that tax-related problems plague Tommy Lancaster's.

I fully empathize with the renewal difficulties at Tommy's.

All governmental bureaucracies are less than perfect, but the degree of kinship between the ATC and the revenue collectors is unusually high, and between them, they miss very few tricks. Think: Fine tooth combs, all the time.

One year, our license renewal got flagged for a stray $100 owed from more than four years before, as uncovered in an audit. They're brutal.

Meanwhile, with Tommy Lancaster’s still open for business, albeit bone dry, another downtown restaurant has closed. Downtown Diner’s Facebook page serves up the sad notice:

We regret to inform our friends that we will be closing our doors permanently on December 31. We have enjoyed serving you and will truly miss all of our loyal customers who have now become our friends. We want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support. It has been a pleasure to serve you.

Too bad, indeed; the breakfasts were excellent and offered quite good value. I’m told that the diner will reopen under new ownership as Earl’s Country Kitchen. Finally, also at Facebook, we learn of transitions at Artesia Fusion Bistro & Catering:

Artesia will be closed temporarily in preparation for dinner service. We are very excited about the long anticipated dinner offerings and hope very much to see you all at Artesia when we have our grand (re) opening!

You know the drill. The restaurant business is difficult in the best of times, and the past two years have been extraordinarily trying for all of us. I know you’ll join me in wishing these stalwart, independent, wonderfully local operators luck, whether coming, going, or at any temporary stage in between. We need them. They need you.