Uh oh. Looks like Phipps's balsa renaissance housing perimeter is about to advance.

On Oak, I believe. Somewhere CCE is greasing its wrecking balls.

Jeff Gahan's impressive historic building hypocrisy at this year's Facelift Awards.

Over at the pan-fried paper, Jerod Clapp quotes Mayor Jeff Gahan on the occasion of the 9th annual New Albany Facelift Awards.

Mayor Jeff Gahan said he’s glad to see so many people in New Albany take care to preserve and restore such historic buildings in the city.

“Our city’s two centuries old now and lately, we’ve seen development and businesses show more interest here,” Gahan said. “What’s exciting about the growth of New Albany is we all have the same goals for our historic buildings.”

What Jerod fails to mention, and which I'm delighted to note, is that when the mayor sought to make a few ineffectual jabs in the general direction of "affordable housing" prior to re-election, and a historic tavern building stood in the way ... well, in this instance we all didn't "have the same goals for our historic buildings," and the combined weight of officialdom couldn't wait to tear that mother down in spite of one solid and reputable proposal to rehabilitate it.

Let's look back. After all, it's been only a year and a half.

Squeals of arousal and delight resound across the 3rd council district as more of the city's history bites the dust.

ON THE AVENUES: Now on tap at the ghost of Haughey’s Place: The politics of pure spite.

The 3rd district councilman did not acquit himself well, either.

"Tear It Down," Sayeth the Councilman, Part 1: The rudderless newspaper squanders another 922 Culbertson opportunity, but an informative chat occurs, anyway.

"Tear It Down," Sayeth the Councilman, Part 2: "Just how has this been a corrupt process?" Hint: Secretive nonsense.

"Tear It Down," Sayeth the Councilman, Part 3: A civilian's due diligence as to 922 Culbertson's possibilities.

"Tear It Down," Sayeth the Councilman, Part 4: "I say do the work for which you're being paid."

"Tear It Down," Sayeth the Councilman, Part 5: The ghost of Orwell enjoys a pint at Haughey's Place.

Aren't they cute?

Follow the slush, my boy.

Always follow the slush.

Hurry: Four of Jeff Gahan's delightful gingerbread houses in Midtown remain up for grabs.

2 for 6 in 7 months.

Midtown Renaissance: It depends on what you mean by "painted lady."

The Green Mouse was told that the city would like to see more houses like these built on the Vinod Gupta properties it is acquiring on Market (Lancaster's) and nearby King Street.

But will the feds pay for this round of balsa and prayers?

Wouldn't you love to know the scope of the plan before the congratulatory press release, typically issued AFTER the project is complete?

Midtown Renaissance: It depends on what you mean by "painted lady."

I suspect the use of "painted ladies" is intended to imbue these rare instances of New Albanian urban infill with architectural respectability.

"Painted ladies" is a term in American architecture used for Victorian and Edwardian houses and buildings painted in three or more colors that embellish or enhance their architectural details. The term was first used for San Francisco Victorian houses by writers Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen in their 1978 book Painted Ladies - San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians.

But while it's probably no longer politically correct, I prefer Elton John's word association.

"Painted lady" is a euphemism for a prostitute, but Elton's voice is in fine form in this 1976 recording.