Second Time as Farce

It's so reassuring that Lexington never learns from history. Once a generation, it it destroys a historic downtown landmark so young people can appreciate the aesthetic and cultural value of a giant empty shithole.

Twenty-seven years before developers raped and murdered The Dame block for a Cock-and-Balls Tower that will never be built, Wallace "The Weasel" Wilkinson demolished the two-century-old Phoenix Hotel.

The site that would become the Phoenix Hotel originally housed Postlethwaite's Tavern, which was constructed in 1800. Several name changes occurred between 1800 and 1820, one of which was to Wilson's Tavern, which was visited by Col. Aaron Burr in 1806. The Phoenix Hotel opened on this site in the 1820s. [1] After it was established, the hotel quickly became a well-known landmark. As a prominent structure closely linked with travelers and tourism in the early history of the city, it helped to give Lexington the reputation that led it to be called "Athens of the West".

The Phoenix Hotel was demolished in 1981 by Wallace Wilkinson, who planned to use the site to construct the World Coal Center skyscraper. This was never constructed, and is considered the largest failed development in the cityscape of Lexington. In its place, the Park Plaza was opened in 1987, followed by the construction and opening of the modern-day Phoenix Park.

Correction: the World Coal Center used to be the largest failed development in the cityscape of Lexington.

"Daddy, why is there a trash dump the size of a whole city block on Vine Street?"

"That's a monument, son. A monument to greedy, lying developers and the politicians who worship them."

Media Czech interviewed Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry at the Bluegrass Ball in D.C. last night and got the scoop.

Asked about if he's happy with CentrePointe's progress, he says yes. Blamed the citizens for its delay and said that construction will resume in the next couple of weeks.

I asked him if he knows who is financining the Webb's project, unlike anyone else in Lexington. He said he's confident that they have funding. Asked if he knows who it is or if the Webb's have shown him the financing. He says he has no idea, gave a flat no. Face getting a little nervous.

Asked if he's running for re-election in 2010- says he doesn't know, and he'll decide within the next 6 months.

I asked him about the email he sent criticizing the "media" and fellow citizens for opposing and questioning CentrePointe. Refused to elaborate on it at all. Asked him why he sent it out. Said that the media was spreading lies about it, and he wanted to counteract that with the truth (snort!)

ASked why this project will be different from all the other hotel projects around the country that are going belly up. Says that Marriot knows what they are doing, and it won't suffer half capacity like the other hotels because it serves the "higher end" folks.

Asked him if he regretted how he presented CentrePointe, surprising both citizens and council members. He said he regreted nothing, and he fully briefed the council on it before he presented it to the city. (oh REEEEEALLY?)

He said it won't be built by the 2010 Equestrian Games, and he NEVER said or implied that it would be ready by then. Hmmm.

Asked what he thought about how Lexington looked downtown with the big crater. This is big: He said that it will look good once CentrePointe OR SOMETHING ELSE is there. He then said it again: CentrePointe or SOMETHING ELSE. I noted that he said something else twiced and asked him if he thought it's possible that it will be something other than CentrePointe. He gave a flat angry NO and cut off the interview right there.

I'll make an easy prediction here. The carcass of the Dame will sit there abandoned and rotting for at least seven years - a year longer than the Phoenix languished.

And twenty years later, Dudley Webb, from his bed in the dementia unit of some stinking nursing home, will persuade yet another Lexington mayor that he can save the city with an expensive skyscraper.

All we have to do it let him demolish Ashland, Henry Clay's home.

Cross-posted at BlueGrassRoots.