HISTORIC BUILDING TO BE RAZED TO MAKE WAY FOR PARKING LOT

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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In 1834, Covington's first mayor, Mortimer Benton, may have lived in the building that will soon become a parking lot for Legacy Financial. The Covington urban design review board (UDRB) decided against taking action to stop the plans and also against taking action to approve them. Instead, the board allowed Legacy's plans for the building at 119-121 East Fourth Street between Scott & Greenup to move forward by default. In mid-March, the plans were soundly rejected by preservationists and not supported by members of the UDRB, though a ninety day window was opened in order to find a suitable alternative plan to save the building which is between 150 and 175 years old. 

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At that meeting in March, representatives from Legacy spoke of the deplorable, unsalvageable condition of the building, currently used as law offices, while the City's historic preservation officer, Beth Johnson, argued that Legacy had plenty of available parking and that the building was worth saving. (Read comments from both sides of that lengthy debate by clicking here: Possible Home of Covington's First Mayor Won't Be Parking Lot Yet) 

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 It was a different story Monday afternoon at City Hall. Johnson had since toured the building with city staff and preservation/rehabilitation experts to determine its economic viability. Her estimated construction cost to resurrect the building was $154,200, far lower than Legacy's $246,200, but added to the $177,000 listing price of the building and a $34,000 management fee, the total project cost would be more than $365,000. Johnson then factored in historic rehabilitation tax credits which could have brought the project cost down to $256,000. 

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Finally, Johnson asked for assistance with an economic analysis from Jeanne Schroer, executive director of the Catalytic Development Fund of Northern Kentucky. Schroer wrote, "Generally, though based on the assumptions I used, a developer would probably not consider this to be financially feasible even with the historic tax credits. Total costs with acquisition are close to $460,000. The cash flow from the leases only supports a loan of $189,000 so developer cash required is $227,000. This can be offset with about $64,260 of historic tax credits... Even with this, the developer's return on cost is only about 5.4% and his return on equity is 3.5% (not good -- negative leverage)." 

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Schroer continued, "Basically, the developer is not able to borrow enough money to make it worthwhile from a return standpoint."

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Johnson's official recommendation then was for the board to approve the demolition on the basis that the building could not be reused or earn an economic return upon its value. Members of the UDRB seemed unanimously uncomfortable with the task then before them. The widow of the building's longtime owner spoke up. "I invited the urban design review board to tour the building, I thought you should all the inside, not just the cute little bricks on the outside," said Catherine Hawes before weaving a tale about a sewage flood in the structure's basement. "The building is not in good shape."

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The board took particular caution with what it viewed as possibly setting a precedent that would allow for buildings to be torn down simply because they are no longer viewed to be economically viable and then replaced with parking lots. By not voting on the issue and allowing the plans to move forward by default, no such precedent was set. 

| Now that the parking lot plans are moving forward, a representative from Legacy promised that the final product will be an attractive addition next to the company's offices inside a beautifully restored mid-19th century church. "We're proud residents of Covington," said Trent Lucas. "We have sixteen employees and we just don't have enough space as it is. We're going to try to make as much green space as possible."

NEWS ROUND-UP -- SATURDAY 24 MARCH 2012

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter 

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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MURDER VICTIMS' FAMILIES HOPE FOR END TO TEEN VIOLENCE

With this week's announcement that 16-year old Romello Rice, a former football player at Holmes High School, was indicted for the December murder of 18-year old Brett Thornberry, Local 12's Joe Webb revisits a year's worth of teen murder suspects and victims in Covington: 

"The kids shouldn't have guns running around killing people."
But police say that's exactly what's happening. Last winter, 17-year-old Stacey Spencer was charged in the shooting death of Clay Meyer on Garrard Street. In June, 16-year-old, Dreshawn Hammond was shot multiple times near City Heights. 14-year-old Tromonte Rice and 16-year-old Mikaele Crumes are charged in that murder. Last fall, a grand jury indicted 17-year-old Quenton Kolenda along with two adults for killing and beheading Donnell Brown. 

More with video at the link. 
Local 12/Joe Webb 

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REP GEOFF DAVIS PUTS ONUS OF BRENT SPENCE ON THE STATES

The retiring Congressman representing NKY in DC spoke to the NKY Chamber of Commerce Friday in Covington: 

“David Williams and Greg Stumbo talked openly about wanting tolling,” Davis said. “That is the wrong solution. That simply gives them the means to keep more federal dollars in other places for projects they want. That’s unfair to Northern Kentucky, which is a net payer to the commonwealth of Kentucky, to be penalized when those dollars need to be invested here.”

Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman 

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Covington City Commissioner Steve Frank offered this information about the bridge on Facebook: 

Please mark your calendars now for Wednesday April 11th at 6:00 P.M. for a Brent Spence Bridge stakeholder meeting in Commission Chambers. We need to get as many interested parties to this meeting on April 11th as possible so they understand what KYTC is proposing and what modifications that Covington is requesting, so we can enlist everyone’s public support for our requests at the final public meeting on April 25th.

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KY EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION IN COVINGTON THIS MORNING

A crew from the popular Kentucky Life program on KET is on Covington this morning to record a segment on local volunteer efforts at cleaning up the Licking River Greenway Trails. The local project won a Facebook voting contest that brings KET here and to Rabbit Hash as well for a separate clean-up project. Want to help? The crews are meeting at 9:00AM at the Licking River's 16th Street access point. Work will continue until noon. 

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SEE ALSO: Today is Reforest Northern Kentucky:

Please join us for Reforest Northern Kentucky 2012 at Twenhofel Middle School on Saturday March 24th, 9:30am-12:30pm. Bring your friends, family, and shovels to help improve our community by planting trees. The first 200 volunteers will receive a FREE t-shirt! Refreshments and take-home native tree seedlings provided for all volunteers. REGISTER by phone (859) 356-3155 or online at www.kentoncountyextension.org 

For more info, click here.

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HOLMES MIDDLE TO PARTICIPATE IN $26.9M COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAM

A federal grant awarded to the Commonwealth of Kentucky worth $26.9 million will help twenty-nine schools with college readiness. The program is aimed at this year's 7th graders and will follow them through high school as they prepare to enter college. The state chose Holmes as the location to make its announcement Friday morning. For the full story and for lots of photos, click the link. 

The River City News 

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SEE ALSO: Holmes High School is recognizing as many of its seniors as possible through the Covington Independent Public Schools Facebook page: 

Christina, 17, has been accepted to Western Kentucky University, where she will major in film and video production. She’s not quite certain what she will do with her degree, but it will be innovative.
“I want to be creative in my own creative way,’’ she says. “I want to go behind the scenes of a television or movie set. I can be a director or producer. I don’t know, I just want to experience it all.’’ 

Good luck, Christina! 
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SEE ALSO: There is always lots of good stuff featuring Covington kids at the CIPS Facebook page.  
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COVINGTON LANDMARK TO HAVE NEW ENTRANCE INSTALLED
At last Monday's meeting of the urban design review board, the possibility of razing an antebellum structure that may have been home to Covington's first mayor was the top item on the agenda, but there was one other significant building slated to make an architectural change as well: 

Covington Station, the former train station turned office building, was approved to change the door at its main entrance. This is what it will look like when the change is made: 

On the left is the current entrance and on the right
is the expected change (click to enlarge)

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FRANKFORT HEADLINES

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Sex trafficking is a problem on Kentucky interstates Herald-Leader 

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State budget negotiations to begin Monday Bluegrass Politics & cn|2 

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Lawmakers have one week to settle budget differences Herald-Leader 

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House Speaker Greg Stumbo says a budget compromise should be easy WFPL 

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Governor and First Lady present food bank funds press release 

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Governor Beshear wins friendly bet with Michigan governor after Louisville beat Michigan State in the Sweet 16 Thursday press release 

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      REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED BLUE

Kentucky offers Indiana payback Friday night as the Wildcats ended the Hoosiers' season in a fast-paced high-scoring Sweet 16 match-up, 102-90 Herald-Leader 

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Columnist says UK's next opponent looks a whole lot like the Wildcats Herald-Leader

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NOTE: You may be more interested in Louisville's shot at the Final Four today against Florida (or maybe even Syracuse versus Ohio State) but the Division II national championship game is on national television today and it is taking place at Northern Kentucky University. This is great exposure for the region -- so be sure to check out the game this afternoon on CBS. 

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QUICKIES

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Will Turfway Park become a shopping mall? AP via Wall Street Journal 

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SEE ALSO: Another horse that may be Derby-bound is "Holy Candy" The Blood-Horse

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UpTech, the region's new start-up incubator, has some tough decisions ahead Cincinnati Enquirer

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KY Congressman John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) celebrates the anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Health Care Act and also challenges Senator Mitch McConnell to a debate over the historic legislation 

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Meanwhile, McConnell suggests replacing the Affordable Health Care & Patient Protection Act with step-by-step changes The Hill

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Bullying-related deaths mount in Kentucky WCPO 

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New games, big pots boost Kentucky lottery sales Courier-Journal

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SHOCK: Kentucky ranks poorly for gay travelers Spartacus 

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Road construction to begin next week on two NKY interstates Local 12 

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Baby kept family safe from tornado Cincinnati Enquirer

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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HOLY CROSS FOOTBALL COACH BRUCE KOZERSKI SPEAKS IN PENNSYLVANIA

The leader of the Covington's first high school football state championship-winning team was back in his native Pennsylvania this week to speak to a new Division III football program's players and to the Boy Scouts of America's distinguished citizen dinner: 

"You have to measure progress in little steps and you have to be patient," Kozerski said. "You have to realize that at some point you're going to turn the tide and you will start to see big steps of progress. This is a program that's fully supported by the college, the students will be right behind it and the facilities are going to be outstanding. I don't see any reason why they can't be very successful in a short period of time."
It took a few years for Holy Cross to find success and the Indians had their biggest breakthrough this season in Kozerski's eighth season as head coach and with Adam Kozerski at defensive end. 

The article also makes note of which colleges Kozerski's son is still considering. Click it. 
Citizens Voice  
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TAYLOR MILL EASTER EGG HUNT SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IS CANCELED
From the City: 

Unfortunately, the rain has forced us to postpone our Annual Easter Egg Hunt tomorrow (Saturday, the 24th of March). The event will now be held next Saturday, March 31, 2012 (rain or shine). Let's hope for some dryer weather. Our Annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Event will still be held indoors at Park Place Community Center tomorrow. Please see our Event tab for more information. Thank you!

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COVINGTON POLICE VISIT SAINT AUGUSTINE SCHOOL FOR CAREER DAY
Check out photos from the event here 
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LOOK AT THE PUPPIES THAT COULD BE YOURS TODAY!
From Recycled Doggies: 

Come meet these cutie pies at our adoption event this Saturday, March 24th, at the Milford PetSmart. The event is from 11am-4pm. To read more about any of our doggies, go to www.recycleddoggies.org. You can also download our adoption application from that website.

See a lot more of them by clicking here.

POSSIBLE HOME OF COVINGTON'S FIRST MAYOR WON'T BE PARKING LOT YET

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter 

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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Rendering of parking lot next to Legacy Financial
where an old building stands now

Covington's first mayor may have lived in one of the buildings that are now designated 119-121 East Fourth Street, though maybe he didn't as an 1834 census merely suggests that Mortimer Benton lived on the block though perhaps not at that specific address. Other evidence lends credence to the belief that the structures date later than 1834, closer in fact to 1846. What is known for certain is that 119-121 is a very old building next to another very old building that after an expensive renovation is now home to a growing firm of financial advisers who want to turn its neighbor into an attractive parking lot. 
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Covington preservationist makes case for 119-121
East 4th Street

"It's pre-Civil War and that's pretty old and I knew that would be an issue, and I do take knocking down an historic building very seriously, but I don't think it's an economically viable property," said Bradd Zapp, registered principal of Legacy Financial, a six-year old company now located in a renovated antebellum structure at 117 East Fourth Street in what Zapp referenced as one of the oldest former churches in the Commonwealth. The same city that awarded Zapp and his team for their restoration of 117 rejected Monday afternoon his plans to demolish 119-121. 
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At an unusually lengthy ninety-minute meeting of Covington's urban design review board, the city's historic preservationist recommended against Legacy's desired parking lot that would feature landscaping or a brick wall or a wrought iron fence, whatever the UDRB was willing to approve. "While there are several adopted plans for this area none of the plans show a need for parking in the area," said Beth Johnson. "While there is a perceived need the actual numbers show that the on-street parking is heavily utilized but other parking, such as the Yoke parking lot a block away from the site in question is only sixty-five percent full during peak hours." 
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Brad Zapp of Legacy Financial

For both parties, however, the proposed demolition of 119-121 was about more than parking. Legacy thinks that with its smaller, older neighbor out of the way, the drivers headed west on 4th Street would see a more impressive Gateway into the city from Newport. "I believe the view of our building is more appealing than what is there now," Zapp argued, adding that right now drivers going west on 4th see the windowless brick walls of the long-neglected former law office next to his building. "We have eight very large windows on the side of our building. We want that to be the visual, and we want the curb cut, and we want to add value to a building we have millions in." 
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For the handful of preservation advocates at City Hall Monday afternoon, the debate was about the saving of a building that was the home of Rookwood decorative artist Mary Nourse from 1914 to the 1940s. Mary was the niece of the internationally known impressionist painter Elizabeth Nourse, a Cincinnati native. "Removal of this building would damage an historic streetscape in Covington," said Alma Puissegur, an attorney who lives in Mainstrasse. "We are not at a point in this community to tear down lovely old buildings just so someone can have curb cuts." 
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"When you start damaging streetscapes it has a detrimental effect on the whole area," said Everett Dameron of Licking Riverside. (Legacy's) building sat vacant for twenty-five years. (119-121) was there when they started their project, it should have been addressed then." Brad Zapp believes that the most recent owner of 119-121, an attorney who had an office there, died just four days after Legacy decided to move in next door in 2008. The property has been on and off the market ever since but Legacy has a $177,000 contract pending on it. A few lawyers rent three rooms inside currently.
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Zapp had originally sought to renovate the roughly one-hundred seventy-five year-old former townhouses that are dwarfed in height by the Legacy Financial building, but decided against it following an inspection that revealed mold, lead paint, asbestos, wood-eating insects, plumbing damage that may result in sewage, and outlets that show signs of a previous fire. A $335,000 bid by a contractor to lead the renovation solidified Zapp's change of heart on saving the building. "There is no other economical use for the property," Zapp said. 
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Those words were all too familiar to Gina Estes, a member of Progress With Preservation, who said that the same message was espoused a few years ago when plans emerged to raze the former John W. Stevenson house on Greenup, a building that is now renovated and serving as a commercial office for a business. "We don't want to diminish the work that Legacy has done (to 117), but (119-121) contributes to the block in size and scale," Estes said. "It would kind of be like missing a tooth. They are worth more when they are left standing."
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Another preservation advocate sided with Legacy. Barry Johnson, of Mainstrasse, visited 119-121 earlier Monday and described what he noticed as alterations to the original structures, including the roof and the brick, and said he supported another change: tearing the buildings down and allowing Legacy to build a parking lot, citing the company's strong statement by investing in Covington. "It would create a beautiful gateway," Johnson said. Look what's there now then look at their plans. It's better." 
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Because Legacy's plan did not meet any of the five criteria set forth by the city's historic preservationist, City Hall recommended against it and the urban design review board unanimously agreed. 119-121 was not ordered demolished by the City for health or safety reasons, it is not a noncontributing building, the proposed parking lot would not strengthen the viability of the area, the demolition would not be consistent with plans or policies adopted by the city commission, the city's staff suggested and the board ruled. 
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However, a ninety-day window was left open for the UDRB along with historic preservationist Beth Johnson and other city staff to create a redevelopment plan of its own for 119-121 as an attempt to prove that the structures do have economic vitality. That redevelopment plan will be presented at a public meeting but if the UDRB fails to prove the economic vitality of the structures, Legacy will be granted permission to build its parking lot. Members of the board expressed that the $335,000 bid by Legacy's contractor to renovate the building was high and that with historic tax credits and other cost measures, the building could be saved and redeveloped.

NEWS ROUND-UP -- MONDAY MORNING 19 MAR

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter 

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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WILL THIS HISTORIC BUILDING BE RAZED FOR A PARKING LOT?

We may find out today during the Urban Design Review Board meeting this afternoon. The plans by Legacy Financial (in the larger building next door) to turn the lot into additional parking is opposed by Progress With Preservation. For the story, click here. 

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DID YOU MISS THE NEWS FROM SUNDAY? 

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PHOTOS: Thousands flock to Covington for St. Patrick's Day 

To see tons of photos from all over Downtown Covington & Mainstrasse, click here. 

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SEE ALSO: One City Commissioner was upset with the condition of Mainstrasse the morning after the St. Pat's celebrations. For that story, click here. 

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Spring has sprung in Covington

Photos from all over Downtown Covington & Mainstrasse showing off the lovely early blooms. Click Here 

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Check out The Sunday Edition in its entirety for a recap of the week that was and a preview of the week that will be in Covington. Click here. 

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FRANKFORT/POLITICS

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Kentucky scores a C- in national corruption study I Watch News

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Party leaders prepare for Presidential primary's arrival in Kentucky cn|2

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Kentucky applies for two more No Child Left Behind waivers WFPL 

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Action set up to pick up pace in slow-moving legislature Courier-Journal

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Many issues still on table as General Assembly session winds down WFPL 

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Kentucky scores high on financial transparency Cincinnati Enquirer 

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Surface coal mining permits in effect today WFPL 

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A chance to improve Kentucky dental health Herald-Leader 

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Fort Knox loosening access restrictions Herald-Leader 

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6th District Congressional race may prove important for direction of country in 2012 cn|2 

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NEW SUPERPAC COULD PLAY ROLE IN NKY CONGRESSIONAL RACE

It's based in Alexandria: 

It’s the latest development in a potential ramp-up for outside groups to get involved and potentially influence the outcome of the seven-candidate Republican primary for the open 4th Congressional District seat. One candidate, Lewis County Judge-Executive Thomas Massie, met with one Northern Kentucky donor, Richard Knock, who has been linked to wanting to start a Super PAC. However, Massie denies talking about that with Knock. 

cn|2  
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BEAR CHASING MAY BE PERMITTED IN KENTUCKY AGAIN
If your dog chases a bear up a tree, it's not considered fair to shoot it. But the hunting lobby wants to change that rule: 

The wildlife commission is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Monday to reconsider the earlier decision so the hunters, known as houndsmen, would have about four weeks set aside each year to chase bears with dogs and to allow them to shoot some of the bears during one of those weeks.
"It is a powerful lobby," Democratic political strategist Danny Briscoe said. "It's not galvanized often but, when it is, it is incredibly strong." 

Herald-Leader/Roger Alford 
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TORNADO RECOVERY UPDATE

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Volunteers convert warehouse to school Herald-Leader 

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Governor returning to Eastern Kentucky WKYT 

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Another disaster recovery center opens WKYT 

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BLUES FEST EVENT TO BENEFIT HOLMES, DAYTON HIGH SCHOOLS

So go check it out. 

6th Annual Blues FestivalNKU Jazz Ensemble, Dayton High School Band, Holmes High School, KingSonic, Dick and the Roadmasters, G. Miles and the Hitmen, and William Brian HoggSaturday, March 24 • 7pmGuys-n-Dolls Entertainment Complex, Cold Spring, KY$10 general admission
The Annual Blues Festival is a fundraiser to benefit the EMPOWER program at Dayton and Holmes High School. The annual blues festival is a chance to see NKU Jazz students interact with some of the top blues musicians in the area.

Press Release 
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How does a movie star end up with a UK player's iPhone? Rabid UK fan Ashley Judd walked away from Louisville with Terrance Jones's phone. The "Missing" star calls the whole thing a big accident as demonstrated in the note she wrote that Jones then sent out to the world via Twitter: 

Click to enlarge

...creepy? 
Nation of Blue 
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UK is playing as good as they can USA Today 
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Bracket conspiracies working out for UK Herald-Leader 
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UK vs. Indiana is not just another game State-Journal 
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Dick Vitale on UK/IU ESPN 
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Hardwood Triangle (UK, UofL, IU) all advance to Sweet 16 Insider Louisville 
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March Madness is big bucks for NCAA but not for the amateur athletes Salon 
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Oh, by the way, UK's baseball team is kicking ass too Kentucky Kernel 
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HOLMES GRAD RICARDO JOHNSON AND OHIO MOVE ON TO SWEET 16
The member of the 2009 state champion Holmes basketball team is closer to a national title now. Follow him on Twitter here and check out his ESPN profile here.

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QUICKIES

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Kentucky distilleries serve tourists USA Today 

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Transylvania student is Kentucky's first Rose of Tralee competitor Herald-Leader 

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Three Kentucky Air National Guard units win service awards Herald-Leader 

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QUESTION: IS HORSE RACING BAD?

What an awful question to consider in Kentucky, but national publications are comparing HBO's cancellation of the series Luck following the death of a third horse on set -- to the "thousands" killed in the actual racing industry: 

It's a strange society in which a television show can't kill horses with impunity but the more than 50 thoroughbred tracks in the United States can. Perhaps the producers of Luck have more of an affinity for the horses, agreeing to quit after killing only three while people in the racing industry destroy thousands. Perhaps people believe a death on the racetrack is somehow more honorable than a death for HBO. Whatever it is, America's loyalty speaks volumes about how it prefers its horse deaths: Luck averaged only around 625,000 viewers per episode, but 14.5 million people watched the Kentucky Derby last year. 

GOOD  
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Any thoughts on that?

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/03/18/2116407/kentucky-wildlife-commissioners.html#storylink=rss?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#storylink=cp

PROGRESS WITH PRESERVATION TO OPPOSE BUILDING'S DEMOLITION

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter 

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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This is an update to a post that originally appeared this morning in The Sunday Edition. An historic building may be torn to make way for a parking lot that would serve Legacy Financial Advisors, a young company that recently renovated its own historic building. Progress With Preservation is urging its supporters to attend Monday afternoon's meeting of the Urban Design Review Board which will hear the issue. From Progress With Preservation: 

Legacy Financial will request approval for demolition of 119-121 E 4th Street in order to build a parking lot.
Legacy Financial has done a great renovation job on their current property and has improved the Roebling Point neighborhood by this work. However, there are 1,950 public and private pay parking spots within 2 city blocks of the Legacy Financial building.
119-121 E 4th Street is a significant historic building and complements the area. It is financially viable as office or residential space.
Please attend the meeting at 4:00 p.m. in City Hall on Monday March 19th to let your voice be heard – advocate for adaptive re-use of Covington’s historic assets, including 119-121 E 4th Street. 

The address is the combination of two townhouses that were joined many years ago and date back to before the Civil War.  

PLANS FOR WALGREEN'S NEAR CATHEDRAL PULLED INDEFINITELY

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter 

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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EXCLUSIVE

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This historic home was slated to be razed and replaced
by a suburban-style Walgreen's

The firm behind the design for the proposed Walgreen's that would go in place of an historic building on Martin Luther King Boulevard across from the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption have written letters to City Hall asking that those plans be removed from the agendas of the Urban Design Review Board and the Board of Adjustments indefinitely. The property on which the Walgreen's would be built is owned by the Diocese of Covington. In emails obtained by The River City News to two city employees from Anne McBride of McBride Dale Clarion, the firm hopes for more time to review the site. The separate letters were sent to Historic Preservation Officer Beth Johnson and Zoning Specialist Andrew Juengling. 

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Previously, the plans were expected to go before the Urban Design Review Board last week but were pulled just days before.

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SEE PREVIOUSLY:

Historic Building May Be Razed & Replaced by Walgreen's

Architect's Rendering of Proposed Walgreen's

Proposed Walgreen's Off Design Review Agenda

MADISON THEATER EXPANSION APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter 

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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EXCLUSIVE

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Esther Johnson shows before-and-after photos
of her work on the Madison, held by Frank Hulefeld

One of Covington's top attractions is expanding but its design plans were not recommended for approval by the City's historic preservation officer. Members of the Urban Design Review Board also unanimously opposed the Madison Theater's design plans for its expansion into the neighboring building that up until last year housed Kings DJ & Lighting. Madison Live would offer concert-goers another venue and help add to the 250,000 - 300,000 people that the owner of the Madison Theater claims already visit the spot annually. 

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The proposed facade will feature glass blocks like this

The sticking point was the design's 12-foot glass block facade and board members hesitation to allow the building to look differently than the others near it. However, after a passionate plea from Frank Hulefeld, former owner of the Mad Hatter which he closed to work for Esther Johnson at the Madison Theater, a new discussion opened. "Nobody loves this city more than Esther," Hulefeld said. "She's dedicated her life to Covington." Confused that the review board would oppose the proposed glass block facade, Hulefeld continued. "We're an outlandish business, we're in the music industry," he said. "It's going to be a shining light for the whole block. Two hundred-fifty to three-hundred thousand people come to Covington (for the Madison Theater). When you look at the core of our city and all the empty spots, who else is doing that?"

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"Let's not pretend that Kings was a beautiful place, it was an eyesore," Hulefeld said. "It was ugly. Esther has proven for decades that she does things well here. Whackburger is opening up across the street because the Madison Theater is there. That means a lot of good things." Hulefeld is a Covington native and lives in Botany Hills and argued that the city should not fight opportunities to be unique and hip. "Artists tour all over this country, San Francisco, New York, a lot of big cities," he said. "When they come to Covington we want them to feel that they are in a hip city."

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Covington commercial real estate agent and City Commission candidate Chuck Eilerman also spoke in support of the design. "I think this is an extraordinarily worthwhile effort," said Eilerman, who helped found Covington's urban design review board. "Here in Covington we're proud of our new library and it doesn't look like anything around it. When we founded this board, we did not want it to become adversarial with people wanting to do things."

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"We love the idea of what's happening here, we're just questioning this design," said board member Charles King. "We have to think of it in context. It's a new element to the street." 

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"No one's declining that this is a contributing business but we're here today to decide on the design and how it fits into the area," said board member Rebecca Weber.

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Esther Johnson, in addition to the Madison Theater, has developed many Downtown Covington buildings, including the Backstage Cafe and the former Parisian building on Pike Street that now houses a law firm. She was concerned that the delay in this latest plan may cause a loss of planned business. Concerts are already booked for the new venue for which she hoped to have a soft launch in April and a grand opening in May. 

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Board member Jack Gore along with Charles King suggested some improvements to the design that would be acceptable. Esther Johnson agreed to to place brick tile two feet in from both sides of the building to frame the glass block wall. Additionally, the roof will feature a decorative cornice, which was lacking in Johnson's plans. Esther Johnson agreed to the plans and will resubmit her plans quickly to Beth Johnson for approval. The board then unanimously agreed to the design. "We'll make it work," Johnson said afterwards, adding that she will have workers in the space as early as Tuesday.