Kenton Place Lost Olmsted Park

WHAS recently did a piece on the lost Kenton Place park that was once on East Market Street in the heart of Butchertown. The BNA had proposed to JBS Swift that the mitigating factor funds from the BOZA hearing should be used towards making the park a reality. Click Here for the Full Story.

pic provided by Bingham Fellows

Beargrass Creek Fundraising Party

Kentucky Waterways Alliance is hosting a fundraising party at the Garner-Furnish Art Studio celebrating the history and heritage of Beargrass Creek in Louisville. Benefits will go toward future clean-up work on the creek. The studio is located at 642 E Market Streets. The event will be on Friday, October 23, from 6:00 to 10:00pm. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Any question you may have can be directed to jennifer@kwalliance.org.
For more information on how you can get involved with this project and others, please follow the link to KWA's website.

(1873 map of the area, pre-rerouting of the creek)

Skipping Fish Boat School

Kimberly Hillerich's Butchertown school and business is presenting a new angle on connecting people with Kentucky's waterways. The founder of the Skipping Fish Boat School is providing a hands on experience, for youth and adults alike, to learn how to build their own kayaks, and how to safely enjoy our local waterways. Located across the street from Creation Gardens on Washington Street, the shop had at least 15 boats in various stages of the building process when I visited it last week. Kimberly was most welcoming, and let me tool around the shop, snap a few pictures, and inquire about the beautiful boats they were making.



Each boat has custom size that depends on the paddler- typically the width is measured at the builder's hips, plus to fists for wiggle room. The length is roughly 3ft long for every foot tall the paddler is (ie- a 6ft tall paddler's boat would be 18ft long). The construction method they use is called the "Frame and Skin" which involves making the lightweight frame and stretching a skin over it to make it watertight. Traditionally this was done with seal skins, but that method has been replaced with nylon which is lighter and more durable.



If you are a current paddler, or just looking for more information on how to get involved, follow the link above!

Link to the LEO

Here is a link to a great story by Editor Stephen George of the Leo Weekly. A must read for the surrounding communities.
http://www.leoweekly.com/editor%E2%80%99s-note/new-development

Tandy support's Butchertown!!

Hello everyone, I hope you had an enjoyable holiday. Please take a look at the statement that I received this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's BOZA hearing about the illegal JBS Swift expansion. Council President David Tandy, a strong supporter of Butchertown, is backing the Butchertown Neighborhood Plan which calls for the relocation of JBS Swift. Stay tuned for an update on what happens at the hearing!

- Andy Cornelius (painting by Lynn Dubar- great site!!)



On behalf of President Tandy-

Dear BOZA Members and all interested parties:

I am writing today with regard to the JBS Swift plant in the Butchertown Neighborhood, which is located in the Fourth Metro Council District and the matter currently involving the facility that is before your board.

Let me begin by stating that it must be recognized that JBS Swift, like many other employers located here in Louisville, serves an important role in the current and future economic vitality of our community by employing approximately 1,300 individuals at their Louisville plant.

In light of the current economic conditions, we in this community and around the country face, job retention and creation is critical to our city's long term development and growth.

As such, I am committed to working to retain JBS Swift and the jobs it currently provides and will create in the future in Louisville Metro for many years to come.

With that being said, I am strongly in favor, however, of developing a plan that would move Swift out of the Historic Butchertown Neighborhood in the near future and into a suitable location within Jefferson County that will provide the space needed for its continued service to this community as a viable business, while at the same time amicably coexisting with the environment around it.

As for the issue before you tomorrow regarding the expansion of JBS Swift, while I understand this issue is under your authority as a board and respect your final decision, I am disappointed with the way this matter has been handled. In my opinion the neighborhood association and BOZA were not involved or notified in an appropriate manner.
I respectfully ask that as the Board moves forward with this matter that the thoughts and opinions of the citizens that call Butchertown home be given your full attention and consideration.

Thanks for your continued work on behalf of the residents of our community.

Very truly yours,
David W. Tandy
President, Louisville Metro Council
Fourth District Councilman

Get Your Garden Space Now!!!

Hello Butchertown-

I am pleased to be announcing new gardening and local food options to the Butchertown and surrounding communities!!! The good folks up at the Green Building on Market St have recently acquired raised garden beds that will be for rent to the public. Many Butchertown residents are renters or deal with a lot of shade, which isn't always conducive growing edibles, but your solution is here! Go in with a friend or neighbor and for $25 per year you can have your own garden. The plots are 4x8 feet, and water is available on site- just gather your favorite seedlings and watch your fresh, local food supply flourish. Questions on how you can have your own plot of paradise can be directed to Eric Burnette, his email address is easy- eric.burnette@gmail.com.

This is a great way to enjoy fresh foods, meet new people, and become active in the community. Hope to see you there!



(Photo from Scout Regalia)

JBS admits "mistakes were made"

At tonight's JBS Swift's neighborhood meeting at Hall's Cafeteria, both the plant engineer and general managers admitted that "mistakes were made" in the way they went about expanding their facility. They also acknowledged that the structure they are using to unload the live pigs has not been inspected by city officials, which poses potential hazards for their workers who unload between 15,000 to 16,500 pigs per day. Those numbers seemed to exceed the maximum production rate they are allowed to slaughter at 10,000 per day, but further investigation is required to determine that. They also informed us that no union labor was used in the illegal construction, which gave mixed signals coming from such a strong union facility, one would assume that a union contractor would be used to show support of local unions.

Fox 41 link to story that was on the late news

Courier-Journal's coverage here

The panel of JBS Swift representatives were asked tough questions, and to many of them they did not have solid answers. Their application for expansion gave a reason for increased "storage," but the plant engineer stumbled when he was asked to show where the storage would be. Also, JBS Swift informed the neighborhood that they haven't considered using an exterior facade that would allow the new structures to fit into the fabric of the historic neighborhood.

While the neighborhood's questions poured out, local union members sat silent- perhaps in awe of how their employer has jeopardized their safety and left the door wide open to serious consequences by the Metro Government.

More to come, and bet your bottom dollar we will let you know when the next hearing on this topic is.

Come One, Come All

Yup, it is finally here. All the e-mailin', phone callin', brown nosin' and elbow greasin' will show its colors this wonderful Sunday, May 17th at the Butchertown Art Fair. Please bring a smile, some cash and absolutely everyone you know.

Amongst the sea of vendors, you can also experience some puppy cuddles, haircuts for cash, some local herbs, kite babies in the breeze, bluegrass, organic coffee, beer and lots more.

Translation:
The Humane Society will be there with their traveling adoption truck
A local Botanist will be on hand showcasing plants native to Kentucky
Art Sparks, from The Speed Art Museum, will be building kites with children
The Thomas Edison House will sponsor a Home & Garden Tour
Local Bluegrass and Jug Bands playing it up
Beverages by BBC and Redhot Roasters
Food from J Gumbos & The Bodega
And artists peddling their wares, of course.

Not "EARLY IN THE PROCESS"

Thanks for stopping by, and our regular posts will commence once the Art Fair registration period is over.

Butchertown has a very important neighborhood meeting planned for Tuesday May 19th, 6pm at Hall's Cafeteria located at 1301 Story Ave. This is in regards to JBS Swift's application to modify their existing Conditional Use Permit, as they are requesting to expand their facility. This case parallels the current JAVANON zoning and planning disaster, in which construction began without any permits and only once they were caught have they sought the proper permitting. Click here for details.

The meeting, according to design firm QK4, is" an informal meeting to give you the opportunity to review the proposed plan and discuss the proposal with the developer and its representatives." The notice goes on to say, "At this meeting, representatives for the Applicant (Swift) will explain the proposal and then discuss any concerns you may have. The purpose of this meeting is to increase your understanding of this case early in the process. We encourage you to attend and to share any concerns you may have about this proposal."

As the photo shows, they are not early in the process, but nonetheless- we must attend to voice our opinions for or against the proposed plan.

Hope to see you there.

(picture courtesy of Brokensidewalk.com)

Not SWIFT (JBS) Enough

Hello Butchertown and surrounding communities:

Do to ongoing problems with JBS Swift, we are taking a new angle at our information gathering on the truck traffic and odor complaints. We have a new email address that will be specifically for issues dealing with JBS Swift.

Swiftodor@gmail.com

Please note that this is not to replace calling Air Pollution or 311 Metro call, but it is a means for us to gather information on a city wide issue centered around our great neighborhood.

When emailing this account, please include
1) Full name
2) Address (phone # would help too!)
3) Time of day
4) Reason for action- odors, back truck traffic, dirty trucks, ect...

This issue is going to need the support of all of the effected communities to promote good corporate citizenship in how JBS Swift operates. Please pass this on to anyone who you know who is effected by this.

Sincerely,

Andy Cornelius
President
Butchertown Neighborhood Association

UPDATE!!! 155 North Campbell

This past Thursday morning, Butchertown residents gathered at the Old Jail building downtown for the appeal hearing on the Oakleaf's property at 155 N. Campbell. If you recall earlier posts, they are responsible for demolishing many historic homes north of the flood wall. This is the last standing home in a row of what was once a quaint block of shotguns.

Appeal hearings are called when an applicant is denied a demolition permit and feels that there was either a clerical error, or bad factual evidence used in the conclusion that the structure should not be demolished. After the Oakleaf's council fully acknowledged that they didn't feel that there was any error in the fact finding or a clerical error, the Landmarks Commission then asked what there grounds were for appealing. Her lawyer then did his song and dance which led to what he is now calling "economic hardship" which gives them a chance to extend the case even longer. Even though the Commission voted down the appeal, in favor of preservation and Butchertown, the Oakleafs have until the May Landmarks meeting to prove economic hardship.

Although it was a small win for now, it was sad to see Oakleaf's council trying to argue an appeal that he had clearly not researched. Landmarks had to walk him through the procedures, holding his hand to even determine grounds for the appeal. On the other hand, it should be hard to prove economic hardship for a person who owns so much property. If they just rented this out over the years for a marginal cost, the place would have paid for itself, it's upkeep, and be a revenue stream for them. Clearly this property is worth more to the Oakleafs as a bulldozed lot than as a historic home. And my question to the Oakleafs is, if you are experiencing such "economic hardship," then why haven't you put any of your real estate up for sale to raise capitol? !?!?

Stay tuned for updates!

Pictures of Butchertown

We are proud to announce that a book on historic Butchertown is in the works! BNA member Edna Kubala has been hard at work hunting down old pictures of Butchertown, and she is looking for some help from all of us to add to her collection. If you have old photos that you are willing to share with her for the book, please contact her and she will fill you in on the details.

Her phone number is 540-9970 and email is edna.kubala@gmail.com

Any and all pictures would be welcomed and useful.

All New Butchertown Art Fair

Hello Butchertown residents, and other visiting individuals!

We are pleased to announce the All New Butchertown Art Fair!
Mark your calendars and cancel any planned vacations.. .
Sunday, May 17, 2009, 11a-5p
We are now accepting booth reservations for artists & crafters at our lowest rates ever—only $25 if you live in Butchertown!

CALL FOR ARTISTS!

Reserve Your Space
10 ft x 10 ft
$25 /Butchertown residents
$50 /non-Butchertown residents & all businesses
Multiple booth spaces available, if you'd like more information, be sure to get in touch with us.

If you are interested in renting a tent or table for the day of the event, send a note to Natasha Maze, nmaze1@yahoo.com

Location
On Washington St between Webster St & Adams St in the heart of Butchertown.
Parking will be available for vendors day of event.

Additional Info
After your order is received, we will email you a confirmation letter. Prior to the event, you will receive
an information packet with full details about the event, including day-of instructions, booth number & parking
information. Questions? Please contact Natasha Maze at 502-681-2730, nmaze1@yahoo.com.

Applications and payment due no later than May 2, 2009. Checks payable to the Butchertown Neighborhood Association.
Remit to: Natasha Maze, Butchertown Art Fair, 1401 Quincy Street, Louisville, Ky 40206

Download Application Form Here !

PalPal payment options coming soon!
We look forward to hearing from you!

Miss C's Kitchen and Pantry

We are proud to be showcasing our first company profile of a Butchertown business. It was only right and fitting that our first selection was that of Miss C's Kitchen located at 1319 Story Ave. Charlotte and Chris have been Butchertown advocates and involved in the BNA since moving into their location two years ago. As their website proclaims the famous words of Kentucky environmental writer, Wendall Berry, "eating is an agricultural act," these ladies turn out some of the finest Kentucky Proud foods in the region.

They maintain three local gardens in town in which they use sustainable, pesticide free farming methods to produce some of the tastiest jams, jellys, and preserves I have ever had. Apparently the whole state agrees, and it is proven by their numerous State Fair Champion recipes. Miss C's is also the only Kentucky Farm Bureau Certified Roadside Farm Market in the city of Louisville which allows them to produce and sell products made from local farmers. This helps when the demand is too great on their gardens and they locally source fresh produce for some of their products.

They offer private chef services, catering for private parties, businesses, and events. In the summers you can find them at the St Mathew's Farmer's Market, and if you are gearing up for your Derby party, they only have a few openings left for that special day in May! Speaking of springtime, you must try their ice-cream and top it off with one of their amazing fruit preserves- a hit amongst any group. Also starting this spring, they will be serving breakfast on Saturday mornings at their Story Ave location, and all Butchertown residents will be receiving 10% off!!!!!

You may contact Charlotte and Chris at 795-1085, but even better yet, stop in and say hello while you enjoy this Butchertown treat!

Butchertown Home and Garden Tour May 17th

Even though we are still in the midst of winter, the Thomas Edison House is making plans for the annual Butchertown Home and Garden Tour, held in conjunction with the Butchertown Air Fair. This is a chance to show off your gorgeous garden and historic home to the public. We're not only looking for the biggest and most elaborate homes and gardens, we just want to show the visitors what Butchertown has to offer. We know how beautiful Butchertown is- it's time to let everyone else in on the best kept secert in Louisville!

This event is a fundraiser for the Thomas Edison House. If you are interested in sharing your home or garden, please contact Kristen Lutes at Thomas Edison House at 585-5247 or at edisonhouse@historichomes.org.

Not Swift Enough

As you may recall, back in November of 2008 the Air Pollution Control Board fined the Butchertown foe, Swift and Company. Part of the $250,000 plus agreement was to be put towards a new scrubber system which is supposed to keep odors down, that is, if the employees know how to work and balance the chemicals in it properly. After calling to complain about the odors for five days in a row, I asked our friends at the APCD how the progress on this new system was coming along. We were informed that Swift is in the process of replacing the scrubber that was brought online in 1995 with a new and updated version. Likely what has happened is that they have upped their production so much over the years that the current scrubber doesn't have the guts to keep up with all the swine flowing through the plant.

The bad news is that this new peice of "air cleaning" equiptment is not supposed to arrive until July. So hold your noses, pick up your phone and keep the complaints rolling in when they are impeading on your rights to be able to enjoy your own property.

On another note, they are also doing some construction around the livestock pen area. Word on the street is that they are trying to close up that area more in order to contain the "farm-like" smell that graces the area. Good luck with that one.

Click HERE for a link to the Air Pollution Control District's website where you can access their contact information.

Ice Storm Clean Up

The city has just outlined the process that will clean up the debris from the epic ice storm of 2009. If you check into their website you will see that we are in section "C1" and "C2." They haven't said exactly which day they will be by yet, so check the link and let me know if you see it before we do! What they did say however, was that they will only be going down each street one time, so take the time this weekend to cut your debris up into sections under six feet in length and place it between the curb and your sidewalk.

Please also keep in mind that we are a historical district in which you NEED a permit to cut down any trees. The trees that line our neighborhood add so much to the character and we don't want to loose any that we don't have to. If you have a serious problem with a weakened tree, please email butchertown@gmail.com and we can walk through the process of what needs to happen.

Who is having their 162nd birthday party??

Yes! It's Thomas Edison, and you are all invited to the Edison House at 729 E Washington St. This is a great museum with all sorts of early gadgets, light bulbs, and motion picture gear. The party starts this Saturday at 10 am and goes until 4 pm. Admission is $5 for adults; $4 for seniors. $3 for students; and free for children 5 and under. Unfortunately Thomas has prior commitments, so this will just be in his honor. Hope to see you all there!

"Dits, Dahs and Dots"

Thomas Edison House and the Museum of the American Printing House
for the Blind will present "Dits, Dahs, & Dots" on Saturday, February 21st.
Learn all about Morse Code, braille, and try a little coding yourself!
"Dits and Dahs" are the sounds created by Morse Code. Dots, of course, are the dots of braille. This hands-on code workshop takes place at APH with a visit to the nearby Thomas Edison House.

The program is free, but registration is required. Recommended for 4th grade and up.
10 a.m.-Noon. Call 899-2365 by February 19 to register.
Click here to visit the Edison House's webpage

CANCELED- Landmarks Commission on 155 North Campbell MEETING CANCELED!!

Please pass this information on to anyone who was planning on attending the Landmarks Commission meeting on Thursday morning for the property at 155 North Campbell Street. The owners are appealing the decision which denied the them a demolition permit. The meeting will be rescheduled and I will do my best to make sure it is at a time when we can all attend.


On another note, we are pleased to announce that the Architectural Review Committee has ruled in favor of the applicants for church-to-residence project at 801 East Main St. Pip Pullen and Susan Swope presented a well planned case to the committee and we are looking forward to seeing the owner-occupied building come back to life!

155 North Campbell

Not since the the flood of 1937 has Butchertown seen such a destructive force. Unfortunately, this force happens to be that of the human hand which belongs to a Butchertown landowner. For the residents who have been here a while, they can tell you all about the cozy shotguns and camelbacks that once lined North Campbell. All but one have seemed to disappear, and that very disappearance is what helped forge the way for the historic designations and protection of buildings that we now have.

155 North Campbell, above, has been allowed to decay due to neglect from it's owners. The classic yet clean lines of the structure take us back to a time when craftsmen and woodworkers spent their hot summer days in Butchertown building these wonderful homes which have weathered all sorts of storms for the last one hundred years. The old growth timber used to build this home has stood the test of time. As seen in the first picture, it once had a beautiful iron fence that lined its property line. There were planter boxes with seasonal flowers, and two large windows that faced the westerly sunsets over the Ohio River. But what speaks the most, is that in the first picture there were two other adjacent properties still standing. Where did they go?

Over the last 20 years a total of six properties all next to each other, all owned by the same people have come down. 155 is the only abode standing in the way of these people having a huge, uninterrupted parcel of land on "wet" side of the flood wall. The word "wet" is used very loosely, but a term the owners seem to have coined when describing the lack of use for the property, and the partial reasoning behind them asking the city for a demolition permit. A short trip down Quincy Street will show anyone in question how properties on this side of the flood wall have thrived in recent years. Many properties have been purchased and brought back to life, and two major developments are in the works for that side of the flood wall.

155 North Campbell still has one more battle this week. On Thursday, January 15 at 8:30 am in the Old Jail building downtown, the property owners will be appealing the Landmarks Commission's decision NOT to grant them a demolition permit. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT! At last week's Neighborhood Association meeting, we agreed that every resident who is able to attend the meeting should, to voice our opinions on the importance of this building to our neighborhood's fabric. After a good conversation with David Marchal, who is the Urban Design Supervisor for Landmarks, he informed us the that all decisions have the right to appeal. The property owners who were denied the demolition permit wanted to have the ruling reexamined. David said that only an error in the initial denial could spark the decision to be overturned and the property to be demoed. However, it is possible for the owner to appeal such a decision in the courts.

With that said, and the possibility that the house could come down still hanging out there- we would love to see as many of you at this hearing as we can! Please come out and support the preservation of our neighborhood.

1866 Breakfast Buffet

St. Joseph's Church on East Washington is proud to announce that they will now be holding a weekly breakfast buffet in their parish hall. Father David Sanchez has informed us that they will be open every Sunday from 8am to 2pm. The chef Michele Melillo, of Melillo's Italian restaurant on Market St., will be managing and the chef of the operation. Weather permitting, they are also planning on having outdoor seating in their courtyard! Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to visit.

It is wonderful that they are opening their doors and we welcome them with open arms. I can't stress how important it is in times like these to support our local businesses and restaurants. They play a vital role in shaping and creating a desirable place for us to live. We have many choices when dining out, and we hope that you choose to keep it local.