.jpg)
Editorial
Downtown Lexington has been undergoing a huge amount of restoration activity in recent years that is enhancing the business district’s vibrancy and safeguarding its future viability. This process has actually been ongoing for years, thanks to a high level of private investment and the city’s mutually beneficial partnership with Washington and Lee University.
The latest example of this unique partnership is the restoration planned for the historic Rockbridge Building and adjacent former Grand Furnishings building on Main Street in the heart of downtown. John Adamson of Rockbridge Partners LLC is investing millions of dollars to restore these buildings to their former glory and to introduce modern fire suppression measures that will protect not only these buildings but other nearby ones.
Adamson has applied for a conditional use permit so that he can lease space to W&L for office use in portions of the Rockbridge Building. Under these plans, two storefront spaces, encompassing 1,800 square feet of floor space each, would be on the main level facing Main Street and dedicated to retail use. The rest of the building would be used for W&L offices, though it’s requested that the lower level be designated as a public assembly space so it could also be utilized as a meeting place from time to time.
There are some who worry about “W&L creep” into downtown, that the university is expanding beyond its traditional campus boundaries and gobbling up the city’s limited amount of available real estate. We acknowledge that these are legitimate concerns. We don’t want W&L’s campus to extend beyond its traditional boundaries and the city cannot afford to see its tax base diminished by having a tax-exempt entity acquiring additional property.
We understand the angst that was felt by city residents when W&L bought up the residential properties on the “triangle” off of McLaughlin Street, across Nelson Street from the university campus. We recognize that W&L has for many years occupied portions of the south side of Nelson Street with the Lenfest Center for Arts. However, we view further encroachment upon this area as not being in the best interests of the city.
We also question why the city did not follow its own regulations by not requiring a retail use in the lower level of the Press Brown building facing Nelson Street when this building was restored. We do applaud the magnificent job that was done by Adamson in restoring this formerly dilapidated structure and enhancing this part of downtown.
Even though he’s not a city resident, Adamson has shown himself to be a good citizen who is contributing greatly to the restoration of downtown Lexington. He has had a hand in the restoration efforts of these and other buildings in downtown that might otherwise have fallen into disrepair. The buildings that his company has acquired and are restoring remain on the city’s tax rolls, even if portions are being leased to W&L.
W&L’s leasing of these spaces is making it possible for these renovations to occur. Another benefit of this arrangement is that W&L employees who work in those offices patronize the downtown businesses, especially the restaurants. They are contributing significantly to the vitality of downtown. When W&L’s downtown offices do return to campus, as many will in the future, those spaces can easily be converted to downtown residences, as Adamson pointed out to the city’s Planning Commission recently when it considered his CUP application.
At that meeting last month, the Commission opted to table Adamson’s CUP application so members could study the various issues raised by the proposed plans. When the agenda item is considered at this Thursday’s meeting, we urge the Commission to recommend its approval.
Restoring the city’s downtown historic structures while safeguarding their future is in everyone’s best interests.
