Final Rupp/Arts-Entertainment District plan
is ‘ambitious but achievable’ says mayor

The Rupp Arena Arts & Entertainment District Task Force’s final report, issued Tuesday, estimates the cost for the transformation of the Arena, the Lexington Convention Center, the Civic Center Shoppes and closely surrounding areas to be $250 – $300 million.

A timeline included in the report suggests that construction on the district could begin as early as 2014, “dependent on securing all construction funding by that time.”

The Task Force Finance Committee has “identified 14 different specific funding sources that could be explored,” said Project Manager Stan Harvey, an urban designer with Urban Collage in Lexington.

“It’s going to be a public-private partnership, but we need to do a lot more detailed work on each of those potential funding sources to put together our financing packet,” Harvey said.

Architect Gary Bates, whom Task Force Chair Brent Rice called “our Rembrandt…our Picasso,” reviewed strategies that he and his Space Group firm proposed for the district. The projects listed in the report include:

Free Rupp: Rupp Arena will be “liberated” from the Lexington Center and be the center of the district. The report lists proposed improvements including new suites and club seats, new space for media, new sound system, all chair-back seats, better connections to campus and continued play without displacement during home games.

New Convention Strategy: A proposed new convention center with expanded facilities will be built on the Cox Street parking lot.

High Street Transformation: The High Street parking lot will be a space that will adapt as construction plans move forward; could be used as open space for sports, recreation.

Re-envison Retail: Lexington Center shops will move to Main Street and the proposed “Town Branch Commons” Park and CatWalk.

CatWalk: The streets connections from UK to the downtown district will become a path with pre-game and post-game activity opportunities.

“Town Branch Commons”: A proposed unified thread of public space that runs from the Distillery District to the East End of the city.

Distillery District Development: Provides opportunities for development and for expanding the downtown district

Adaptive Re-use: Involves using existing, under-utilized spaces and repurposing. Bates mentioned Victorian Square and First Baptist Church as examples.

Transferia: Proposed plans for improved public transportation include a rail system, local bus system and new bicycling paths.

The project also includes a proposal for a new performing arts center, as well as a possible space on Broadway for a new performing arts school.

“I think this is one of the best projects we’ve ever done,” Bates said. “This is project, an idea, a strategy you will not find anywhere else…this is a strategy that can only happen here, that can only happen in this place. That’s what makes the project so specific, so strong, so important.”

Task Force members were impressed with Bates design from his first presentation to the committee.

“When Gary stood up and presented, we were mesmerized,” said Holly Wiedemann, Task Force member and president of AU Associates.

Mayor Jim Gray noted the size and scope of the project; “What we see today could be called a 5-year plan, a 50-year plan, or perhaps even a 500-year plan for our city. Is it ambitious, yes. But it is achievable as well.”

After the final report was released Tuesday, University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto issued a statement regarding the proposed reconstruction.

“Our position has not changed. Our steadfast focus has been – and will continue to be – the revitalization of our campus core. We have concerns about anything that competes for state dollars with that focus. Revitalizing our campus represents the best way we can honor the Kentucky Promise of ensuring the best possible undergraduate education for the Commonwealth’s students and future leaders as well as the kind of research that addresses the state’s challenges,” Capilouto said. “As a result, everyone needs to clearly understand the specifics of what the proposed Rupp Arena, Arts and Entertainment District will cost and who would ultimately pay for it.”

Gray said that the redesign of Rupp Arena will “preserve and elevate” Lexington’s history and will potentially draw job-makers and new business to the city.

“Rupp is much more than about basketball. It lifts the spirit. It makes us proud, and it affects recruiting far beyond the handful of players on the basketball team. It affects recruiting for our city and our state,” Gray said. This project represents the opportunity for us to restore and reclaim and repair our urban fabric and to build a great American city.”

Read the full report here.