Monday, August 8, 2005
Waterfront
Condominiums
'Isn't the river
for everyone?'
It seems crazy to me, even insulting, that the Waterfront Development Corp.
would stand by and support Icon Properties' request to increase the size of its
buildings from a potential eight stories to a more likely 14-plus stories. I
always thought the idea of riverfront development was to make the river more
accessible to the people and to provide a view of the river, not just buildings
painted in a river color.
River Fields had concerns about the Harbours condominiums, which were built
some years ago, but I have yet to hear a single peep from it regarding this
proposal. Is it possible the guardians of the Ohio River only guard the view
when it is their view, or do they guard the views of the common man as well?
The proposed development will not enhance the view of the river for anyone
except those who have the cash to purchase that view. Isn't the river for
everyone and not just for a select few? Well, at least the top floors of the
development won't flood.
R.L. HOLT
Louisville 40214
Has yet to see the
site plan
River Fields was given an opportunity to comment on Mr. Holt's letter. Its
response:
River Fields has requested but has not seen the site plan for the RiverPark
Place development, so it would be inappropriate to take a position on the
project until we've had the opportunity to review the plan in detail and issue a
fact-based response to it.
The proposed project falls within the Louisville Waterfront segment of the
Ohio River Corridor Master Plan, a land-use document prepared in the mid-1990s
as part of the Cornerstone 2020 comprehensive planning process. The plan was
developed with extensive public involvement as a framework for preservation and
development of the 37 miles of the Ohio River and adjacent land in Louisville
Metro.
The plan, partially funded by River Fields, clearly states, "Views
of the water's edge and of the Ohio River itself are unique to this environment.
. . . Retention of these views where they occur should be given the highest
priority." We continue to believe this philosophy should be a guiding
principle for any development or redevelopment within the Ohio River corridor.
At a public orientation meeting held by the developer on Nov. 23, 2004, a
River Fields representative offered Icon Properties some very general
suggestions, before there was a site plan, on ways to minimize the impact of the
project, including carefully and thoughtfully considering the public view to and
from the river when determining the height of the buildings.
LESLIE BARRAS
Associate Director
River Fields
Louisville 40202