Parcel B in the heart of downtown Frankfort has been empty for far too long. However, with $5.5 million in CARES Act funding as well as an additional $1.25 million from the Federal Transit Authority in hand, the plot of land will soon be bustling with the construction of a new transit center and parking garage.
Gov. Andy Beshear, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray, Rep. Derrick Graham (D-Frankfort), Mayor Layne Wilkerson, former Mayor Bill May, city commissioners and Franklin County Judge-Executive Huston Wells were on hand for the official check presentation last week at the site of the 5,000 square-foot transit center, which will also include administrative offices and a public waiting area and a 300-space parking garage, on the property behind the Capital Plaza Hotel.
With $6.75 million dedicated toward the design and build of the project, the City of Frankfort, which is on the hook for any additional incurred expense, is advertising for a contractor for the transit center/parking garage with construction expected to start later this year or early next year.
Currently, the city is asking for structural plans that would accommodate a load of people on the top deck as well as water and electric service to be provided. But, there has also been talk at city commission meetings about the possibility of incorporating renewable energy and solar as well as adding a green space atop the parking structure. Chuck Knowles, project manager of both the transit center/parking garage and the TIGER grant, told city leaders in June that there will be an opportunity to add amenities as the process continues as design plans have yet to be ironed out.
“I spent four very happy years here in the 1980s, and I know how vital this area was to Frankfort. This is going to be the beginning of almost a rebirth or a renewed sense of energy and growth and optimism in Frankfort,” Beshear said. “It’s going to bereally excitingto see people living down here, shopping down here ... it’s being able to re-imagine a city center, and it’s all happening right here.”
We, like the governor, are encouraged by the news that construction will soon be underway on the 6.4-acre plot of prime real estate, which has stood vacant since 2018 when the Frankfort Convention Center was demolished by former Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration. We believe the transit center/parking garage is a catalyst that will spur additional development downtown and are glad that the process is finally being put into motion.
The reason that they added the transit center to garage plans was to make this quasi-illegal expenditure of the public’s coffers more palatable to the public. As I understand, it is still illegal to spend TIF money on private sector construction projects, even though it CAN be gimmicked to “reimburse the private sector“, which seems like what we are doing here.
According to the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy:
“The United States now has at least 10,000 TIF districts across 49 states (Merriman et al. 2018). But critics say TIF has become little more than a subsidy for the private sector, diverting revenue away from schools and other important services, and contend that many TIF programs are woefully lacking in transparency.
The problems are serious enough that several grassroots efforts have derailed proposed TIF districts in recent years, through either the ballot box or the courts. Tax increment financing runs the risk of functioning more like property tax incentives for business—another flawed practice that often fails to deliver on promises but remains in widespread use.”
I predict that this “transit center” will be the least used publicly funded private infrastructure in town. Is this area going to be open 24 x 7? If so, is it going to be staffed? If not, it has the potential to become a rape room. Several years back the parking garages in the Capital Plaza had several incidents of women being sexually assaulted… that was in a s relatively open space of the parking garage. Take that step further and imagine the opportunities in a closed area like that Transit Center is going to be.
“ Tip of the iceberg “? There’s been 6 reported ships sank by icebergs in the twentieth century! And the last one reported sinking from an iceberg was in 2007!
The only way this project could be more of a boondoggle would be if the city allowed Buffalo Trace distillery to build bourbon warehouses in this long vacant spot and then exclude the distillery company from paying city property and occupational taxes, like just down the street a few feet.
You know, that is not a bad idea! Just the thought of BT building 12 huge bourbon warehouses in their backyard on B&C, might be enough to give some realistic perspective to Rich Rosen and John Sower, two proponents who have publicly endorsed the distillery’s plan to have 24 of those things next to a major school and dense subdivisions.
The editorial board said and I agree, "Parcel B in the heart of downtown Frankfort has been empty for far too long."
And I share the excitement expressed by Governor Beshear on the overall prospect that there will be more housing and retail space available downtown (if more retail space is even needed). I have heard it said, and I agree, that Frankfort needs more residential housing available for its city center to thrive.
However, as a taxpayer, it's extremely disheartening that the government decided to step-in to relieve the developer of the cost of the parking structure and other related costs. The deed executed between the Commonwealth and the developer stipulates that the developer shall build a parking structure. And as I remember it, in order to be eligible to bid on the project in the beginning, the developer had to show experience with mixed use development. That's it, nothing more. And if memory serves me correctly, the developer estimated the cost of the parking structure to be a little more than $1 million. Now that the government is picking up the tab, the cost of the parking structure project has exploded to over $10 million, all out of taxpayers' pockets.
I place no blame whatsoever on the developer, none at all. What real estate developer doesn't want free money?
Even with the project's dubious beginnings, Governor Bevin's decision to sell these 12 acres downtown and all that went with it, I am hopeful now that we will see tangible progress in the near term and a completed project by 2035, even with the government's voluntary financial participation. I am not opposed to elected officials making strategic investments with taxpayer money, but change orders like this should have garnered more scrutiny from government leaders before making the financial commitment.
So I say, get on with it Mr Developer, you've wasted too much time already, GET 'ER DONE! Frankfort deserves better.
You know that your in the crapper when the Governor is positively giddy over yet another publicly funded parking garage for the privately owned hotel, to be built just a few hundred feet from the last parking garage! “This is going to be the beginning of almost a rebirth or a renewed sense of energy and growth and optimism in Frankfort,” Beshear said. That is OK, it is his job to hype any sign of “growth” down on the wasteland that was once our economic engine, the Frankfort Convention Center (in 2016, 56 events bringing in 111,000 tourists and $19.2 million in tourists’ dollars). It seems like so many years ago (hey, it was so many years ago) that Terri Bradshaw and City Manager Cindy Steinhauser were writing weekly columns in this newspaper sounding like gaga cheerleaders, boosting Governor Bevin/Secretary Landrum’s mantra of the destruction of said Center to make way for all of this commercial development! They sold it to our hapless pair of leaders, May and Wells, who eagerly joined in the chorus. Obviously, in hindsight it turned out to be somewhat of a boondoggle, just another big field that the city has to mow. Republicans can get elected but they can’t govern. how many times do I have to learn that lesson??
I still think it needs bathroom facilities for the unfortunate homeless that will shelter there. I’m serious, there’s no reason that those people shouldn’t have access to bathroom facilities .
I agree with you, Mr Jones, the homeless will need bathroom facilities at the new bus station where the Civic Center once stood. And perhaps the developer/government could even install showers? And the perfect complement to showers and restrooms for our homeless population, would be a small overnight shelter.
The bus station was not in the original plan. Now that it is, we should accommodate this reality you point out, Mr Jones; we owe it to out homeless population.
Since the government has chosen to heavily subsidize the developer on this project, surely it could carve-out some cash for this wonderfully humane idea of yours, sir.
Restrooms, showers and a shelter for the homeless at the Parcel B bus station, heck yeah! I think you might be on to something Mr Jones!
State-Journal.com’s comments forum is for civil, constructive dialogue about news topics in our community, state, nation and world. We emphasize “civil” at a time when Americans, in the words of the current president, need to “turn down the temperature” of political debates. The State Journal will do its part by more carefully policing this forum. Here are some rules that all commenters must agree to follow:
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The reason that they added the transit center to garage plans was to make this quasi-illegal expenditure of the public’s coffers more palatable to the public. As I understand, it is still illegal to spend TIF money on private sector construction projects, even though it CAN be gimmicked to “reimburse the private sector“, which seems like what we are doing here.
According to the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy:
“The United States now has at least 10,000 TIF districts across 49 states (Merriman et al. 2018). But critics say TIF has become little more than a subsidy for the private sector, diverting revenue away from schools and other important services, and contend that many TIF programs are woefully lacking in transparency.
The problems are serious enough that several grassroots efforts have derailed proposed TIF districts in recent years, through either the ballot box or the courts. Tax increment financing runs the risk of functioning more like property tax incentives for business—another flawed practice that often fails to deliver on promises but remains in widespread use.”
I predict that this “transit center” will be the least used publicly funded private infrastructure in town. Is this area going to be open 24 x 7? If so, is it going to be staffed? If not, it has the potential to become a rape room. Several years back the parking garages in the Capital Plaza had several incidents of women being sexually assaulted… that was in a s relatively open space of the parking garage. Take that step further and imagine the opportunities in a closed area like that Transit Center is going to be.
“ Tip of the iceberg “? There’s been 6 reported ships sank by icebergs in the twentieth century! And the last one reported sinking from an iceberg was in 2007!
But it’s just the tip, nothing to worry about!
The only way this project could be more of a boondoggle would be if the city allowed Buffalo Trace distillery to build bourbon warehouses in this long vacant spot and then exclude the distillery company from paying city property and occupational taxes, like just down the street a few feet.
You know, that is not a bad idea! Just the thought of BT building 12 huge bourbon warehouses in their backyard on B&C, might be enough to give some realistic perspective to Rich Rosen and John Sower, two proponents who have publicly endorsed the distillery’s plan to have 24 of those things next to a major school and dense subdivisions.
The editorial board said and I agree, "Parcel B in the heart of downtown Frankfort has been empty for far too long."
And I share the excitement expressed by Governor Beshear on the overall prospect that there will be more housing and retail space available downtown (if more retail space is even needed). I have heard it said, and I agree, that Frankfort needs more residential housing available for its city center to thrive.
However, as a taxpayer, it's extremely disheartening that the government decided to step-in to relieve the developer of the cost of the parking structure and other related costs. The deed executed between the Commonwealth and the developer stipulates that the developer shall build a parking structure. And as I remember it, in order to be eligible to bid on the project in the beginning, the developer had to show experience with mixed use development. That's it, nothing more. And if memory serves me correctly, the developer estimated the cost of the parking structure to be a little more than $1 million. Now that the government is picking up the tab, the cost of the parking structure project has exploded to over $10 million, all out of taxpayers' pockets.
I place no blame whatsoever on the developer, none at all. What real estate developer doesn't want free money?
Even with the project's dubious beginnings, Governor Bevin's decision to sell these 12 acres downtown and all that went with it, I am hopeful now that we will see tangible progress in the near term and a completed project by 2035, even with the government's voluntary financial participation. I am not opposed to elected officials making strategic investments with taxpayer money, but change orders like this should have garnered more scrutiny from government leaders before making the financial commitment.
So I say, get on with it Mr Developer, you've wasted too much time already, GET 'ER DONE! Frankfort deserves better.
You know that your in the crapper when the Governor is positively giddy over yet another publicly funded parking garage for the privately owned hotel, to be built just a few hundred feet from the last parking garage! “This is going to be the beginning of almost a rebirth or a renewed sense of energy and growth and optimism in Frankfort,” Beshear said. That is OK, it is his job to hype any sign of “growth” down on the wasteland that was once our economic engine, the Frankfort Convention Center (in 2016, 56 events bringing in 111,000 tourists and $19.2 million in tourists’ dollars). It seems like so many years ago (hey, it was so many years ago) that Terri Bradshaw and City Manager Cindy Steinhauser were writing weekly columns in this newspaper sounding like gaga cheerleaders, boosting Governor Bevin/Secretary Landrum’s mantra of the destruction of said Center to make way for all of this commercial development! They sold it to our hapless pair of leaders, May and Wells, who eagerly joined in the chorus. Obviously, in hindsight it turned out to be somewhat of a boondoggle, just another big field that the city has to mow. Republicans can get elected but they can’t govern. how many times do I have to learn that lesson??
Is that all it takes ol look
I still think it needs bathroom facilities for the unfortunate homeless that will shelter there. I’m serious, there’s no reason that those people shouldn’t have access to bathroom facilities .
I agree with you, Mr Jones, the homeless will need bathroom facilities at the new bus station where the Civic Center once stood. And perhaps the developer/government could even install showers? And the perfect complement to showers and restrooms for our homeless population, would be a small overnight shelter.
The bus station was not in the original plan. Now that it is, we should accommodate this reality you point out, Mr Jones; we owe it to out homeless population.
Since the government has chosen to heavily subsidize the developer on this project, surely it could carve-out some cash for this wonderfully humane idea of yours, sir.
Restrooms, showers and a shelter for the homeless at the Parcel B bus station, heck yeah! I think you might be on to something Mr Jones!
Might as well, go to the bus station will be used for much else. People just don’t ride the bus much around here, do they?
I could drive my car all that way downtown and park it in the new garage and then, get on the bus and ride it to Walmart !!!…………..?? ……………? Ha!
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State-Journal.com’s comments forum is for civil, constructive dialogue about news topics in our community, state, nation and world. We emphasize “civil” at a time when Americans, in the words of the current president, need to “turn down the temperature” of political debates. The State Journal will do its part by more carefully policing this forum. Here are some rules that all commenters must agree to follow:
Absolutely no attacks on other commenters, on guest columnists or on authors of letters to the editor. Our print and online opinion pages are sacred marketplaces of ideas where diverse viewpoints are welcome without fear of retribution. You may constructively critique the ideas and opinions of others, but name-calling, stereotyping and similar attacks are strictly prohibited.
Leeway will be given for criticism of elected officials and other public figures, but civility is essential. If you focus your criticism on ideas, opinions and viewpoints, you will be less likely to run afoul of our commenting rules.
Keep comments focused on the article or commentary in question. Don’t use an article about the Frankfort City Commission, for example, to rant about national politics.
Hyperpartisanship that suggests anyone on the other side of an issue or anyone in a particular particular party is evil is not welcome. If you believe that all Democrats are socialists intent on destroying America or that all Republicans are racists, there are lots of places on the internet for you to espouse those views. State-Journal.com is not one.
No sophomoric banter. This isn’t a third-grade classroom but rather a place for serious consumers of news to offer their reactions and opinions on news stories and published commentary.
No consumer complaints about individual businesses. If you’ve had a bad experience with a private business or organization, contact the Better Business Bureau or the government agency that regulates that business. If you believe the actions of a private business are newsworthy, contact us at news@state-journal.com and we will consider whether news coverage is merited.
Absolutely no jokes or comments about a person’s physical appearance.
No promotion of commercial goods or services. Our outstanding staff of marketing consultants stands ready to help businesses with effective advertising solutions.
If you state facts that have not been previously reported by The State Journal, be sure to include the source of your information.
No attacks on State Journal staff members or contributing writers. We welcome questions about, and criticism of, our news stories and commentary but not of the writers who work tirelessly to keep their community informed. Corrections of inaccurate information in news stories should be sent to news@state-journal.com rather than posted in the comments section.