Louisville Museum Plaza
| Museum Plaza | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Proposal |
| Location | Seventh Street, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Estimated completion | 2010 (est.) |
| Opening | 2010 (est.) |
| Height | |
| Roof | 214.2 m (703 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 62 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Ramus Ella Architects (formerly Office for Metropolitan Architecture) |
| Developer | Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown, Steve Poe, Craig Greenberg |
Museum Plaza is a proposed 62-story skyscraper in Louisville, Kentucky.[1] The planned 703 feet tall skyscraper is projected to cost $465 million and contain a one-acre public plaza and park, condominiums, lofts, a hotel, retail shops and a museum. If constructed, it will replace the AEGON Center as the tallest building in Kentucky; it will also be taller than any building in Cincinnati, Nashville, Memphis, Kansas City, or St. Louis. The avant-garde design of the skyscraper was chosen by New York City Office of Metropolitan Architecture architect Joshua Prince-Ramus.
The location of Museum Plaza is projected to be between River Road, Main Street, 7th Street and 6th Streets in downtown within the West Main district.[1] If built, it will be the first skyscraper constructed in Louisville in 14 years since the 35-story AEGON Center was constructed. It would be located adjacent to the Muhammad Ali Center.
History
Initial offering
The Museum Plaza project was first announced on February 9, 2006 as a 61-story three-tower skyscraper.[2] The original intent of the project was to house a "contemporary art museum, restaurants, retail stores, 85 luxury condominiums, 150 lofts, a 300-room hotel, office space and a 1,100-car underground parking garage." The project originally contained approximately 1.2 million square feet of space, nearly twice the size of AEGON Center, 300,000 sq. ft. of which would be reserved for office space. Sales of the lofts, condos and offices began in March.[2]
The $380 million project that featured a fairly radical skyscraper concept would engulf the West Main district, also known as "Museum Row" for its diverse collections of exhibitions. $305 million will be paid for with private money and income from operations, with the remainder coming from the city and state in the way of upgrading adjacent infrastructures which would include moving the adjacent floodwall, redirecting several city streets, and constructing a public park and walkway;[2] the city and state money would come rebates on new taxes generated by Museum Plaza over the time frame of 20 years.
The location of the proposed skyscraper was chosen for its derelict structures; it was donated from the city to the developers.
At the time of its unveiling, the University of Louisville was negotiating with the developers to move its Master of Fine Arts program into the complex. The primary reason is that there will be ample gallery space that could be shared between various artists and the University; the public can also collaborate with the residents, university students, workers or visitors to Museum Plaza.[2]
One of the main concerns noted regards the design being "out-of-context" with the West Main Street district. The surrounding structures are a mix of four and five-story period structures that would be "engulfed" by the 61-story tower. Several raised concerns that the skyscraper would "separate itself" from the district.
"It's going to break convention."
-Architect Joshua Prince-Ramus
Preliminary construction begins
Preliminary construction began on November 13 with the selective demolition of four West Main Street buildings.[4] The facades of 615-621 West Main will be saved and serve as an entrance to a "pedestrian promenade and retail corridor." The buildings were abandoned, having been purchased by the Parking Authority of River City in 2001 for a "grand entrance" for the failed 30-story Vencor Tower that was to be located on the same site as Museum Plaza.
The "retail arcade," as currently planned, will extend from West Main Street to a pedestrian overpass over Washington Street, where it will connect to a plaza and amphitheater [5]. Currently under construction, it will feature 34 trees, a terrace, and connections to Museum Plaza and the Muhammad Ali Center.
Growing larger
On December 6, it was announced that Museum Plaza was becoming larger.[1] The $380 million price tag had risen to $465 million due to several additions to the complex, adjacent roadway improvements and rising basic material costs; new alterations to the city's waterfront would entail more work for the city and state. The announcement also stated that the project would contain a 246-room Westin Hotel, the addition of 14 luxury condominiums for a total of 99, a 140,000 sq. ft. park that would connect to the nearby Ali Center, and for the demolition of the LG&E tower at Eighth Street. The project now contains 1.5 million sq. ft. of space, a 40,000 sq. ft. contemporary art museum, 20,000 sq. ft. of restaurants and retail space, 99 luxury condominiums, 117 lofts, a 246-room hotel, office space and an 800-car underground parking garage.
In the revisions, the number of lofts was lowered from 150 to 117 because the University of Louisville's Master of Fine Arts program was intending to move to Museum Plaza;[1] this would give the school additional room. The arts program, covering 36,500 sq. ft. over four levels, will include a glass-making shop. The hotel also lost 50 rooms in the process, but the addition of a ballroom, fitness center, spa, restaurant and bar makes up for the difference.
On January 22, 2007, it was announced that the number of lofts decreased to 108 and the number of luxury condominiums would be 95, a loss of four.[6] The number of restaurant and retail space increased to 40,000 sq. ft. It was also announced that there would be 16 floors with a total of 295,000 sq. ft. dedicated to offices. The total number of floors also increased to 62.
"In the beginning, I was a skeptic. But today, I am a believer. The fantasy is a reality. It will be built."
-Museum Plaza partner Steve Poe
It is expected that once construction begins in May or June of 2007,[7] there will be 561 full-time workers employed at the construction site for three years; construction is projected to end in 2010. The combined economic impact is $900 million, making it one of Kentucky's largest economic development projects.[1]
Details
The fourth level is slated to be a public plaza.[7] Located on multiple floors will be an art showcase titled the "Island"; the five galleries within the "Island" will feature frequently changing contemporary exhibits. Two of the galleries will be dedicated to the University of Louisville, one specifically for their glass-arts study. Offices will be located around the "Island" and surround that will be a lobby, spas, stores and other support facilities
The public plaza outside of the Museum Plaza will feature a playground, flora and water features, and a playing field.[7] The Fort Nelson Park will serve as a "parkway" to this plaza.
Financial issues
The city of Louisville's Convention and Visitors Bureau, and numerous groups representing the hotel and tourism industries, are opposed to the legislation that would allocate portions of the room tax for the proposed Westin Hotel at Museum Plaza to the developers [8]. A resolution by the groups was passed in late-January 2007. The money would reimburse Museum Plaza officials for construction costs regarding a new floodwall and the River Road extension, among other public work improvements.
The $465 million development "can't be built" without the tax changes and two other measures that are to be introduced in Frankfort [8]. The other measures include requesting changes in state law that would allow them to extend the tax increment financing from 20 to 30 years, and to remove sales tax from all construction materials [9].
On February 1, 2007, Mayor Jerry Abramson intervened, urging the Museum Plaza developers and opponents of the room tax to reach agreement "within 48 hours" [10].
One day later, an agreement was reached between the Convention and Visitors Bureau, hotel and tourism industries and Museum Plaza officials regarding the tax proposal [9]. According to the deal, the amount of tax revenue that can be spent on public infrastructure will be limited to a maximum of $400,000 per year, to increase by four percent per year over thirty years. Any revenue that is generated above the upper limit will go to the Bureau.
References
- ^ a b c d e Green, Marcus. "Museum Plaza plan expands, cost grows", Courier-Journal [Louisville], December 6, 2006. December 7, 2006 [1].
- ^ a b c d Poynter, Chris. "Skyscraper to transform Louisville skyline." Courier-Journal [Louisville], February 9, 2006. December 7, 2006 [2].
- ^ Williams, William. "Louisville gets 'skyscraper serious'." Nashville City Paper, February 14, 2006. February 3, 2007 [3].
- ^ Green, Marcus. "West Main buildings to be razed for Museum Plaza project." Courier-Journal [Louisville], November 10, 2006. December 7, 2006, [4].
- ^ "Site plan." Lee H. Skolnik and Beyer Blinder Belle May 4, 2001. February 4, 2007.
- ^ "Museum Plaza unveils new details." Courier-Journal [Louisville], January 22, 2007. January, 22 2007 [5].
- ^ a b c Sheldon, Shafer S. "Museum Plaza details sketched out." Courier-Journal [Louisville] January 23, 2007. January 25, 2007 [6].
- ^ a b Green, Marcus. "Museum Plaza tax plan under fire." Courier-Journal [Louisville] January 31, 2007. February 2, 2007 [7].
- ^ a b Green, Marcus. "Deal reached on room taxes." Courier-Journal [Louisville], February 3, 2007. February 3, 2007 [8].
- ^ Green, Marcus. "Mayor intervenes in Museum Plaza dispute." Courier-Journal [Louisville], February 1, 2007. February 2, 2007 [9].