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Lexington Considers Downtown Improvements

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Lexington’s city council hopes to accelerate progress in its new downtown distillery district.  

Lexington’s new distillery district, located along Manchester Street, already features a number of entertainment, arts, and cultural attractions.  Still, some council member worry the pace of development is too slow.  

A council committee urged the city to accelerate work on the Town Branch Trail.  As proposed, the trail would run from Masterson Station Park, along Town Branch Creek, through the distillery district and into downtown Lexington. 

Also on the drawing board is a connection linking Manchester Street and Broadway, and a beautification effort throughout the district.  Tied to the distillery district is a resurrection Town Branch Creek, which now flows underground.  While admirable, Council member Ed Lane argues easing access to the distillery district must be the council’s priority.

“I still say that the top priority ought to be how to connect the distillery district to downtown because it’s gonna be very difficult to get other investment, if you can’t show how that’s gonna work.”  --Ed Lane

The distillery district is situated near the so called Rupp Arena district. Planning Commissioner Derek Paulsen says both projects should improve the neighborhood’s cultural and economic life. The Council Committee plans to review the matter further at its October meeting.