Today’s walk was in Kenwick, not far from yesterday’s route in the Fairway neighborhood. Heavy rain dampened the leaves and made for a very different walk despite the still-pleasant weather. Handmade signs asking drivers to slow down are common in front of houses here. There are no tree lawns and yards generally feel a little less grand. Mentelle Park offers some common space, the only such space on this route.
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Day 118-Queen Carolyn
Today was a great day for a walk through the Fairway neighborhood, sunny, with the smell of fallen leaves in the air, very pleasant. This was my second trip through this neighborhood, with my first pass back in July of 2014, on Day 9. This part of the neighborhood is a little different, with some duplexes and apartment buildings along Carolyn, including the pictured Queen Carolyn.
Day 117-Street Trees, Liberty Road continued
A pleasant walk through the quiet Eastwood neighborhood along Liberty. The regular street trees add a sense of richness here that a lot of similar neighborhoods miss out on.
Day 116-Gratz Park
This circuit took me to The Gratz Park neighborhood. This area is heavy on history, with such sites as the Hunt-Morgan house, Gratz Park Inn, and Henry Clay law office. Buildings in these older parts of town engage the street on a different level than their suburban analogs. In particular, the buildings themselves feel less private. The buildings are there to be seen by people passing by. Newer houses, businesses, churches are much more utilitarian. Sure, they want to look good but there is more focus on blending in. In suburban neighborhoods, yards seem to be there for the inhabitants of their respective houses, and this makes walking in newer neighborhoods feel somewhat empty. Businesses approach the street differently, too. In the suburbs, streets are functional–their job is to help people get to the door. But here, outdoor seating on the sidewalk, in some cases even extending to “parklets” created from parking spaces along streets, is part of the attraction. This is far more engaging; you buy a drink or a meal and you can become part of the show you are watching. Dining in most contemporary American restaurants is much more private.
Since I’m coming back from a bit of a layoff, this is also my first chance to address the Walk Lex signs that were installed earlier this year. These are a nice wayfinding mechanism, and they absolutely highlight the connection between the neighborhoods and landmarks in and around downtown.
Day 115-Price-y
Relatively narrow streets in the older neighborhood, especially along Chiles and Breathitt, provide a contrast with streets within the nearby mobile home park. Both are generally focused toward the street, that is, they seem to indicate a strong connection between the individual homes and the common areas. This path passes behind Cove Haven Cemetery. There aren’t sidewalks on this portion of Price, but traffic was light enough and there was plenty of space, so walking here doesn’t seem overwhelmingly dangerous. Price creates an odd, tenuous connection between Georgetown Road and Main Street. I think that there are more than a few people who are mystified that the Lorillard Lofts (located on Price not far from here) were not more highly desired. When leftover units went to auction in May, the Herald-Leader referred to an earlier quote by the developer who indicated that a similar property would be very desirable in a larger city, but I think this neglects the point of “urban living,” which isn’t just nominal proximity to downtown. It has to have access as well. Lofts in bigger cities, besides having a more substantial downtown core to access, almost certainly have better transportation alternatives. Price just doesn’t provide that.