Martin Luther King neighborhood in Lexington, Kentucky
Posted by The Realtors of Turf Town Properties on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 4:11pm.By Tanya J. Tyler - Lexington Herald Leader
History, diversity, and community activism are hallmarks of downtown neighborhood
On the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it is most appropriate to profile the downtown neighborhood named for the late civil rights leader.
Bordered by Elm Tree Lane and Short, Sixth and North Limestone streets, the Martin Luther King neighborhood encompasses a great deal of Lexington history.
For instance, you will find in this area: Kinkead House on North Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, one of the few remaining antebellum mansions in the northeast quadrant of Lexington's original boundaries; Central Fire Station on East Third Street, built in 1929; Campsie Place, which dates from 1905 and has houses in a variety of architectural styles, such as Queen Anne, Arts and Crafts and neo-classical; the Old Episcopal Burial Grounds on the corner of East Third Street and Elm Tree Lane; and the Lyric Theater, once an iconic neighborhood venue for first-run films and entertainers such as Duke Ellington, the Ink Spots, the Temptations and Cab Calloway, currently being restored.
You will also find Duncan Park, with its centerpiece house built in 1810 by William "Lord" Morton, one of Lexington's first millionaires, which was once occupied by abolitionist Cassius Clay. The Martin Luther King Neighborhood Association started a campaign to "Reclaim Duncan Park" and make it the neighborhood's "heart."
The association procured funding from public and private sources to buy playground equipment, construct sidewalks and resurface the basketball courts. The MLKNA has also sponsored three-on-three basketball tournaments and barbecue cook-offs in the park, and recently erected a stage there to support community events.
'A REALLY WARM NEIGHBORHOOD'
The vibrancy and activism of the residents attracted MLKNA president Angela Baldridge to the neighborhood last year. A photographer, she shot a story about the annual Johnson Highway Day and came away with a positive impression of the downtown neighborhood.
"I just thought it was a really neat neighborhood," she said. "It seemed like a really warm neighborhood, just in the way (residents) have neighborly interactions."
Association vice president Cole Bennett also appreciates the camaraderie that exists between his neighbors.
"I've lived here about five years and I really like the people here," he said. "They like it here because they're interested in being in a place where they see each other a lot and they interact a lot. They are interesting people who are really socially minded."
The association has begun several activities that include a carbon-neutral campaign; working in the London-Ferrell community garden on Third Street; celebrating Earth Day; participating in the Great American Cleanup; hosting back-to-school rallies where local schoolchildren receive backpacks and supplies; and working on the Legacy Trail. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the neighborhood will take part in a quilting bee sponsored by Transylvania University's Community Engagement Through the Arts class. The quilts will be donated to the Build-a-Bed project the MLKNA supports.
The neighborhood embodies several qualities that were important to its namesake, Baldridge said.
"To me, Martin Luther King really worked on promoting civic engagement," she said. "I think he advocated for fighting for what you believe in, and I think the neighborhood really does that."
SAVING OLD HOUSES
Laurella Lederer has lived in the Martin Luther King neighborhood for more than 37 years. She has made it her mission to save some of the old houses in the area.
"I think it's to everybody's benefit to have the old houses saved rather than being ignored or torn down or sitting there empty," she said. "I think that's what we need to continue to do to revitalize the downtown area."
Lederer has bought several houses - some of them more than 100 years old - and fixed them up for resale, a process that can take from six months to a year. She feels her work has contributed to the neighborhood's improved atmosphere.
"When I bought my house in '73, my friends thought I was pretty crazy," she said. "It was scary to be there. It's changed dramatically."
Realtor Donna Elder of RE/MAX Creative Realty remembers what it was like. Having lived in the neighborhood herself for a number of years, she knew about some of the problems the residents faced. But, she says, they were determined not to put up with those kinds of activities, and they successfully worked to eliminate them.
"They have reclaimed the neighborhood," she said. "They're just a really unique group of people. They value what they have and they value each other. When you've got people who care, it makes a huge difference."
Realtor Jim McKeighen of Turf Town Properties currently lists a property Lederer restored on Elm Tree Lane. He believes her efforts have helped improve the area.
"She is building a better neighborhood where she lives," he said. "She's not doing this for a profit motive; she's actually doing it for a better neighborhood.
"It's sort of a resurgence of the neighborhood," he added. "It's always been a popular neighborhood but it's coming back. There are a lot of people who like to live downtown in the older houses and the older architecture."
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