Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Bon Air History. Commander and Doreen (Formerly Betty and Joan) Home of the $99 a Week Millionaires

I was walking the block passing out handbills for National Night Out next week in my immediate part of Bon Air which is Commander Drive and Doreen Way.   These blocks are distinctive from the rest of the neighborhood as they have "Levittown" properties.  It seems to be an interesting story to tell.



With the exception of the three houses at the south end along Farnsley Park, these houses were measured and cut in a factory/production facility and brought to the sites and assembled.  They were not brought wall by wall like the US Steel houses on Johnston Way, but brought board by board and assembled on site.

The houses are of three cookie-cutter styles: ranch, cape cod, and what I will call "A-frame."  They were among the last built in the area in 1956.  On one wandering trip home, I discovered that there is a bunch of these same housing models on the other side of the Watterson on Betty Lane.

I did an ethnographic research paper on Doreen and Commander as a neighborhood back in my U of L days in 2003. John Gilderbloom gave me an A on it.  I had a chance to talk with four original owners of the houses before three of them passed away.

Commander Drive was originally going to be Betty Lane and I understood Doreen was to be called "Joan."  As noted above, Betty Lane and Joan  are still there and would be Commander and Doreen on the north side of the Watterson.   My conclusion is that the same developer went with the same plan for the same type of house on both sides of the Watterson.

I learned in my interviews that the upstairs of the cape cods and A-Frames were originally unfinished.  (There is still one of the cape cods on Doreen that was not totally finished.)  It was incumbent on the owners to finish their houses. Indeed they did finish them and some of them were very creative in building additions and making the upstairs into bedrooms. Some of the additions obviously were amateur in nature and some of them were very good.

I learned that the houses on Doreen and Commander were distinctive efforts to take advantage of the VA housing program to provide houses for World War II veterans. They cost new about $17,000 apiece.  The first owners of most of the houses on Doreen and Commander were Louisville Police Officers and Louisville Fire Fighters.

Anyway, the residents of Commander and Doreen jokingly called themselves $99.00 a week millionaires because moving out to the East End of Louisville was something the rich people did. They at one time had numerous social connections and would sit in their front yards talking to each other because they had a lot in common, especially four men that would sit in one of the yards daily and became known as the four-old grumpy men.  They appeared to be outsiders to the rest of the East End, but they appeared to have a wonderful community among themselves.

Right now from what I can tell, there is only one original family occupying one of the houses. Their parents bought the home.  They grew up in it and they continue to live in it.

The Neighborhood Today

I would say that Commander Drive is much more intact than Doreen is today.  As I walked along Doreen this week, I discovered five empty houses.  One of the websites I looked at a few weeks ago said that one of them is in foreclosure.  There are two houses with dumpsters outside going through apparent renovation and two that are obviously for sale.  From what I have learned over the years, a number of the houses on Doreen have been rental properties.

I would hope that Doreen draws some first time home owners who see the opportunity for an affordable starter home in a surprisingly fantastic location.  We are so close to hospitals, shopping, Farnsley Park and  all the other amenities of the East End.  Yes, Commander and Doreen are not the most glamorous blocks of houses in Louisville, but they are good housing values and a good place to set up house and raise a family. . If you are looking for a good home value in Bon Air, take a look at these streets.


.


Saturday, July 27, 2019

BANA Minutes for July 8, 2019.



We decided to start posting our minutes on this blog and show the neighborhood what it is we do every month. Notice, we will not post the names of the attendees out of respect for privacy. 

We hope that you become a member of the Bon Air Neighborhood Association. We seek to be an effective advocate for the neighborhood. 


Bon Air Neighborhood Association (BANA), Inc.
July 8, 2019, 6:30 - 7:45pm
Bon Air Library

Call to Order at 6:30pm — Agenda copies distributed


Review of Minutes — Copies distributed as well as emailed; motion made, seconded & approved to accept

Treasurer’s Report — No additional income received as of July 5, 2019; one expense of $47.50 for insurance through June 25; balance of $613.08 as of 7/5/2019 (will be $521.08 after $92 PO Box rental check clears); FYI, debit card numbers (that Patrick Carrico thought might work with the new debit card) did not work; per phone call to Park FCU, Charlaine needs to come in to get the card activated; will do ASAP after meeting in case anyone has cash or a check for her to deposit

Ad Hoc Committee — Per July 7 informal meeting with Lois Judd, David Houvenagle prepared a Membership Spreadsheet which needs to be updated to indicate those who’ve paid dues

BANA President’s Blog Report — Google website called blogger.com provides statistics of views; noted negative news gets the most interest, e.g. recent murder got over 500 of 2627 total page views; next 2 blog posts will focus on National Night Out;  blog linked to BANA Facebook page & Nextdoor; will post Minutes (without attendees’ names, out of respect for their privacy concerns)

National Night Out — Tues, August 6, 6-7:30 (annually 1st Tues each Aug) So far, sites include Glencreek Ln, Bashford Manor Bed & Breakfast, & possibly Commander Dr;  media will be notified

Goldsmith Ln Area Fire Hydrant Art (paintings) — Stephen Scott King (Bon Air resident) followed through with getting info about hydrants’ painting requirements (color & type of paint); brain-stormed painted hydrant ideas/themes (e.g. Dalmations, other dogs, etc.)

Buechel-Bon Air Business Networking Meeting — Initial interest meeting, sponsored by IPM Services & Age Transitions, to be held at 2300 Meadow Drive on July 31, 8:30-10AM; promotional flyer to be posted on BANA blog

Tax Forms — Charlaine will check into any forms due from BANA

Fundraising Possibilities — Charlaine’s list of ideas include 1) All-in-One Security’s offer to donate $200 to BANA for each new customer referral;  2) follow-up with past & current members to renew dues for 2020 from this point forward;  3) newsletter with ads from local businesses (noting there are expenses with that) or direct appeals to area businesses;  4) sell promotional &/or other items (e.g. Bon Air T-shirts, coupon or recipe books, etc.);  5) Pampered Chef fundraiser with 10-15% of sales going to BANA;  6) local restaurants’ fundraising night;  & 7) yard sale &/or indoor craft sale with fee to rent tables; pros & cons of these ideas were discussed but no decisions were made, noting the importance of promoting the value of BANA membership, both tangible & intangible (e.g. opportunities to meet w/ LMPD, Brent Ackerson or Jeff Noble, responsiveness to neighborhood problems & improvements et al benefits)

Adjournment at 7:45pm; next meeting Mon, August 12, 6:30pm at the Bon Air Library

Represent Bon Air. Get Involved in Local Government.

I was going through Brent Ackerson's general email and it struck me how many ways people can get involved in Local Government.  Getting involved in local government can make a difference in the lives of others and in our neighborhood. 

While not everyone has the same passion, doing engaging in a meaningful and activity tends to make a person feel fulfilled.

I suggest that the more people from Bon Air participate on these boards,  the more Bon Air will get done in its own area and in the city as a whole. If you already got the email, click on the links. Otherwise, you can go to www.louisvilleky.gov for more information.


Vacancies on Louisville Metro Boards and Commissions

Get involved in Louisville Metro government and governance by joining one of the 80+ boards and commissions that oversee and advise public officials on how to best move our city forward. Here are just a few of the boards that are looking for additional members.  

AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND BOARD
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT BOARD
BI-STATE BRIDGE AUTHORITY
BOARD OF HEALTH
BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT
CITIZENS COMMISSION ON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY (CCPA)
COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP ADMINISTERING BOARD
CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION BOARD
DEPUTY SHERIFF MERIT BOARD
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION COORDINATING COUNCIL (DVPCC)
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT REVIEW OVERLAY BOARD
ETHICS COMMISSION
FRIENDS OF METRO ANIMAL SERVICES (FOMAS)
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION ADVOCACY BOARD
KENTUCKIANAWORKS GREATER LOUISVILLE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD
LANDMARKS COMMISSION
LOUISVILLE FILM ADVISORY COMMISSION
LOUISVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY BOARD
MEDICAL CENTER COMMISSION OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION BOARD
METROPOLITAN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
MSD
NULU REVIEW OVERLAY DISTRICT COMMITTEE (ADVISORY)
PARC (PARKING AUTHORITY OF RIVER CITY, INC.)
POLICE MERIT BOARD
REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
RIVERPORT AUTHORITY
RIVERSIDE - THE FARNSLEY-MOREMEN LANDING
SCIENCE CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SMOKETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
SUBURBAN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES: BUECHEL
SUBURBAN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES: JEFFERSONTOWN
SUBURBAN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES: ST. MATTHEWS
TAX APPEALS BOARD
URBAN RENEWAL COMMISSION
URBAN SERVICES DISTRICT BOARD
WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT 109 BOARD
WATERWORKS
ZOO FOUNDATION BOARD


Thursday, July 25, 2019

Building the Economy of the Bon Air Neighborhood

On Wednesday, July 31, 2019 there will be a first of a kind (at least in a while) business networking meeting at the Builder's Exchange Building, 2300 Meadow Drive.



It is an opportunity for local business people to come together and network.  If you have a local business, this is your opportunity to tell others about your business, identify local suppliers and maybe identify common concerns that can be opportunities for collaboration, and help build the economy of the Bon Air Neighborhood.

In a sense every location has an economy.  It is always a matter as to what kind of economic productivity occurs in the location.  The three factors of production are land, labor and capital. Capital tends to chase opportunity in a suitable location with qualified and affordable labor.

An economy has sectors that produce different goods and services. A healthier local economy is diversified with multiple sectors so that when there are downturns in one sector, the other sectors can keep the economy from crashing and to keep goods and services flowing to the end consumers. The healthy economy also has transactions with the larger, regional economy.

In terms of Bon Air's economy, it looked historically to be an entertainment destination.  The first Putt Putt in Louisville was here.  The Bashford Manor Mall in its heyday was quite attractive (I remember going there a few times in my graduate school days in the early 1990's).  The Showcase Cinemas location was where I saw Forrest Gump. There were multiple restaurants that included Chi-Chi's, Austins, Kingfish, Mr Gattis. Little by little, the entertainment sector diminished with the shift of the population. 

Eventually, the entertainment sector seemed to lead to the decline of the Bon Air Core.  There was a diversity of businesses that filled the Bon Air Manor.  Now, there is only half of what used to be there.

I have to cite the Late, Metro Council member Jim King in that the Toy Tiger was the beginning of the decline of the entertainment sector. He grew up in the neighborhood, and I still remember the conversation and his angry tone of voice when talking about the bar that took over the restaurant of the former Brown Suburban.  I had only heard about this particular establishment in radio commercials from 1992-1994 when I was a busy graduate student with barely time to breathe, but it appeared to be the last of a breed of establishment that had well drinks and theme nights.  The place was a Thorntons when I came back Louisville after six years gaining job experience.

To cut to the chase the economic destination is now a nostalgic memory. While the Costco and Chik-fil-A are far better than I imagined, it seems to me that the economic development up and down Bardstown Road appears to be heading in the way of more and more storage facilities (two are being built between Old Bardstown Road and Breckinridge Lane) following the reconfiguration of the Bardstown Centre Building and the creation of the 502 , and that is not exactly aesthetically pleasing.

As residents, we have some ability and power to shape Bon Air's Economy.  There is potential for economic growth where people from outside the neighborhood can come and spend money on goods and services.   Bon Air is geographically central in Jefferson County and we are right on three major traffic arteries by which commerce can travel.  The economy of Bon Air has potential grow, and good growth is not going to happen by accident.

No economy grows by accident, and economy development does not happen by accident.  I was quite impressed to learn that the Louisville Medical Center (Jewish Hospital, Norton Hospital, Norton Children's Hospital, Frazier Rehab, University Hospital) was an intentional effort led by K.P. Vinsel and the Louisville Area Development Association in the late 1940's.  When I have told people that, I get "I did not know that."   Well, Bon Air will not redevelop by accident and BANA hopes to lead the way.

Our arts development plan with the goals of a 1) a stage in Farnsley Park, 2) an art hall in the Bon Air Library, and 3) multiple public art installations is one way of developing the economy to draw in traffic. The art development plan aims to improve the aesthetic and link with the larger art community and art economy sector.

The other way to improve the economy is to strengthen the local business community and improve its cohesion as a political voice.   The event on July 31 at the Builders Exchange is a great step towards that end.   If you are local business person in the Bon Air Neighborhood, I hope you show up.


Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Driving around and around in Bon Air Estates and my wild idea

It is time to be teaching my 16-year-old son to drive.  He finally got his permit and after two sessions of driving around in larger parking lots (Seneca High School) and Canaan Christian Church, it was time to drive on the streets.


It was a nice drive as Bon Air Estates is a perfect place for new drivers driving on the street for the first time.  You get to go in circles and practice turns without actually stopping.

However, I can only imagine that we must have driven one or more of the neighbors crazy because we probably looked like we were casing the place.

However, I have to admire how well things are kept up. From what I can tell Bon Air Estates has higher housing values than Bon Air as a whole and one of the signs out in front bragged that the house sold in one day.  There are two houses currently for sale in this area, and they will probably go fast too.

Bon Air Estates has this big stretch of grass along the sound wall and Shelia Drive. It was cleared when I-264 was widened in the early 1990's.  I also understand that Brockton Lane (the former drag strip) was cut in two as there is a vestige of it west of Bon Air Estates but I digress.   It is a large open green space that is just gorgeous but a pain to mow.  I understand that like 3225/3227 Bon Air, several of the neighbors take it upon themselves to mow this.

My wild idea for this section of Bon Air is that the right of way along the sound wall along Shelia Drive be made into a walking track and fitness park with multiple training stations.  I made this suggestion 11 years ago and the person answered with the false or avoidant "they"  answer. "They don't want a park."

Maybe "they" are happy with things as they are.  But I am aware that "they" have frequently complained about how long the grass grows along with right of way and "they" have complained to Brent Ackerson to do something. 

My answer is that while it is state of Kentucky property/right of way, "they" should seek to develop it so as to reduce the grass that has to be mowed and make their area all the more attractive.

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Hello Meadow Drive. Yes, it was me on your Ring Cameras.

I was out today walking Meadow Drive leaving and passing out the usual handbill and yes, for some of you I was the guy that showed up on your "Ring" Cameras.

I had a few good conversations with some people and a few awkward moments. I apologize again to the resident about her elegant blue door hanging. I also realized that I should learn to say "I am the president of the Bon Air Neighborhood Association in Spanish."  

Otherwise, I learned some of the concerns about the amount of rental housing in the neighborhood and car break-ins.  I was able to pull yesterday's post up and tell someone about the number of car break-ins in the 40218 portion of the neighborhood. 

Please consider joining the Bon Air Neighborhood Association.  We are a positive advocate for the neighborhood and an effective way you can talk to your Metro Council Representative and express your concerns to the police.  Our annual membership fee is $20.00 per household. 

Our two upcoming events are 

1) National Night Out to be held August 6, 2019 at the Bashford Manor Bed and Breakfast, on Glencreek Court, and Commander Drive from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. A representative from LMPD will be making a stop at each of the locations to say hello and briefly chat. 

2) Our Membership Lite meeting will be on  Monday, September 30, 2019, 6:30pm at Buechel Park Baptist Church in the Fellowship Hall. We plan to have a representative from LMPD and Metro Councilman Brent Ackerson's office. 

We continue to work on the development of a performance stage in Farnsley Park and some other art development projects to create healthy growth in the Bon Air Neighborhood. The following picture is a conceptual drawing of the stage created by Louisville artist Sabra Lynne (she also did the mural on Bardstown Rd at the Watterson). 




Otherwise, our usual meetings are the second Mondays of the month at the Bon Air Library Community room at 6:30 pm. We hope you join us. 




Come Meet Your Neighbors on National Night Out in Bon Air, August 6, 2019

The Bon Air Neighborhood Association will host three locations on National Night Out, August 6, 2019 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm .  The locations will be Commander Drive, Glencreek Court, and Bashford Manor Bed and Breakfast on Bashford Manor Drive .



According to https://natw.org/about/  National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

Millions of people take part in National Night Out across thoughts of communities from all 50 states in the forms of block parties, parades, cookouts and other types of community events. 

Per the website, Louisville is one of 17 cities in Kentucky that take part in NNO.   Louisville Metro Police will have seven of their own NNO locations

https://louisvilleky.gov/events/national-night-out

Each of the three Bon Air locations will get a visit from a LMPD representative.  

An inherent premise of NNO is that meeting your neighbors and knowing your neighbors is a way of preventing crime. We hope you join us. 


Friday, July 12, 2019

Bon Air Crime Analysis for June, 2019 (and National Night Out, August 6)

This is an analysis for June, 2019 based on data posted by the Louisville Metro Police Department at and website website at https://data.louisvilleky.gov/dataset/crime-reports/resource/6d81fdf8-27e7-41ac-9ae4-1bfd8730f002 

It is a Microsoft Excel file that requires just a touch of manipulation and sorting






As usual it includes the crimes reported within the boundaries of the historical Bon Air Neighborhood as defined:
1) Bardstown Road on the West
2) Hikes Lane on the South
3) Furman Blvd on the East and
4) Taylorsville Rd and the Watterson Expressway on the North. 

Also as usual, the crime reports do not include precise addresses, so some of the information can reflect crimes happening just on the other side of the boundaries. 

Crime appeared to be significantly down (29 percent) from May as there were a total of 51 reports (there were 73 reports in May)
There were 32 reports in the 40218 area of the neighborhood and 19 reports in the 40220 portion. 

In terms of breakdowns, the 3300 Block of Bardstown Rd is the location with the most police reports of 8 reports. It had 

  • 2 Assaults
  • 2 Motor Vehicle Thefts
  • 2 Thefts/Larcencies
  • 1 Vandalism 
  • 1 Vehicle Break-in

We can tell that two of the incidents: an assault and one vandalism were at a hotel/motel location.  

The 40218 portion

Otherwise, in terms of the 40218 area, the breakdown could be identified as follows

  • 8 Motor vehicle break-ins
  • 6 Assaults
  • 5 Motor vehicle thefts
  • 5 Theft/Larcenies 
  • 3 Other crimes
  • 2 Burglaries
  • 1 Murder (the unfortunate event on Rowena Rd)
  • 1 Sodomy/Rape

The 40220 portion

In terms of the 40220 portion, the breakdown is as follows:


  • 6 Theft/larcenies
  • 4 Assaults
  • 4 Motor vehicle break-ins
  • 3 Other
  • 1 Robbery
  • 1 Vandalism


Two of the thefts/larcenies were at the Bon Air Manor. Two of the assaults were part of one call at Masemure Ct.

At the time of writing, car break-ins have been a highlighted crime in Louisville given the number of guns stolen from cars.  The car break-ins in the 40220 area were at the following locations:

  • 3200 Block of Commander Drive
  • 3300 Block of Goldsmith Lane
  • 3400 Block of Mina Ct
  • 3500 Block of Ramona Ave. 

One last crime of concern to note is that a robbery occurred at Bon Air Ave and Meadow Drive.  It is of special concern given that it was labeled as "Robbery 1st Degree."  Robberies do not tend to make the news otherwise in Louisville.

Our best way to fight crime in Bon Air is common sense prevention. Don't keep valuables in your car. Keep your car locked.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

The Bon Air Neighborhood Association will be promoting another avenue of crime fighting and that is to know your neighbors.   Knowing what your neighbors look like and knowing their names and sharing information can be a vital tool in the war on crime.

We will be hosting three sites of National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm on Commander Drive, Bashford Manor Drive and Glencreek Court. More details are to come next week.





Friday, July 5, 2019

E-Scooters In Bon Air. A Sign of Progress.

E-Scooters are starting to make their appearance in Bon Air. I have seen them in the Highlands and by Bellermine University for the past several months.

I first saw them on Commander Drive on 7/4/2019. I also saw one on Del Rio Place in front of the Bon Air Manor. 



The models that I saw were "Bird" Scooters.  According to its website: https://www.bird.co/   they seek to be available to people who are eligible for SNAP and other demonstrations of lower income. 

According to the website https://www.ridester.com/bird-scooters-cost/#fees    the cost for operating a Bird scooter as of 4/3/19 was 15 cents per mile.  There is always a $1.00 rental fee for each transaction, so, if you get on a scooter and ride it four miles, you will pay $1.60.  You get an app for your smart phone from either Google Play or the App Store.



They require a credit card and every time you use the scooter, your credit card is charged. 

I myself would never get on them but I welcome them to the neighborhood--they make us part of larger Louisville.  They present as an affordable form of transportation that go about 10 miles per hour, and can take you at times where buses will not go. 



Update on Graffiti in Bon Air. City Government Does Work.


This is a follow up on the post of June.11, 2019. 

With an email to 311 and a copy of it to Jeff Noble, Legislative Aide to Brent Ackerson, I can report the following:

The graffiti is on the wall along Brockton Lane.



Now looks like this:




This picture was on the sound wall by Sharon Circle and Fureen Drive:



IT now looks like this:




What makes me think that this party has real skills is that he or she did a miniature of this on the sign right in front of the Highgate Springs garden on Furman Blvd at Taylorsville Rd.

Now  looks like this:


The city apparently replaced the sign.

The last graffiti was on the shed behind the Bon Air Manor.
.





Well, it is still there . . .



The Noltemeyer  Company apparently does not read my blog.  Nor, do they seem interested in getting rid of the graffiti.

Thanks are in order to the emails of Jeff Noble to the respective state and city departments.  He wrote more than once to deal with the governmental fragmentation.

In Louisville, you can report graffiti by calling 311/574-5000 or email a report at metrocall@louisvilleky.gov. Metro Government has painted over it in the past and I am hoping that they will take care of these.  Let's keep Bon Air clean and free of graffiti.

One more item, the Bon Air Neighborhood Association will have its monthly meeting on Monday, July 8, 2019 in the Community Room at 6:30pm.