Recently in River Fields Category

CJ: Governor OKs $100 M bond sale for ORBP

A year ago, the state legislature approved $231 M to go toward the Bridges Project, but it's taken the Governor almost a year to actually approve less than half the bonds. They indicate that it is for land acquisition, so we'll track the $s and see where they are headed.

CJ: Bridges Lawsuit Headed to Kentucky Court

Clearly River Fields would have objected to this move if they believed it didn't benefit them. We know what kind of influence they've had on local elected leaders, now we will see how their special interest agenda works in the judicial system.

Chase Cain reports on The Case of the Missing LEOs.

We're expecting the Courier's team of investigative reporters to cover this story any day now. We will send you the link since many of you no longer take the paper.

River Fields threatens to sue LEO Weekly.

Read about it in "A trip down the river" by Stephen George.

And read Edie Bingham's letter to the editor in this week's LEO:

"I cannot endure the thought of our riverfront and downtown being buried under more concrete and traffic when it took 40 years to revive the Main Street activity, riverfront and downtown reinvestment."

The year was 1994. Momentum to build an East End Bridge was continuing to build since it was first proposed in the 1960s. A newly created non-profit organization supposedly focused on downtown redevelopment and revitalization called Downtown Development Corporation released a study suggesting that Louisville didn't need an East End Bridge, but instead a downtown bridge.

Shortly after the new bridge "idea" was introduced, a small conservation group's president issued a press release advocating for the downtown bridge. The release read:

 "Today River Fields Board President James S. Welch, Jr. unveiled a plan which offers a solution to both the traffic congestion and server safety problems at the Kennedy Bridge and Spaghetti Junction."

-snip-

"Welch pointed out that the new design minimizes impacts on downtown Jeffersonville and Louisville."

-snip-

"this new plan would enhance the waterfront by adding acreage to the Waterfront Park and providing additional parking areas under the ramps."

Fast forward 15 years to today. Now the past president of River Fields is Chairman of the Downtown Development Corporation, the organization that created the idea of the downtown bridge. "DDC" is still a strong supporter of the downtown bridge and its board members serve on other related organizations including the Build the Bridges Coalition and the Bi-State Bridge Authority.

The Federal Highway Administration has asked that River Fields' lawsuit be moved from Washington DC to a Kentucky court.

We're not sure what we think about this one. River Fields' reputation as obstructionists to the East End Bridge is well known, but on the other hand, the organization's political influence cannot be underestimated. We will observe with great interest.

From the CJ's article:

"The lawsuit says that adding a single bridge downtown and redesigning Spaghetti Junction, where interstates 64, 65 and 71 meet near downtown, would address the region's existing and long-term traffic needs on both sides of the river."

"Politics, power and obstruction: Has Louisville's most prominent preservation group lost its vision?"

Steven Shaw did a heck of a job covering a very difficult story. Read it!

From the Courier-Journal:

River Fields Inc., the same small special interest group that in the last few years has opposed and delayed, mostly through lawsuits against federal, state and Metro government agencies: the Ohio River Bridges Project of Kentucky and Indiana; the rebuilding of the Harrods Creek Bridge; a sewer project on Upper River Road; and who knows what else?

In a courageous letter to the C-J, the past Director of River Fields unloads on the "obstructionist" who have championed the downtown option so fervently and selfishly for years:

'Obstructionists'

I was astounded but not surprised that the first article about River Fields ("River Fields turns 50") made no mention of the negative effect they have had on Louisville and this region's transportation system and economy. We might not be staring down the barrel of a costly "two-bridge solution" if they had not championed the downtown option so fervently and selfishly years ago.

Opposition to the East End Bridge has been their primary focus and fundraising tool for the last decade. Without their use of political, legal and strategic financial influence, the East End Bridge might be near completion today and we would have been able to focus on better and possibly less expensive, less intrusive solutions for Spaghetti Junction and I-65 cross-river traffic.

On September 10th, the Courier-Journal reported that River Fields lawsuit could halt Ohio River Bridges Project. This should shock no one.

River Fields has successfully delayed the East End Bridge for decades. The organization's claims of "land conservation" and motto of "The river connects us all" appear to take a back seat to self-preservation. For the organization, the East End Bridge is personal. The board is stacked with landowners who live along River Road and the organization's Director of 24 years lives within half a mile of the alignment of the East End Bridge.

Preserving one's neighborhood ("backyard") is one thing, but River Fields has systematically used political, economic and social pressure to delay an important piece of transportation infrastructure that would benefit the entire region.

River Fields' destructive strategy started in 1994 when they began to promote a Downtown Bridge as an alternative. Now we know their suggestion - motivated by their opposition to the East End Bridge - would widen I-64 by 50% over Waterfront Park and construct a 23 Lane wide Spaghetti Junction. Furthermore, this strategy has cost Kentucky over $100 millions to date.

Mayor Abramson, the leadership of Downtown Development Corporation and the Courier-Journal's Editorial Board have all played a role in deceiving the public and/or delaying the East End Bridge.

Downtown Development Corporation (DDC) is a perfect example of how opposition to the East End Bridge has hurt Louisville's growth and development. The orgnaization was created 18 years ago during Mayor Abramson's first term. While the organization should be focused on investments in downtown's vibrancy and historic and cultural preservation, it continues to be used as a tool to stop the East End Bridge.

Currently, DDC is chaired by a past president of River Fields and the organization is a founding member of the Bridges Coalition, which like River Fields is pushing for a Downtown Bridge. And four years ago - when the organization was led by another individual with River Fields ties - it suppressed a white paper that like 8664, suggested that Louisville would benefit by replacing I-64 with an at-grade parkway. But the study was never released to the public.

It's time for Louisville to move forward and break free from these old obstructionist tactics that are having a detrimental impact on our future. 

Metro Council passes resolution, C-J's editorial Bridges get a go

From July 29th: Proposal would seek hearings on bridges.

Tyler Allen letter to the editor, Don't rubber stamp a tolling authority.