Goals of the Newtown Pike Extension Project

 

• Reduce automobile congestion

• Improve traffic flow by drawing through traffic out of downtown

• Provide more efficient vehicle routing to and near the University of Kentucky

• Improve the pedestrian and bicycle environment

• Improve safety for vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and bicyclists

• Provide an opportunity for redefining and improving the attractiveness of downtown and surrounding areas, without imposing an undue burden on other areas

 

Community Context

 

The community of Davis Bottom was studied in detail beginning in the early planning stages of the project. The Community Impact Assessment (CIA) and Socio-economic Baseline Analysis brought together findings from earlier studies and more recent trends and analysis to describe the context of the community. A Social Needs Assessment was completed in 2006 to help identify residents' needs for assistance and services.

 

Davis Bottom first developed in the late 1800s and the neighborhood grew as a community for workers on Lexington's railway system. While described as one of the lowest income communities in Lexington, it is also considered highly cohesive. Davis Bottom has been impacted by development associated with its proximity to downtown. When construction of the Lexington Civic Center and associated facilities began in 1974, approximately 145 dwelling units, 50 apartment buildings, and 20 commercial buildings (including a church) were demolished. A continued decline in population and housing has been attributed to the uncertainties associated with the proposed Newtown Pike Extension project.

 

"Many residents of the city are skeptical regarding construction of the proposed NPE, and uncertainty regarding the final location of the project's centerline has deterred property owners, as well as city agencies, from investing in the …neighborhood. Absentee landlords have allowed their properties to decline into varying stages of disrepair, and the city has been reluctant to initiate major infrastructure improvements that might prove duplicative once the proposed roadway [is] built. While this situation is obvious today, it was just as much so in 1975…Conditions reported in many sources 20 to 30 years ago remain essentially unchanged."  Community Impact Assessment with Socioeconomic Analysis, February 2004

 

Impacts of the Project

 

The build alternatives for the Newtown Pike Extension project would result in relocations in the low-income community of Davis Bottom caused by the direct impact of the roadway project and by the indirect impact of market forces resulting from increased land values near the new roadway. The CIA noted the absence of affordable replacement housing. It was expected that the no-action alternative would also result in a decline of Davis Bottom, continuing the trend begun by years of uncertainty around the project.

 

Through a survey and public engagement opportunities, the community expressed interest in remaining in the area. The CIA documented that the build alternatives and the no-action alternative would disrupt family and community ties, that residents would lose the opportunity to walk to major service-job providers in the downtown area, and that residents would be forced to move from a location where many families had resided for generations.

 

The CIA concluded that since none of the residential relocation or community disruption impacts would affect the other neighborhoods bordering the proposed roadway corridor to the same degree, impacts to Davis Bottom met the 'disproportionate' requirement of the Environmental Justice Executive Order (E.O. 12898).

 

“It was recognized early in the project planning stages that the [Davis Bottom] neighborhood community...would receive a disproportionate share of impacts as a result of the project. Construction of the roadway through this neighborhood will cause community disruption and directly impact residents. This impact will result in relocations caused by two conditions: (i) directly by the roadway project itself, and (ii) indirectly by the market forces resulting from land value increases near the new major boulevard."  Newtown Pike Extension Project, Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky Record of Decision, 2007.

 

Integrated Project Design and Mitigation

 

To avoid disruption to community cohesion, mitigate environmental justice impacts, and support the Purpose and Need objective to avoid undue burdens to communities, a variety of mitigation strategies were incorporated into the Newtown Pike Extension Project.

 

Mitigation Strategies:

 

• Urban Village Plan and Community Land Trust

• Redevelopment of a neighborhood park

• Improvements to the Carver Neighborhood Center

• New space for non-profit, service-oriented agencies

• Funding incentives to keep residents in the community

 

The Southend Park Urban Village Plan was developed to provide the framework for mitigation of environmental justice impacts. The plan was designed to provide housing that would allow residents of the Davis Bottom community to remain in the area. What was proposed as a new "Southend Park" neighborhood was later renamed "Davis Park." Under the plan, 25 acres of the Davis Bottom neighborhood would be reconstructed to provide homes, rental units, and new or renovated community facilities. A Community Land Trust (CLT) was created to implement the plan.

 

Community Land Trusts

 

• Land is held by the trust

• Homes are owned by individuals

• Funding used for the housing remains with the homes as "retained subsidy"

• Buyers sign a Land Lease upon purchase that includes a resale formula to keep the home price affordable

 

According to its Articles of Incorporation, the CLT was established to:

 

• Protect the integrity and viability of Davis Park

• Provide quality and affordable housing

• Deter community deterioration in area neighborhoods

• Protect relationships between neighbors and between people and place

• Promote sound use of land, including residential and commercial uses that enhance local neighborhoods

• Contribute to the long-term vitality of the community

 

• "The Southend Park Urban Village Plan, through this Urban Village concept, is about improving the quality of life by building a better neighborhood. It is about having a mix of housing types, retail, offices, local employment opportunities, community and social service facilities, safe and attractive public spaces, and a good transportation network. The premise of the Southend Park Urban Village Plan is to create a livable environment for those residents who currently reside in the neighborhood and to create a sustainable neighborhood by encouraging new residents to relocate into the area as well. Thus the Southend Park Urban Village Plan will reverse decades-old neglect endured by this community and mitigate the environmental justice impacts to this community over the past 50 years from the proposed NPE."  Newtown Pike Extension Project, Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky Record of Decision, 2007.

 

Community Outreach and Engagement

 

Involving the Davis Bottom community throughout planning, project development, and the design of mitigation strategies was a critical element of the Newtown Pike Extension project. The Record of Decision notes that this engagement allowed residents to work with the project team to find solutions to concerns.

 

• Corridor Advisory Committee: A committee of State and regional agencies, neighborhood representatives, the Nathaniel Mission and other organizations helped to gather public input and provided project guidance.

• Neighborhood Liaison: Community leaders recommended that a neighborhood liaison be hired for the project. The liaison, hired in 2002, served as a link between the project team and affected residents working closely with neighborhood associations, residents, and community-based agencies.

• Communications: Information about the project was spread through news releases to local media, mailings, newsletters, and a project website.

• Driving Tours: The project team provided driving tours to orient participants to the project route.

• Community Meetings: Several meetings were held in Davis Bottom to discuss the project and invite residents to talk to the project team.

• Surveys: Two survey efforts were undertaken to reach residents and businesses throughout the project area. The surveys included canvassing of neighborhoods and circulation by mail.

 

Davis Park Today

 

The former Davis Bottom neighborhood is now known as Davis Park. In 2008, temporary homes for residents wishing to move into the new village were constructed. Site preparation for Davis Park began in 2012 and the CLT held a ground-breaking ceremony for the first new rental complex, Davis Park View, in June of 2014. A grand opening ceremony was held on November 20, 2014 to celebrate the completion of 14 affordable rental homes in Davis Park.  Home construction is planned to be complete in fall 2015. Right-of-way acquisition and construction of the Newtown Pike Extension Project are currently underway (as of January 2015). Community information meetings and a project website keep interested parties informed on the overall project. In addition, the Community Land Trust maintains a website to keep residents and other stakeholders up to date on Davis Park activities and events.

 

Effective Practices Supporting Community Quality of Life

 

The individuals, agencies, and organizations that collaborated on the Newtown Pike Extension Project and the development of the urban village plan had a road to build; but they were determined to do it in a way that did not adversely affect the community involved. The creative partnerships and innovative solutions resulted from this determination to do things the best way possible for both the road project and the community.  Some of the effective practices implemented through the Newtown Pike Extension project were to:

 

• Build projects that build communities through public and private partnerships. The Department of Housing and Urban Development, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), FHWA, and other partners worked together, leveraging resources to address impacts to Davis Bottom through unique and effective mitigation strategies.

 

• Use early planning studies to identify critical issues and inform the project development process. The potential impacts to the Davis Bottom community were identified in the earliest studies conducted in the planning stages for the project. This early identification of critical issues guided the process and decisions for the rest of the project.

 

• Create a purpose and need statement that addresses transportation and community needs. The importance of valuing existing communities was written into the project purpose. Thus alternatives had to address impacts to communities to meet the purpose and need. Similarly, improvements to the bicycle and pedestrian environment were included in the project purpose and build alternatives.

 

• Use analysis and a collaborative process to understand the detailed context of impacted communities. The CIA, Social Needs Assessment, surveys, and many public engagement strategies and opportunities for public engagement allowed the project team to create mitigation solutions that worked for the project and the community.