Would you like to see Kentucky experience an economic boom to the likes of much larger areas (Lexington: 2010)

[lovintexas]

Say, Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, etc.

I've seen several posters ask questions about why is Kentucky seemingly overlooked, or why is Louisville seemingly overlooked.

Would you rather see Kentucky as it is--growing slowly but not straining its infrastructure--or busting out the seams with newcomers (and trying to keep up with newly needed infrastructure)?

In other words, would you like to see a metropolis of Louisville-Lexington with 5 million+ people, kind of like Atlanta-Athens in Georgia? Let's say Louisville is the main component of this sprawl, with a much larger airport than it currently has, and twice as many people living inside the Gene Snyder as currently do. Housing prices become double of what they are now, like in metro Atlanta. Shelbyville becomes Conyers; La Grange becomes Marietta; all the way out in Lawrenceburg, it becomes like Gainesville. (Obviously, these are simulated comparisons.) Lexington becomes a liberal city and a much larger version of Athens. 14-18 lane freeways (and congestion,) huge malls, huge box stores, convention centers abound.

I know this is kind of a weird question. I'm neither a proponent nor opponent of Kentucky going this route. Kentucky is its own state, and we as Kentuckians should guide the course of our future.

Thanks, and I'm looking forward to some interesting, thoughtful answers!

[Diamond Dee]

I don't know ,what Iv'e heard being from Texas is that the Dallas Ft. worth metroplex is growing well take Frisco I was their last yr. all I saw was const.const.const. and their subdivisons growing fast.I have family their and know by them that when they first moved their.their's was the only house in that part of Frisco.then its like watch out!it just keeps growing!!if Louisville goes the route of Dallas Ft. worth it means more jobs,stores ,maybe a major sports team??is that good ?it depends does KY need that?how about those of us that wanted to get away from that I guess I'll be moving .

[lovintexas]

Originally Posted by Diamond Dee

I don't know ,what Iv'e heard being from Texas is that the Dallas Ft. worth metroplex is growing well take Frisco I was their last yr. all I saw was const.const.const. and their subdivisons growing fast.I have family their and know by them that when they first moved their.their's was the only house in that part of Frisco.then its like watch out!it just keeps growing!!if Louisville goes the route of Dallas Ft. worth it means more jobs,stores ,maybe a major sports team??is that good ?it depends does KY need that?how about those of us that wanted to get away from that I guess I'll be moving .

It's good only if the people of Kentucky say it's good. If people are seeking to move to a metropolis type environment, then that's just what they're going to to. If Kentucky wants to encourage big businesses to set up big operations here with big tax incentives, then big swarms of people will follow. Louisville has as much potential as anywhere in the state--in fact, if not for Louisville, then Kentucky would really be nothing.

Or, if Kentucky wants to stay mostly rural but with easy access to big city amenities, that will be our choice, too. I guess if we become too big for your liking, Diamond Dee, there's always Oklahoma or West Virginia. I don't see those states exploding anytime soon.

By the way, you asked me in another forum where I live. I'm in Lawrenceburg. Where are you?

[Davart]

I think steady growth is good but a "boom" is bad because with every "boom" there is a collapse, a bust then it sends the economy into a tail spin. Whereas the old saying goes, slow and steady wins the race. How many stores do you need to shop at? A competing market is good, but when is enough, enough? How many fast food chains does one town need? When is there enough big box stores that all look a like and provide poor service?
Which do you really want? Urban sprawl or roll pastures and forest? Would you rather see fields of asphalt or fields of green? Some people like urban living and would freak out if they were placed in the country, good for them they can have it. There is nothing wrong with a little growth, but too much too fast leads to problems with poor city planning, bad roads, congestion, failing inferstructure, higher crime, more taxes, loss of a sense of community and a wider economic divide. With no growth your community will dry up and blow away, so as I said growth is good in moderation. But a if "boom" is what you want, by all means have it, just keep it away from me.

[LouisvilleJake]

God, I hope Louisville never "booms". If someone wants that, then they can move to Nashville or Indianapolis or Raleigh. Keep it there; I would rather Louisville grow slowly, keeping it's good quality of life.

Louisvillians really do not know how good they have it. I read Louisvillains complain about taxes and crime and I just laugh.

I cannot wait to move back. Someday.

[Diamond Dee]

lovintexas I live in Danville oldest settlement in KY o so Ive heard,been thru your neck of the woods when we traveled to shelbyville.We stopped in your town to eat ice cream at the DQ.

[virgo]

A boom? No, no, no, please! Moderate, well-planned growth? Yes, driven by a diverse work force (not all IT, not all banking, not all manufacturing, not all baby boomer retirees, etc.).

[nalabama]

Enough growth to provide both good jobs for your children and a lifestyle that will make them want to stay, but not an iota more. Where I live now was a town of 16,000 in 1950, then 50,000 in 1960 (when we moved here from Waco), then 140,000 in 1970, and may well be over 200,000 in 2010. With each passing day and another "150 New Jobs For Huntsville" headline in the local paper, I better understand why the natives of this progressive and diverse city didn't greet us with open arms when we came rolling in. Urban sprawl and strip malls stand in the fields which used to lead the state in agricultural production, and the hills bounding us on the east are increasingly dotted with McMansions. Farmland in the surrounding counties now changes hands at developers' prices, and traffic grows apace. Not what I had in mind for my old age at all. I'd hate to see it happen in Kentucky as well.

[Wildcat]

There was a story on the local news on Monday talking about the governor being on a trip overseas to visit Japan and China. Since the day when Martha Layne Collins encouraged the Japanese to build a Toyota plant in Georgetown, KY there have been 150 facilities in KY that counts for more than 38,000 jobs. All these satellite companies which supply the Toyota plant have been good for Central Kentucky (although the 150 facilities are not just for Toyota) .

However, there have been other factories closing down in this area in recent months. There are two factories in Frankfort which have been or are in the process of putting over 1,200 people out of work. It's good to see new businesses move into the state but it doesn't need to be done in a haphazard manner because there will be a collapse which will affect many families.

New jobs are good as long as it's at a general pace. I really don't see this area being overdeveloped for a couple of reasons.
1) Most local governments are very cautious as to the new developments which are allowed in the area.
2) My guess would be the overall consensus of the people living in the more rural areas will fight tooth and nail to prevent all the farmland being used by over development.

Most people I know who live in the areas outside the smaller towns love still having a choice to either live in town or buy a home in the country. It's very nice to be able to own a nice piece of property and not have to worry about having a person live so close you can lean out your window and touch their house, lol It may seem like an old-fashioned idea but the people here cherish that option. Believe me, I've been to enough local government meetings to know what I'm talking about.