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I was reading through some old posts about Oldham County as was reading where some people thought it would be good to have a Carmel, IN or a Cary, NC here. Some people mentioned it would make Louisville more noticeable to those families that are looking for that sort of lifestyle to raise their family. What does everyone think about this? Which city would it be too? It seems as though Louisville suburbs don't annex land like others do. What would it take? I actually don't know how I fell on the issue and I wanted some other people to talk about it. I've always been such a proponent of suburbs though.
Here's the human paradox... If we want Oldham County to be the gloriously refreshing, recreating, idealistic spot to live then we must stop the people from coming. We gain nothing by making this county a more populous place. We only add more asphalt, more stop lights, more crime, and more, more, more which equals less of the idealistic livestyle we currently have. By adding shopping, by adding nightclubs, bars, etc, we only detract. By adding industry, we only add a few tax dollars..
If I were the gate keeper at the county line, I would stop any new residents. Only replace those who leave, and watch the real value of our properties go sky high.
Unfortunately, I have only been appointed to follow behind the horses in the parade cleaning up...
Oldham County does have the potential to become a Carmel, Cary, Franklin (TN), Round Rock (TX) or Hoover (AL). A real suburb, not a conglomeration of exurban-feeling suburbs (make sense?) just outside a downtown area (that is not derogatory labeling, just calling it as I see it.) I'm not sure which town, but probably the county seat of La Grange since it's nearest OCHS, right on I-71, and most of the county's shopping and historic districts are already there.
If Louisville begins to undergo the same booming growth that Indianapolis, Raleigh, Nashville, and Birmingham have experienced--which I don't think it will anytime in the near future--then Oldham Co. will naturally become like one of these "top" suburbs.
Yes, it would make Louisville more noticeable to people wanting to raise families in a very safe, well-educated community with strong public schools. Nonetheless, Louisville has to start to boom first. The city of Louisville is doing its own part. But the Commonwealth's government can contribute by:
(a) giving more of Louisville's tax dollars back to Louisville,
(b) lowering (or eliminating) the personal and corporate income taxes,
(c) at least building one new bridge, and
(d) offering economic incentives to foreign companies willing to locate here,
Until then, Louisville will just be Kentucky's largest city and not a regional beacon.
So...once that ball gets rolling and more people move here, Oldham will be "discovered" and the two areas will play off each other's reputations.
Here are a couple of examples from those other states:
1. UNC, NC State, Duke, and the massive Research Triangle Park have brought many researchers and formally well-educated people to Raleigh-Durham. Consequently, so came high-paying jobs and, well, so many people have arrived that the cost of living is becoming high (not exasperating or alarming, but noticeable.) R-D has been booming since the 1960s, but Cary wasn't "discovered" by the yankees until the 1980s. Cary has nearly tripled in population since 1985.
2. Vanderbilt, MTSU, Ft. Campbell, and no income taxes have brought people to metro Nashville. Franklin was like Crestwood in 1980. But as more Fortune 500 companies begin to relocate to the Middle Tennessee area, so come the onslaught of people from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and other states who aren't thriving economically. Franklin/Brentwood has tripled in pop. since 1985.
3. Round Rock, a suburb of Austin, nearly matches scenario #2.
Guys, we have the potential. The question is, do we really want it?
Oldham County does have the potential to become a Carmel, Cary, Franklin (TN), Round Rock (TX) or Hoover (AL). A real suburb, not a conglomeration of exurban-feeling suburbs (make sense?) just outside a downtown area (that is not derogatory labeling, just calling it as I see it.) I'm not sure which town, but probably the county seat of La Grange since it's nearest OCHS, right on I-71, and most of the county's shopping and historic districts are already there.
If Louisville begins to undergo the same booming growth that Indianapolis, Raleigh, Nashville, and Birmingham have experienced--which I don't think it will anytime in the near future--then Oldham Co. will naturally become like one of these "top" suburbs.
Yes, it would make Louisville more noticeable to people wanting to raise families in a very safe, well-educated community with strong public schools. Nonetheless, Louisville has to start to boom first. The city of Louisville is doing its own part. But the Commonwealth's government can contribute by:
(a) giving more of Louisville's tax dollars back to Louisville,
(b) lowering (or eliminating) the personal and corporate income taxes,
(c) at least building one new bridge, and
(d) offering economic incentives to foreign companies willing to locate here,
Until then, Louisville will just be Kentucky's largest city and not a regional beacon.
So...once that ball gets rolling and more people move here, Oldham will be "discovered" and the two areas will play off each other's reputations.
Here are a couple of examples from those other states:
1. UNC, NC State, Duke, and the massive Research Triangle Park have brought many researchers and formally well-educated people to Raleigh-Durham. Consequently, so came high-paying jobs and, well, so many people have arrived that the cost of living is becoming high (not exasperating or alarming, but noticeable.) R-D has been booming since the 1960s, but Cary wasn't "discovered" by the yankees until the 1980s. Cary has nearly tripled in population since 1985.
2. Vanderbilt, MTSU, Ft. Campbell, and no income taxes have brought people to metro Nashville. Franklin was like Crestwood in 1980. But as more Fortune 500 companies begin to relocate to the Middle Tennessee area, so come the onslaught of people from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and other states who aren't thriving economically. Franklin/Brentwood has tripled in pop. since 1985.
3. Round Rock, a suburb of Austin, nearly matches scenario #2.
Guys, we have the potential. The question is, do we really want it?
No. The reason is there are too many stallwarts and naysayers like Tomocox. They don't want to see Louisville ( or even its suburbs grow). As Tom said, he'd like the population to stay the same. Many in that county and NE Louisville suburbs feel them same. They are antidevelopment NIMBYS.
I hate to say it, but Louisville really DOES need a Carmel or Round Rock or Cary. Crestwood is the spot with the potential, and the corridor from Crestwood to Buckner should be upgraded and beautified like the area around Springhurst on Hurstbourne. Insteand of sprawlly, crappy retail, a "town center" should be built like they are currently building in Carmel. I am thinking something like Norton Commons but more "liquid."
Prospect-Goshen also holds the same potential, but the land owning, NIMBY gentry there is even worse.
Oh, one more thing...Birmingham is not a nice place at all IMO, and it should be noted that Louisville is growing faster in metro and city population. Louisville actually has decent city growth, it is just slow growth Indiana suburbs and the lack of a "marquee" suburb that hold its metro a 200-400k below Nashville and Indianapolis.
Last edited by Peter1948; 07-07-2008 at 01:14 PM..
...like the population to stay the same. Many in that county and NE Louisville suburbs feel them same. They are antidevelopment NIMBYS.
I hate to say it, but Louisville really DOES need a Carmel or Round Rock or Cary. Crestwood is the spot with the potential, and the corridor from Crestwood to Buckner should be upgraded and beautified like the area around Springhurst on Hurstbourne. Insteand of sprawlly, crappy retail, a "town center" should be built like they are currently building in Carmel. I am thinking something like Norton Commons but more "liquid."
I'd opt for the whole 146 corridor from Crestwood through Buckner to La Grange. Like I said, I think La Grange does have some seeds of "Caryism" already in place, and the 146 and 22 corridors probably have the highest concentration of wealthy landowners in Kentucky outside of Louisville.
Quote:
Oh, one more thing...Birmingham is not a nice place at all IMO, and it should be noted that Louisville is growing faster in metro and city population. Louisville actually has decent city growth, it is just slow growth Indiana suburbs and the lack of a "marquee" suburb that hold its metro a 200-400k below Nashville and Indianapolis.
You're right, Birmingham is not a nice place. That's why white flight has almost killed the city since the 1950s. That's why affluent suburbs like Hoover, Vestavia Hills, and Mountain Brook (lined up one-by-one) have developed. Mountain Brook HS is one of the nation's best public high schools. That area receives upscale shopping entities such as Saks much faster than Louisville has/will. Southern Jefferson Co., AL is one of the top 25 areas in the entire county in terms of median household income.
Additionally, UAB, while founded just in the 1960s, has one of the world's most prestigious and comprehensive medical schools. Gracy Hospital (not-for-profit) in Atlanta and UAB are the two premier hospitals for general and specialty care in the entire South! That has attracted an incredible pool of professors and professionals from the world over.
But let's get back to that which pertains to Louisville...
How anyone in their right mind could even dream the word naysayer and tomocox in one sentence is beyond me. Anyone who has followed this site for any period of time, except for a small group of people being denied their self-centered wishes, would recognize just how often it is only myself standing firm and tall for Oldham County. We just don't want the crime, the infrastrural messes, or the higher taxes that follow the kind of trap others of this thread seem to desire. For that I am happy to oblige them by keeping OC a great place to raise a child and not a place to raise a lot of heck. I will be the first to praise Oldham County and the wonderful place it is to raise a child, to retire without fear, and to enjoy that higher standard of living most of the Oldham County people struggled long and hard to achieve. We don't want the socialistic attitudes purveyed by the Louisville Metro Council and mayor. We want our children and our homes safe and we don't mind an occasional short drive to shopping (we have good staples here by the way) or to visit what generally are non-profitable high class restaurants. We like our simple ways out here. Our kids get a equal or much higher level of education than any system, parochial or public, can offer most anywhere in our nation. Our crimes are generally non-violent (occasionally a civil dispute), we know our neighbors, we have excellent emergency services supported by a first rate regional hospital, and we salute the flag and apple pie.
How anyone in their right mind could even dream the word naysayer and tomocox in one sentence is beyond me. Anyone who has followed this site for any period of time, except for a small group of people being denied their self-centered wishes, would recognize just how often it is only myself standing firm and tall for Oldham County. We just don't want the crime, the infrastrural messes, or the higher taxes that follow the kind of trap others of this thread seem to desire. For that I am happy to oblige them by keeping OC a great place to raise a child and not a place to raise a lot of heck. I will be the first to praise Oldham County and the wonderful place it is to raise a child, to retire without fear, and to enjoy that higher standard of living most of the Oldham County people struggled long and hard to achieve. We don't want the socialistic attitudes purveyed by the Louisville Metro Council and mayor. We want our children and our homes safe and we don't mind an occasional short drive to shopping (we have good staples here by the way) or to visit what generally are non-profitable high class restaurants. We like our simple ways out here. Our kids get a equal or much higher level of education than any system, parochial or public, can offer most anywhere in our nation. Our crimes are generally non-violent (occasionally a civil dispute), we know our neighbors, we have excellent emergency services supported by a first rate regional hospital, and we salute the flag and apple pie.
Please explain why you don't want growth, jobs, and retail then? That is anti-development NIMBYism. Or perhaps I misinterpreted your post?
Are you insinuating you can't do this in Jefferson or Bullit counties?
That's the way I read it.
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