Distillery Heights TownhomesLuxe downtown living on the edge of Town Branch Park
Distillery Heights is the newly-constructed townhome project overlooking the future Town Branch Park in downtown Lexington.
“Because we’re in the Distillery District, we wanted to create something a little edgy,” said builder Jo Gawthrop, referencing the dark gray industrial-look exterior with rustic brick accents and sleek deck railings.
In the model unit at 955 Tarr Trace, you’ll find 1,872 square feet on three levels with two bedrooms, two full baths, two half baths and a single-car garage. Larger units measuring 2,100 - 2,400 square feet with three bedrooms, three full baths, one half bath and a two-car garage are also available.
“People want to live downtown, but people don’t want to hear the noise of downtown,” Gawthrop said, pointing out the high efficiency Anderson windows and acoustic baffling between units.
“We’ve tried to think of everything,” Gawthrop said. “In addition to the surface parking we have on the property, it’s unusual to have a private garage in downtown Lexington.”
AT THE HUB OF EVERYTHING
For residents of Distillery Heights the Pepper Distillery, Alltech Brewery, Grand Reserve Event Facility, Manchester Music Hall and the restaurants and businesses of the Jefferson Street Corridor are all close at hand.
“Rupp Arena and the Convention Centre are right across from here and the University of Kentucky is just a seven minute bike ride,” Gawthrop said. And residents will enjoy prime access to Town Branch Park as it takes shape over the next couple of years.
“You’re right at the hub of everything here,” said Gawthrop. “If we were living in Sydney it would be like Five Ways Paddington where five major thoroughfares all come into one place in Australia. We’re so centrally located.”
Gawthrop, who has built over 1,000 homes, is known for soaking up design ideas discovered during her travels. “I find great ideas from places like Atlanta or Raleigh and bring them back here,” said Gawthrop. She brought the first Grand Tour of Homes to town.
Longtime Lexingtonians may remember the Distillery Heights property as the site of the old Southern States Farm Supply. The lot was scheduled to be a boutique hotel at one point but the timing wasn’t right, Gawthrop said.
REVERSING THE SUBURBAN EXODUS
“As you go through looking at the details of these Townhomes, you’re going to see high quality materials,” said listing agent Kitty Lane. “For example this is not just a cultured marble countertop, we’ve got quartz. You’ll see glass back splashes, high end appliances, hand-scraped hardwood floors and high ceilings with crown moldings. You’re not getting the builder grade.”
The ground floor entry level of the model has a living space with a half-bath that could be used as an extra bedroom, den, workout room, etc. The open-plan concept on the main floor living area includes the designer kitchen, half bath and private deck. The large bedrooms on the upper level each feature full baths, walk-in closets and vaulted ceilings.
Realtor Lane sees the return to downtown living as part of a larger cycle. “Back in the late 1970s the sidewalks of Lexington got rolled up at five o’clock. There was nearly nothing downtown, just lawyers and banks,” Lane said. “Over time people moved out into the suburbs. But now Lexington is alive with concerts, farmer’s markets, street fairs, restaurants and all kinds of entertainment and activities.”
This week’s feature home is listed with Meredith Lane Ferguson and Kitty Lane at Keller Williams Bluegrass Realty. To see more images of the home, visit the Homeseller gallery at Kentucky.com.
This story was originally published February 2, 2020 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Distillery Heights TownhomesLuxe downtown living on the edge of Town Branch Park."