Lexington council approves 491-bed apartment complex near historic Black neighborhood
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council gave an initial vote of approval Tuesday for a new apartment complex on the edge of the campus-area Pralltown neighborhood.
The complex, proposed by St. Louis developer Subtext, will be eight stories tall with 491 bedrooms and 215 parking spaces in an internal parking garage. It also will have retail space on the ground floor. It will be built at 545-549, 553 and 563 South Limestone, 121 and 123 Prall St., and 118 Montmullin St.
The council will have a final vote of approval on the project during a March 12 meeting.
The Urban County Planning Commission unanimously approved the proposal in January — roughly one year after it shot down a larger version of the same project.
Neighbors reach agreement after conflicts over the development
The Pralltown neighborhood association came to an agreement with Subtext to support the most recent iteration after taking issue with the prior proposal.
That agreement involves a $3 million check from Subtext to the association. That money will be used to create a new foundation focused on preserving the few remaining owner-occupied homes in the historically Black neighborhood.
According to the agreement, that $3 million must be paid in full before the city can issue any building permits.
Lexington’s commissioner of law, Dave Barberie, told the council the agreement between the neighborhood association and developer does not compromise the council’s decision.
“We’ve acknowledged the existence of this agreement, as well as the fact that we are willing to withhold some permits down the line if it’s not complied with,” Barberie said. “So we feel that kind of put us in a good spot, where you all are not making your decision based upon the existence of this community benefits agreement, but the parties have some assurance that allows it to be followed.”
First District Council member Tyler Morton, whose district does not include Pralltown, but who has been a vocal advocate for preserving historically Black neighborhoods, said the agreement shows progress for the city.
“Like many historic African-American neighborhoods in Lexington, Pralltown is and has faced pressure to grow,” Morton said. “But today before us is a request consisting of a bold community benefit agreement, acknowledging the impacts of gentrification and directly investing in the community that has been underserved.”
Pralltown was founded in the mid-19th century as a neighborhood where freed slaves could become homeowners. Several historic Lexingtonians, including 1960s Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Lou Johnson and queer icon Sweet Evening Breeze, are from the neighborhood.
Since the 1980s, it has become a neighborhood consisting predominantly of student rental housing. According to city planners, the neighborhood is 76% white and the median age is 26.
