Baxter Station Depot Cleaning

Tired of the mess under the Baxter Station Depot? Do you walk or ride your bike under the rail road trestle and wish there wasn’t so much debris? Want to make the “entrance” from downtown to Irish Hill look smashing?

The Irish Hill Neighborhood Association, in partnership with the Mayor’s “Give a Day” initiative, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Brightside, is holding a cleanup on April 20th from 9am until noon. …

We know what you’re thinking … “That’s Thunder day for crying out loud.” Well, yes it is. There will still be plenty of time to join your friends at the Waterfront. We can make it look great, then sit back and enjoy the show, knowing that we did a good job.

Join us and students from SBTS as we clean out brush, pick up trash and make the area as clean as we can. Plenty of trash bags and gloves will be provided. If you have rakes, shovels, brooms and/or loppers, please bring them with you.

Residents and business associates are encouraged to walk to the clean up site. If you are driving, parking is available at Irish Hill Park, Baxter Avenue Baptist Church and at the Bradley Center (entering at the main Home of the Innocents entrance). Street parking not be allowed. If you have any questions, please email us at info@irishhillneighbors.org.   If you park at Baxter Ave Baptist Church and arrive between 8:30am and 9:00am, they will give you coffee & donuts as a way to say Thank You for participating. 

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Irish Hill Still Seeing RED This Fall

Weather permitting, this Monday, Apr. 15, Irish Hill Park will be receiving (5) new trees-  (2) Red Oaks, (2) Red Sunset Maples and (1) Commemoration Sugar Maple which will reach 80 ft, 45 ft and 50 ft, respectively, when they reach full maturity. All should be blazing red this fall! Our new tree canopy will not only be beautiful, but will cleanse the air, provide shelter and shade, and reduce the urban heat-island effect.

Many thanks to all involved in this endeavor:

  • Center for Neighborhoods for the hookup
  • Louisville Metro Tree Advisory Commission member & Seneca Gardens Arborist, Michael Hayman for making it happen
  • Brightside for the $1000 grant
  • Green Ridge Farm in E-town for the 3 ½” caliper trees
  • Greenhaven Tree Care for installation
  • Metro Parks for the excavation and advice

Irish Hill has pledged to help care for our new big babies. We plan to get some tree gator bags to keep them watered this summer and will post a watering schedule. If you can be available once a month or so, to help on a watering, it would help so much. Please send your contact info to info@irishhillneighbors.org.

 

Phoenix Hill Tavern Responds to Neighborhood Concerns

On Wednesday, November 14, 2012, the Irish Hill Neighborhood Association (IHNA) held its November Neighborhood Meeting a week early to help facilitate a discussion between residents of Irish Hill and the owners/management of Phoenix Hill Tavern (PHT).  The meeting was held at Gilda’s Club Louisville

Starting in early October of this year, several comments were made on social media about criminal activity that people believed was stemming from patrons of PHT. Ben Rogers and the management of PHT quickly suggested a meeting to address these concerns and IHNA agreed.

Rogers spoke to three areas: Inside the Club, Outside the Club and Ideas for the Future.

Inside the Club (be it Wednesday night or other special event nights):

  • Off-duty Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers stationed throughout the building. There are currently 4 officers. PHT is increasing to 6 officers. Pat downs and metal detector wands are used on all patrons.
  • ID scanners are used at the front and back door. Each scanner is updated regularly with patrons who are on the “ban list.” Patrons are put on the ban list for a variety of infractions, both criminal and simple misconduct, and are given written notice of their status.
  • There is a cover charge, varying depending on day of the week and time of the evening. “Pass” to go in and out is no longer allowed. Patrons who leave are required to pay again to return, which discourages “in and out” activity.
  • There are 30-35 cameras throughout the facility.
  • There are cameras that record patrons entering the Club. These DVDs are kept on file.
  • DJs are trained with a “last call” speech, which encourages patrons to be good neighbors, not to litter or make loud noises on the way home.
  • Signs are posted at the doors encouraging good behavior.

Outside the Club:

  • A patrol car rides through “the yellow zone,” a 3-block radius around the club, which includes Rogers St., Payne St., and Rubel Ave.
  • Owners, management and staff pick up litter.
  • PHT has repaired damage to property when it has been brought to their attention.

Before Rogers spoke to the Ideas for the Future, one of the off-duty LMPD Officers explained their role at the Club, and then the 5th District LMPD District Recourse Officer (DRO) spoke about LMDP’s presence.

Police Officers:

  • 2 officers at the front door
  • 2 officers at the back door
  • 1 or 2 marked patrol cars, with 2 officers each.
  • The goal of the on-property officers is to get patrons out of the club at closing time.
  • Car patrols continue until the parking lot is mostly empty at closing time.

LMPD’s Presence:

  • The 5th District is broken into 5 different “beats.”
  • There are 2-4 Officers on patrol around each beat.
  • In addition, there are 4 “Flex Officers” in unmarked cruisers patrolling the area, specifically parking lots.
  • Crime reports were reviewed – Crime is statistically down, though it does tend to spike in the winter months.

Ideas for the future:

These ideas were presented as starting points for discussion and are not to be taken as “this is going to happen” at this time.

  • Blocking Rogers St. on both sides of Baxter Ave. to thru traffic during late night hours. Residents would be allowed to come and go, but parking and walking to the Club would be prohibited.
  • Finding more off-street parking, perhaps by working on another phase of a pre-approved master plan that razes a house on the Club’s property and making an additional lot.
  • Work with local government officials and other business owners to build a parking garage. (Other cities with similar “entertainment district” have successfully done this.)
  • Ask LMPD to focus on-duty patrols closer to PHT, especially at closing time.
  • Forward issues to PHT as soon as they come up.

A number of residents from Rogers St. were in attendance. Throughout the night, they presented their concerns and provided examples of being awakened in the middle of the night, of vandalized property and other commotion. Ideas that residents suggested included foot patrols, bringing the Mounted Police back, and leaving porch lights on during the overnight hours.

The meeting was brought to a close after some additional discussions because the building was closing for the night.

 

Irish Hill Street Closures this Friday from 6:45-8pm!

Attention, Irish Hill Neighbors,

This Friday evening, there will be a road race affecting most of Irish Hill. There will be no parking restrictions but there will be street closings. With so many walkers and runners out, we ask that you take great precaution in the area, whether in a vehicle, cycling or on foot. If there are any folks that would be willing to assist CFF and LMPD in keeping the two center lanes clear for the racers, it would be appreciated. Please come out and watch the race. There should be some great costumes in attendance.

IMPORTANT STREET CLOSURE INFORMATION

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Run Like Hell 5K

Friday October 19, 2012

Street Closings at 6:45 PM -8 PM

ROUTE: Starting near Distillery Commons: the race starts at the corner of Payne Street and Lexington Road and runners run up Payne (towards Baxter) then take a right on Cooper Street, following Cooper Street to Lexington, and then makes a right onto Lexington and follows Lexington to right before 2269 Lexington Rd where runners will turn around and loop back to Payne Street, left on Payne and follows back to Distillery Commons parking lot to finish line.

The race is raising money to find a cure for this dreadful disease and CFF apologizes in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. For questions, please contact the CFF office at 502-454-8435.

13th Annual Back-to-School Block Party

Ninth District Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh invites everyone from Irish Hill to the Annual Back-to-School Block Party.  Take a look!

RootsFest in Irish Hill – Schedule of Events

Schedule of Events 11am – 4pm

Art
All Local Art, & Craft & Non-Profit  Fair
Kids Craft Booth with Aerie Meredith, Artist Extraordinaire
Walden Theatre’s Guerrilla Theater starting at 12:30pm
WaterStep presents Safe Drinking Water for the Planet

 

Music
11am Louisville Blues & the Blues Chasers
1:30pm Bluegrass Messengers
2:30pm Appalatin

 

Food
Hot Vittles & Delicious Libations from Gary’s on Spring

RootsFest in Irish Hill is happening because of these fine folks

The Irish Hill Neighborhood Association in honored to partner with these companies who are helping bring the Roots Fest in Irish Hill together.

 

Councilman David Tandy, Louisville Metro Government, District 4
Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh, Louisville Metro Government, District 9
Gary’s on Spring
MoDuet.com
Masterson’s Catering
Red Hot Roasters
Doo Wop Shop
Louisville Public Media

 

RootsFest in Irish Hill

Come down and groove to the First Annual RootsFest in Irish Hill. Live local music is on deck with the Appalachian-Latin fusion band, Appalatin along with Louisville Blues, Blues Chasers and old school bluegrass group, Bluegrass Messengers.

There will be fun for everyone including Local Art & Craft, Kids Craft Tent, Delicious Food from Gary’s on Spring, Four Roses Bourbon Tasting & Craft Beer.

Bring your lawn chair, the kids, the grandparents, your in-laws and your SHOES because funds raised will benefit WaterStep, formerly Edge Outreach. WaterStep trains individuals and organizations to provide safe drinking water to people in developing countries. Shoes, not just for dancing anymore, though it will be encouraged.

Schedule of events coming soon.

Call for Artists – FREE 10 x 10 booth space while supplies last

1st Annual RootsFest in Irish Hill

September 15, 2012 11am-4pm

Gary’s on Spring 204 S. Spring St

Art, Craft or Non-Profits

Send your contact information, category, & images of your work to info@irishhillneighbors.org.

Please provide your own table and/or tent.

Plan to set up between 9am & 11am and tear down between 4 pm & 5pm.

Your participation includes the agreement to not hold the sponsors of the festival responsible for any personal injury, accident, damage, loss or theft of goods.

Phoenix Hill Tavern – A Good Neighbor

Our neighbor, the Phoenix Hill Tavern, has hit the IHNA email box a couple of times over the past week and we wanted to pass along these two bits of information.

Up first, the Annual Chili Cookoff:

PHT SENT OUT COUPONS ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5TH. IF YOU DO NOT GET ONE IN YOUR MAILBOX FEEL FREE TO DROP BY THE OFFICE AT 1227 EAST BROADWAY TUESDAY THRU PHRIDAY BETWEEN 9AM & 5 PM

The 21st Annual Great Chili Cookoff
@ The Phoenix Hill Tavern

Sunday * October 9th * 1 pm

It’s Chili Time! WAMZ , Miller Lite, Mom’s Music  and The Phoenix Hill Tavern present the 21st Annual Great Chili Cookoff on Sunday, October 9th at 1pm 

Cooks come out of the kitchen and into the competition area to prepare their culinary concoction in hopes of taking home the bragging rights at the end of the day and saying ’my chili’s the best in Louisville!’

Judging is of two distinct categories, restaurant and individual, giving everyone who dares the opportunity to compete.

Celebrity judges representing the local media base their decisions on chili density, zestfulness, aroma, and aftertaste. 

Phairgoers also have a voice in the voting process. Following a complete sampling of the participant’s culinary creation, phairgoers are encouraged to vote in The People’s Choice Contest.

Everyone is invited to participate in the zany chili contests: The Master Hole-Hitting, Jalapeno Pepper-Eating, and Spam-Put (a crowd phavorite).

Throughout the day, phairgoers will be entertained by musical groups on four different stages.  All Outside music will end by 8PM.

The Great Chili Cookoff is a phamily event. Face painting, mural painting, and inflatable bouncing equipment give the kids something to do in The Kids Area.

Phamilies are welcome ‘til 10 pm. The Great Chili Cookoff is a PHREE rain or shine event that promises BIG PHUN for all ages!

 Next up, we learned through a series of emails that there was a little bit of rowdy behavior this past Wednesday. Karen Callahan, Neighborhood Liaison, sent a response on behalf of the owners of Phoenix Hill Tavern. Below is an expert from that email.

On behalf of myself and PHT, I extend my sincere apologies to you and anyone else our guests disturbed last night. Closing time is always our most challenging time, no matter what night of the week it is.

We want everyone to know that we continue to employ 6 working off duty, uniformed LMPD officers in marked cars.  Two of those officers are assigned to what we call “Neighborhood Patrol.” Those officers constantly patrol the neighborhood and side streets close to PHT (Rogers, Payne, Rubel, St. Anthony’s and, of course, E. Broadway and Baxter). They do their best to keep noise and disorderly behavior to a minimum.  This, generally speaking, has been very effective. Unfortunately, they can’t be everywhere at just the right time. The 5th District LMPD has been very visible and very active in our neighborhood in general, and especially on Wednesday nights. We appreciate and applaud their efforts. 

I promise you that I will bring all this to the attention of Club Mgmt. and our set up LMPD officer.  In the coming weeks, we will make an extra special effort to focus on the part of the neighborhood affected last night.

We still have permanent signs posted at all our exits encouraging our guests to respect our neighborhood as they leave. Our DJs still make nightly announcements at the end of every night encouraging our guests to leave quietly, keep their car stereos down, avoid littering etc. DJ’s remind them that we are a neighborhood friendly establishment and that we have nearby neighbors who are sleeping.  We will continue to do that, and we will re-emphasize the importance of theses announcements to all staff members.

As you know, I can be reached by phone during business hours, or you are always welcome to walk over to my office and talk with me in person if you have any additional questions or concerns Chuck.

Thank you, 

Karen Callahan

Neighborhood Liaison

We appreciate PHT’s efforts to keeping the neighborhood as clean and quiet as possible.