|
|
This is the latest review or analysis of business happenings in the Bon Air Manor as I try to report on it periodically. I admit that this kind of sounds like small town news, but after all my blog is about my neighborhood.
I will start from the east side working west.
The east side of shopping center is unchanged with nothing to attract people to it.
Krazy Daves continues to do a good business. The bar regardless of what has happened over the years continues to be a thriving concept. People I have talked to like the burgers there.
Larry in the Bon Air Barber Shop has a new lady barber (apologies to any who may take that as sexist) named Michelle. She actually cut my son's hair a few weeks ago. Larry emphasized to me that Michelle can do women's haircuts in addition to men's haircuts.
The daycare that barely opened is pretty much kaput. I actually called the phone number on the advertising flyer and it was disconnected. From what I understand the entrepreneur who had the plan for the nail salon and the daycare was to be funded by ACORN and because ACORN did not get the federal funding from Congress. No money from Congress meant that this daycare did not happen.
I called the "for access" number that was taped to the door, and it rolled over to voice mail and I never got a call back.
I went into the Eden Market to round out the assessment. It continues to amaze me that it is still in business. Finding simple terms to describe it is difficult other than to call it a mess. It is a store that continues to fall apart but is surviving in the process.
They stripped out some of the old produce display fixtures. Otherwise it only uses about 40 percent of the refrigerated cases.
They continue to resell ALDI products with a few Walmart products mixed in. They still have some of the same canned goods that were left over by the "Meat Store." It does seem to get some fresh bread products.
To me, the Eden Market is an example of Market Economics and what the market can tolerate. For all of its mess it apparently has enough of a customer base to stay in business. For the fact that it gets away with re-selling ALDI and Walmart products suggests that they sell to the few people without cars in the neighborhood.
The Dollar General has nicely filled its space, and it is proving to be a dependable store that is neat and well kept up. It was open on time one of the big snow days when I had to trudge to the store to get gatorade for a child with a stomach bug.
The laundromat appears to be the same.
Some conclusions
The first thought that I had was that registered sex offenders do not have to move since the daycare is not going to happen. Depending on who you are, that is good or it is bad.
Overall, the Bon Air Manor shopping center continues to function. From my understanding of historical issues, there has been no one reason for its continued diminished state.
I think however that if the Bardstown Rd corridor is revitalized, the Bon Air Manor will have positive externalities and in turn be revitalized.
I also think that it needs to have more businesses that drawn people to the Bon Air Manor and create a import effect of capital or money to it which means one person who stops at one store will go to another store.
For example right now someone getting a haircut could go get a burger.
I continue to hold that this shopping center is unique due to the daring ideas of Victor Gruen(see Shopping Centers Article in the Encyclopedia of Louisville link here).Shopping Centers
and needs to be supported and enhanced as it could very much contribute to the vitality of the neighborhood or be the rotten core that spoils the apple.
|
|
|
Bon Air Manor from the East
|
ADD A COMMENT
|
In keeping with my goal of visiting all the churches in the Bon Air Neighborhood visiting St. Pius was definitely a must, especially since I have been riding, walking and driving by it on 3521 Goldsmith Lane for 9 1/2 years. (For more information check out my long-winded, unpublished entry of Feb 28 2010.) I also had been meaning to check out their summer festival and chicken dinner for several years now.
For the record, here is a link to the website. www.piusx.com
This was going to be another trip into another world since I am not Catholic, and it had been about 22 years since I had last went to a mass. I prepared by watching some of the mass on the EWTN channel earlier in the day.
But even with my potential liturgical foibles as to when to stand and kneel, I could at least look a little more inconspicuous this time because I was sure that a lot of people attended this parish.
I went to the Saturday 5pm mass. The parking lot was pretty full. It was the fourth Sunday of Lent.
The appearance of the place
I was very surprised by the way the sanctuary was laid out. The sanctuary building is a perfect rectangle with a side entrance, which made me expect a long, narrow sanctuary that was kind of dark.
But upon entry I saw that the sanctuary was inverted with the pews long ways across. The sanctuary was also a bright white that had this sense of purity and illumination to it.
They actually plan some renovations to the sanctuary that include moving around some things and putting down carpet. The drawings were in the back.
What people were wearing
I was wearing blue jeans, and I was dressed like many people. There were people in khakis and and other causual wear. One lady near me was wearing a sweat suit.
The mass itself
There are many things about the mass that I could talk about--they seemed to have followed the basic order of mass that is in their green hymnal pages 153-168. This part is important, so you know how to recite of the Apostles Creed or you can at least follow along (I knew none of it going to a non-creedal church--but I have it in at least one book on shelf).
The one major difference between this mass and the one on EWTN was that this one was all English and no Latin. I did not remember hearing the words "Kyrie Eleison" or "Agnus Dei" once. (For the record I previous knew that they meant "Lord have mercy" and "Lamb of God" and not because of the "Mister Mister" song either.)
Music
Given that I was a visitor, I did not know most of the songs that they sang. They do use a hymn chart that is on both sides of the altar. They seemed to assume that the congregation knew the words of response, but then when I looked around I did not see anyone (especially guys) singing along. The songs were contemporary overall except for the one song I actually knew "Amazing Grace," at the end of the service which the pianist played in a southern gospel style.
The guy next to me was pretty cool when I told him I was visiting. He gave me a few prompts for which I am grateful.
The Priest or Pastor.
The parish priest, the Rev. William P. Burks seemed to be a man of great energy and joy up there on the altar. Robust might be another word to describe him. His homily (sermon) about anger had a good healthy dose of rarified sarcasm. I like a little sarcasm in sermons because it generally tells you that the one preaching is in touch with the real world.
I went up to the good father himself at the end of the sermon and disclosed what I was doing and I asked him what he wanted the neighborhood to know about St. Pius X. He said that the parish has been around for over 50 years where people gather for the sacraments and where children and adults are educated. He also said that the parish is heavily involved in supporting missionary work.
On the way out.
On the way out, I noticed that St. Pius also was involved in the Southeast Associated Ministries (SEAM), they also have a flyer announcing their own "St. Pius Family Services" where they have a social worker. They have some limited resources from which they provide some help.
I had one fun conversation with an older lady about visiting her church. She said that the 9am mass was the "Q-tip" mass. She said that a lot of white hair people attend it.
I looked throught the bulletin, which they handed out at the end of the service. It was pretty informative. There was all of the basic information about becoming a member and about administration of the different sacraments.
I noted that St. Pius X cooperates with other parishes. I thought it was significant there was advertisement of a divorce recovery group at St. Gabriel using the DivorceCare material (also previously used at Southeast Christian and Highview Baptist). Catholics also sometimes get divorced like people from other faiths.
I came away feeling positive about the experience. This seems to be a pretty vibrant parish given that the sanctuary was better than 80 percent full on a Saturday night. If you have been a non-practicing Catholic or you are interested in becoming Catholic, I am sure that you will be received.
This church seems to be a great institution of the Bon Air Neighborhood.
|
|
|
|
ADD A COMMENT
|
GtownGuy
sun mar 14 2010
at 1:46 pm
·
 |
 |
 |
 |
This story caused me to think about the "beginning" of St. Pius - and the Bon Air neighborhood, with its signature swim club... St. Pius opened to relieve the crowding at St. Barnabas, as did Ascension & St. Martha. St. Barnabas itself was opened to relieve the excess at St. Raphael, Lourdes, & St. Bartholomew. It brings tears to my eyes that St. Barnabas, which once educated 1,000 students a year, and St. Bartholomew no longer have their own school programs. So now the competition and closeness shared by that cluster of parishes has birthed a shared school that now serves Pius, Barnabas, & St. Bart's. Changing demographics can be amazing. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
The Bon Air Neighborhood Association has put out a "I love Bon Air" sign creating a long-needed image the neighborhood can get behind.
The sign was designed by Bon Air N.A. member and resident David Cotton. The current order has been put in, but if there is interest, there can be a second printing. You can respond to this post or contact the Bon Air N.A. at bon-air.org for more information.
This kind of sign has been a long time in coming. It is an excellent positive and feel-good "branding" for the neighborhood that hopefully will be contagious.
Community pride is expressed in a number of ways. This sign is one of those ways.
For the theory buffs--Jingoism and the community.
Some scholars call this "Jingoism" where a motto or picture hopefully captures the essential characteristic of a city or state. It tells you something that is special about the place. It is also a symbol where the residents invest their allegiances and their emotion.
It is where they claim: "This is our place. It is GREAT!"
Jingoism efforts hopefully attract prospective business and other kinds of growth. Some mottoes are timeless, some come and go.
Our current metro effort is to brand Louisville as "Possibility City." Our state or commonwealth branding effort is currently "Unbridled Spirit."
This Bon Air sign is much like the "I love New York" motto that has been around for several decades, that Paris France also seemed to borrow using the "heart" icon to replace the word love/J'aime.
One other Jingoism concept communities get behind is the sports team (whether college or professional). Sports teams represent places and unify people in a common identity that we put our hearts and minds (and maybe our souls) into.
While I have to point fingers at myself--it is amazing that mature adults will let loose with the emotion at sporting events that they could not do so in their offices and other workplaces. Imagine someone yelling in their office the way he or she would yell at a Louisville Basketball game. (Can you say E.A.P. referral?)
During March Madness we in Louisville may not have a major league sports team but we definitely have the Cards and Cats and we will put our hearts behind them.
It is good when the people in neighborhoods communities and cities invest in symbols. Symbols lead to pride, and pride leads to good care and stewardship of the land we live on, preserving it for the next generation and making it even better for us today.
So, the Bon-Air N.A. is doing it, and it is a great branding. More local neighborhoods should look into this and create their own mottoes and brands. Pride in a neighborhood is grassroots that local residents should not expect government to instill in them or create for them.
|
|
|
|
ADD A COMMENT
|
|
GtownGuy
sat mar 13 2010
at 2:37 pm
·
|
|
|
|
I dislike "Possibility City" - has more negative than positive vibe, a maybe/maybe-not outcome. I LOVE "Unbridled Spirit" - definitely an exciting, upbeat, positive connotation.
I think the new Bon Air sign, if embraced by the community, will show a very unified pride. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
For over one year, The Bon Air Neighborhood Association has led a redevelopment effort for the Bardstown Rd corridor between I-264 and Bashford Manor Lane.
The Center for Neighborhoods has a $11,800 design proposal bid for the drawing up the plans. Jim King has offered half of the money from his discretionary fund. Kudos to him. (Of course it is an election year, and it is a very mayoral posture for him to make.)
Brent Ackerson will hold his District 26 Advisory Committee meeting at the Bon Air Library at 9:30 am to evaluate requests for funding from his discretionary fund. The request for the other half of the $11,800 is on Brent's figurative desk, and he is holding to a procedure of using his advisory committee.
As I have written elsewhere, this is the kind of attention that the Bon Air Neighborhood has sorely lacked prior to merger.
This opportunity for citizen influence on a significant decision for the area could not be much more convenient for Bon Air and even Bashford Manor area residents. It is as simple as showing up and showing the committee that we want the funding. While nothing is guaranteed, it seems to me that the funding is Bon Air's to lose.
While we are waiting again on what is going to happen with the Showcase Cinemas site, redeveloping the Bardstown Road corridor is a good investment for the Bashford Manor and Bon Air Neighborhoods.
Improving the Bardstown Road corridor should bring a momentum and synergy that will lead to making the Bon Air and Bashford Manor Neighborhoods all the more the place to move to when gas gets up to $4 or more a gallon.
|
|
|
|
ADD A COMMENT
|
Happy Hour Julie
fri mar 12 2010
at 6:48 am
·
|
|
|
|
If you are counting on Jim King to follow through with ANYthing that doesn't have to do with lining his already stuffed pockets, you are going to be sorely disappointed. As soon as that snake gets elected, you'll never be able to get in touch with him again. Kudos to him my eye. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
FuNkY CaPrIcOrN
fri mar 12 2010
at 8:42 am
·
|
|
 |
Bon Air Observer
send msg
It is a running commentary on the news and occurances and in the Bon Air and Highgate Springs Neighborhood. It also contains philosophical discourse on what the neighborhood needs for it to be vibrant and robust.
|
Top of blog
|
|
