Lexington Nights: Task Force on Downtown Entertainment Development

Next Task Force Meeting Scheduled for April 23

2008-04-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

The next task force meeting is April 23 at 4:30 p.m. in the theater of the downtown Central Library. A special presentation will be made by Kenneth Handmaker who helped establish the “Entertainment Destination Zone” which is what 4th Street Live has been able to take advantage of.

You won't want to miss this!

Louisville attorney Kenneth Handmaker was the author of Kentucky's "Entertainment Destination Zone" (EDZ) designation, administered by the ABC. Lexington did not participate in the development of the EDZ. As a result, only 1st class cities (namely, Louisville and its 4th Street Live district) can avail themselves of the regulation. This can be changed to include Lexington. The lack of available licenses is a major impediment to the development of additional entertainment venues in downtown Lexington.

Mr. Handmaker is intimate with the details of the EDZ regulation in particular and issues concerning liquor licensing in general. He will address these issues before the Downtown Entertainment Development Task Force at its regular monthly meeting on April 23.

We hope you can attend!

Lexington's Hospitality Zone Assessment is underway!

2008-04-08T10:35:00.000-07:00

The Responsible Hospitality Institute conducted a Community Engagement Orientation on March 11, and will be back in LexVegas for the Stakeholder Roundtables on April 16 and 17. For more information on Lexington’s Hospitality Zone Assessment, visit www.rhiservices.org/Lexington.

Enjoy the holiday break and we'll see you on Jan. 16!

2007-12-19T07:11:00.000-08:00

Our next task force meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 16 at 4:30 p.m. in Commerce Lexington's conference room. Each committee may want to get together prior to our next meeting since we don’t meet for another four weeks.

Thank you for all your help, and we look forward to hearing the progress of each committee!

We need pictures of downtown Lexington!

2007-12-19T07:09:00.000-08:00

The Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI) has asked for pictures to include on a Web site documenting our Hospitality Zone Assessment beginning in 2008. Instead of using stock photography, we should use pictures taken by our task force members. Please send pictures that are distinctive to downtown; show a diversity of day and night activity; and demonstrate our city’s uniqueness, culture and vibrancy to taskforcelex@gmail.com.

Next Meeting: Dec. 12

2007-12-10T14:10:00.000-08:00

The next task force meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 12 at 4:30 p.m. in the Commerce Lexington conference room.

So what's the big deal?

2007-12-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

Lexington Vice Mayor Jim Gray announced to the Urban County Council the formation of a citizen Task Force on Downtown Entertainment Development on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007.

Our mission is to encourage the entrepreneurial energy that is crucial to the success of a revitalized downtown, thriving economy and overall quality of life. And our purpose is to determine whether the complexities of regulatory, public safety and law enforcement, transportation, parking, financial and market issues of yesterday remain relevant today.

With more than 50 civically-engaged citizens devoted to this effort, the members of this task force represent all areas of our community. From community to hospitality to development and safety, we are the voice of the night-time economy!

So we stay focused and on track, the task force is broken down into six committees, including: Council; Financial Issues; Marketing & Outreach; Infrastructure; Law Enforcement/Behavioral Issues; and Town & Gown.