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ABOUT
ACTION REQUESTED
1902 MAPLEWOOD PLACE
DIGITAL ENHANCEMENT
KEEP IT GREEN
ACTION REQUESTED
This parcel of arable land is a LAST remaining open green space in the Deer Park Neighborhood. The land has never been built upon...undisturbed since the beginning of time. A courtyard
neighbor presented three written contracts to purchase the land at substantially more than the Property Value Assessment when the property went on the market in Spring 2019; the intentions of the prospective buyer were to preserve this open land, conserve the green space and nurture a sustainable, healthy environment, thus creating a community pocket park that eventually would be gifted to the Deer Park Neighborhood (DPNA), dedicated to
remain a communal open green space. These wishes have been presented to the DPNA board members, legal counsel and many neighbors and friends.
Unfortunately for the environment and the neighborhood community, the land was sold in late Fall 2019 to a property management LLC...interestingly, for considerably less than the offers
previously made by the neighbor. The proposal by the current owner is to build a house on the site which in early 2020 he confirmed would be "long-term rental."
The courtyard on which the property is located is of historic interest. Walking courts are quite unique to Louisville; Maplewood Place is one of three courtyards in the Highlands...nearby are Edgewood Court and Ivanhoe Court. Neighbors stroll the courtyard path and enjoy the quiet, the commune with nature and the surprise of discovering so intimate a space within the urban bustle. Twenty-seven residences on Maplewood Place share a "commons" in the front of the homes which invites only foot-traffic; the first home constructed was in 1920 and the last home was built in 1940. One's imagination is stressed to envision a structure built today at the 1902 parcel of open green space that would retain and maintain the character of the existing courtyard ambience.
This space is where neighbors greet, where father and son practice soccer skills, where an occasional
badminton game pops up, where a long-time, never restricted, communal "public easement" invites the postman, neighbors and visitors to easily access the courtyard walkway. A bounty of sunlight promises vibrant gardens, vegetables to share, additions to the tree canopy and...a welcomed haven for residents and wildlife in the midst of an urban area.
Excavation and construction upon this beautiful, rare and now endangered spot of green in the city is unnecessary; destruction of nature contradicts what stewardship of our earth means. Loss of green space in urban environs is irreparable and irretrievable; construction upon natural habitat replaces the green with unhealthy, man-made materials which negatively impact the well-being of the environment and directly contribute to causing an urban heat island.
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The one-block courtyard, subdivided in 1915, was part of the expanse of acreage known as Duker Estates. A common walkway runs east to west connecting Bardstown Road and Fernwood Avenue, which was originally named Schwartz Avenue. The surrounding area had been farm and plantation land. While most landowners were of English descent, many early residents were German; the area was nicknamed New Hamburg.
At the east entrance to the courtyard is 1945 Maplewood Apartments. Retail space on the ground level fronts the 1500 block on Bardstown Road.
UNIVERSITY of LOUISVILLE PHOTO ARCHIVES
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