Demolition Begins After Six-Year Legal Battle Over Lexington’s Former State Office Building

Lexington, KY – After a protracted legal battle spanning six years, demolition has commenced on a two-story former state office building located at 120 W. Upper Street. The Webb Companies, led by Dudley Webb, initiated this demolition as part of a larger plan, although specific future developments for the site remain uncertain.

The building, originally proposed for demolition in 2018 to make way for a four-story apartment complex named The Residences at South Hill, has faced significant opposition. The Board of Architectural Review, responsible for approving demolitions in historic districts, gave its initial approval in August 2018 but imposed limitations, including a maximum building height of four stories.

This decision was contested, leading to an appeal by the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, which argued against the demolition through multiple lawsuits. In October 2018, the Urban County Planning Commission upheld the Board’s decision, allowing demolition to proceed.

However, the legal conflict didn’t end there. In 2019, a Fayette Circuit Court judge halted demolition while the Blue Grass Trust’s lawsuits were resolved. After a lengthy process, a trial court ultimately ruled in favor of the planning commission. The trust’s subsequent appeal to the state Court of Appeals was dismissed due to a failure to post a required bond. This led to an appeal to the state Supreme Court, which upheld the planning commission’s decision in September 2023.

With the legal challenges finally resolved, demolition began this week. Dudley Webb commented that the former state office building had become an eyesore deteriorating over the past six years. He stated that following the building’s removal, the company would reassess the site’s potential for future development.

“I’m still a strong believer in downtown residential,” Webb said, indicating that the proximity to downtown Lexington and the University of Kentucky could influence their plans moving forward.

As demolition continues, the community watches closely to see what the future holds for this prominent location.