Prior to their successful Winter Market event WUKY's Alan Lytle got a behind the scenes tour of the Julia Etta Lewis Public Market space from Kris Nonn, executive director of the North Limestone Community Development Corporation, commonly shortened to NoLi CDC. The community agency is tasked with bringing new life to the 23,000 square foot building that once was headquarters for the South East Greyhound Line. Once renovations are completed next summer the site will host retail, restaurants, office and event space, in addition to the NoLi CDC Greyline Station Market.
A little more on the history of the project:
The former LexTran building was erected as the Consolidated Coach Corporation in 1928, and the headquarters for the South East Greyhound Line from 1936-1960. LexTran purchased the facility in 1972. The building has been empty since 2016, when the new LexTran facilities opened at 200 W. Loudon Avenue. The renovated building, now called Greyline Station, will now host retail, restaurants, office space, an event space, and RadioLex studios, in addition to the NoLi CDC Public Market.
New Name:
To date, the working name has been The Common Market, but the permanent name will be in honor of Lexington Civil Rights activist Julia Etta Lewis. Ms. Lewis was one of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement in Lexington, KY, Julia Etta Lewis was a member of the Lexington Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Using non-violent demonstrations and sit-ins, Lewis led the fight against segregation in education, entertainment, shopping, restaurants, and public transportation. She and Audrey Grevious helped to bring Lexington CORE and the NAACP together for protest efforts.
