Whether you call it the Warehouse Block or National Avenue, this particularly vibrant 10-acre area of Lexington is celebrating a milestone this month. Forty years ago, in 1986, Randy Walker purchased his first dilapidated building in the neighborhood. What followed was a building by building, project by project, decades-long glow-up.

His son, Chad Walker of Walker Properties, walked us through this piece of civic history recently. It began when hi father needed a place to house his electrical contracting business. Because it was mostly rundown warehouses at the time, the company name RT Warehouse came about and stuck. As the years passed, mixed-use development continued and adaptive reuse programs during Mayor Jim Gray's tenure allowed for accelerated growth.

The area is now home to some of our most distinctive bars and restaurants, including Minton's, Eppings on East Side, MIrror Twin Brewing, The Void Sake Company, The Willow + more. And many other types of businesses. But the newest addition of a significant green space is an indication of its future.

"I'm the worst developer in the world," Walker said, jokingly. "There are less buildings now than from when we started."

He is passionate about bringing agriculture into the city, and that's reflected in the Lexington Farmers' Market's presence on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He said the future of that green space might include a stage for one-off performances and that he's discussed it with the Kentucky Ballet Theater (a long-time tenant) and the LexPhil. He says there's no intention to put more buildings there.

Walker recalls sweeping parking lots on the block as a fourteen year-old. He says its success can be replicated. "Fixing up old things," he said. "That's redevelopment."