Kentucky Ag Connection - New Downtown Frankfort State Office Building Named

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New Downtown Frankfort State Office Building Named
Kentucky Ag Connection - 08/14/2019

Tuesday in a ceremony in downtown Frankfort, Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary William M. Landrum III officially announced the name of the new state office building -- The Mayo-Underwood Building. The name references the Mayo-Underwood School, the African-American school that stood for more than 40 years at the corner of Mero Street and Wilkinson Blvd, where the new building is now situated.

In his remarks Sec. Landrum said, "History is important. I've read and heard about the profound impact and lasting memories residents of the area have of the Mayo-Underwood School. It continues to be an enduring symbol of community where doctors, lawyers, teachers and many civic leaders graduated."

The school was located in an area of Frankfort known as the "Craw" or "Bottom." In the 1950s, city leaders started a massive urban development project that saw the demise of the Craw and the construction of the former Capital Plaza Tower and the Frankfort Convention Center, among other structures. The 28-story tower was imploded on March 11, 2018 to make way for the new 380,000-square-foot office building that will house 1,500 state employees.

CRM Companies and D.W. Wilburn of Lexington are the private sector partners on the redevelopment project. CRM is the developer, and D.W. Wilburn is the contractor. CRM will own and maintain the building for the duration of the 30-year lease, at which time the building will revert to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

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