Harrods View Neighborhood Association

February can be cold, overcast, snowy, and just unpleasant. But one must remember it is the last full month of winter. Spring arrives next month! And of course this is the month we spend money on chocolates and flowers on Valentine’s Day. So enjoy the less than ideal weather of February knowing this month we have an excuse to enjoy chocolate candy and that next month Spring arrives!

Feb 4, Saturday, Raven Run Volunteer Morning. From 10 am to noon help with trail maintenance, removal of invasive weeds, and applying mulch.

Feb 4, Saturday, Nature Craft: Winter Twig Weaving. Find twigs at McConnell Springs and create a craft. 1 to 2 p.m. Register: srogers@lexingtonky.gov. 859-225-4073

Feb. 10, Friday, Bird Walks at Raven Run from 9 to 11 a.m. Register: awiker@lexingtonky.gov. 859-272-6105

Feb. 11, Saturday, International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Feb.14, Tuesday, VALENTINE’S DAY!

Feb. 20, Monday, PRESIDENT’S DAY.

Feb 26, Sunday, Winter Tree ID Walk at McConnell Springs. A guided walk to learn to identify trees and learn how they survive in the winter. Registration: srogers@lexingtonky.gov. 859-225-4073

Complaints continue from residents on Sallee who complain of speeding on Sallee Drive. The speed limit is clearly posted at 25 mph. If you go 35 mph you will travel from Lyon to McNair about 6 to 8 seconds faster than if you did not break the law and travel at 25 mph. At 40 mph you will get down the block about 8 to 11 seconds faster. Is 6 to 11 seconds worth breaking the law and possibly causing personal injury or property damage? Think about it. 6 to 11 seconds. With cars and trucks parked on Sallee it can be difficult to see when backing out of driveways on Sallee and then suddenly there is a vehicle right on the person backing out because the driver is speeding.

And remember– school starts on August 10. Children will be on our sidewalks and crossing streets. And grandchildren are frequent visitors at some homes in Harrods View. It takes a split second for a child to run into a street. Is it worth endangering lives for 6 to 11 seconds saved speeding down Sallee Drive? And if you are speeding down Sallee to leave the neighborhood those 6 to 11 seconds just get you to a red light quicker. Is it really worth it? Please obey the law when driving our neighborhood streets.

In 1988 the Harrods View Neighborhood Association was formed. Lyon Drive ended where the entrance posts are now. It was undeveloped land from Sallee toward what would be Man-O-War and Palomar. This is clearly seen in the second photo below taken from second floor of the new home at 2192 Sallee looking over backyard fence toward what would be Palomar Center and Man-O-War. The HVNA immediately aggressively acted to restrict the size of the Palomar Centre and determine how the undeveloped land would be developed. HVNA appeared many times before the LFUCG Council as it acted to protect the new homeowners in Harrods View.

2192 Sallee–corner of Sallee and Lyon–Harrods View August 1988 Lexington Ky

Harrods View August 1988 Lexington Ky

A few days ago the Lexington Herald Leader reported that the sharpest increase in median home values during the last 12-month period in Lexington was in zip code 40513. Home values increased a little more that 22% in 40513. Right behind 40513 was 40517 at 21%. The zip code with the highest medan home value was 40513.And of course, Harrods View sits in the heart of 40513.

Fountains of Palomar have announced that Publix will build its first Central Kentucky location at the Fountains of Palomar across Man O’ War from Palomar Centre. The grocery will have a drive-thru pharmacy and a separate liquor store. It is expected to open in 2024.

Publix is an employee-owned supermarket chain headquartered in Lakeland, Florida. It is the largest and fastest growing employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States.

Of all the places it could have located in Central Kentucky, Publix chose our area. It proves once more that 40513 is one of the most desirable areas in which to live and work. 40513 was said by Money Magazine in 2017 to have the highest home values in Kentucky. It is the 6th richest Kentucky zip code and is one of the top Kentucky zip codes for percentage of college graduates. And as we all know, Harrods View lies in the heart of 40513 and is its best kept secret.

More announcements will be coming on the development of Fountains of Palomar. Currently tenants include Papi’s Mexican Restaurant, Jersey Mike’s, Orange Theory Fitness, Limestone Bank, Results Physiotherapy, and Nail Bar at Fountains.

Summer officially arrives this month. Days get longer, hotter, and more humid. But at least the snow and ice are gone for awhile. Time to get outside and make those yards look inviting for residents and visitors. Don’t forget to keep tree limbs trimmed so they hang no closer than 7 feet over sidewalks.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE JOINED HVNA

Over the past couple of weeks we have asked residents of Harrods View to pay an annual membership fee of $35. HVNA is a voluntary organization. We appreciate those who have volunteered over the years to serve on the HVNA board and in other capacities to protect, preserve, promote, and improve the aesthetic appeal, character, and value of the Harrods View neighborhood as a desirable residential area. No volunteer gets paid. All collected monies go back to the benefit of all homeowners, HVNA members and non-members, of the Harrods View neighborhood.

This time we have also asked for an extra donation so that we can protect our four entrance posts from further deterioration and to improve the landscaping around the posts. Some of you have made generous donations and we thank you for caring about your neighborhood. However, we are still well short of funds needed just to properly repair the mortar, seal the bricks, and place capstones on the four entrance posts. This project can no longer be delayed without total deterioration of our posts.

Therefore, we are asking that those who have not donated to please consider doing so. Even if you do not want to join HVNA you can still donate. Make a check to HVNA and drop off or send to Greg Freedman, 2177 Sallee Dr, Lexington KY 40513.

The estimate on the repair of posts with capstones is $7,800. We could repair without capstones for about $4000. But the lack of capstones is what has allowed our posts to deteriorate. To repair without capstones is to kick the can down the road.

We had $3050 in our account prior to this membership drive. We now have about $4500. You can see the problem.  Currently only about 20% of the homeowners in Harrods View have joined for 2022. That low rate of membership of this small neighborhood will not adequately fund this neighborhood. It is up to the neighbors to actively support a viable neighborhood association or to decide Harrods View does not need a neighborhood association. The choice rests with each Harrods View homeowner. Any person who works in real estate will tell you that the neighborhoods with neighborhood associations are the more desirable neighborhoods  and neighborhoods without associations decline.

HVNA has been in existence since 1988. Over the years it was the HVNA that fought and restricted the size of the Palomar Centre from expanding further down Man-O-War and deeper toward our neighborhood,  stopped the plan to make McNair way go to Palomar Centre and instead make a deadend thus avoiding making Sallee a heavily traveled cut through street, stopped development of what was then the farmland on the south side of Sallee from being developed as commercial and multi-family housing and instead creating Palomar Trace Drive as a single family home residential street, and stopped the commercial development of the lot at the end of Palomar Trace that runs to Harrodsburg Road. It was the HVNA that got the developers to build our entrance posts and plant street trees. We have also supported surrounding neighborhoods when they needed support.The list goes on. You need a viable neighborhood association because one never knows when a crisis will face you as an individual homeowner, or homeowners on a section of a street, or the entire neighborhood. But again the choice is yours.

Please give if you can and let’s get this job done.

Big Band and Jazz Music at Moondance Ampitheatre at 7 p.m.:
June 7, Tuesday— DiMartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra
June 14, Tuesday–Walnut Street Rambles
June 21, Tuesday–Brass Impact
June 28, Tuesday–Lexington Summer Concert Band 

June 14, Tuesday, Flag Day.

June 18, Saturday, Kentucky River Sweep. Join other volunteers to go out in boats and collect trash and debris from 12 miles of the Kentucky River that borders Fayette County. Go to Clays Ferry Boat Dock off KY 25 under the I-75 overpass. Ph. 859-425-2807.

June 19, Sunday, Father’s Day.

June 21, Tuesday, First Day of Summer.

June 25, Saturday, Volunteer Day at McConnell Springs. Dress for working outdoors. Tools  and instructions provided. 10 am to noon.

Harrods View is  a beautiful neighborhood in a great location in a great city. As our homes age, it is important that we step out on the sidewalk and look at our home’s curb appeal. How does your property look compared to your neighbors? Is the lawn regularly mowed and are the shrubs trimmed? Does the house need paint? Is the overall appearance neat and attractive? Take a walk around the perimeter of your yard and check to see that your trees, shrubs, and fences are well maintained and not causing a problem for adjoining property owners. A neighbor has the right to trim your overhanging limbs back to the property line as long as it will not seriously damage your plant or tree. Don’t wait on a complaint from a neighbor or for your neighbor to trim your trees and shrubs. Do it yourself.  Do you have overhanging limbs that drop your leaves on your neighbors’  yards? Well-maintained property lines make for good neighbors. Here are some other things to remember:

Do be a responsible pet owner. Pick up your pet’s waste when walking your pet. It is against the law for a dog to bark “repeatedly OR frequently.” Remember, if your dog barks repeatedly or frequently, not only is it against the law, it is repeatedly and frequently disturbing your neighbors inside their homes. And dogs barking early in the morning and after dark are disturbing some neighbor’s sleep. Dogs are extensions of our families. We would not let a family member repeatedly or frequently yell outside, so why would we allow our dogs to do so? Remember your neighbors.

Again, look under Q&A for information about barking dogs and under Governing Documents/Ordinances. Contact your HVNA board if you are being disturbed by pets or other noises that violate our noise ordinance.

• Do be a careful and respectful driver in our neighborhood. The speed limit is 25 m.p.h., including on the first block of Sallee Drive where there have been numerous complaints of speeding. Going faster than the posted speed limit is a danger to children, bicyclists, joggers, and walkers. You will not get out of this neighborhood, or to your home in this neighborhood, any faster than if you obeyed the posted speed limit.

• Do pick up litter wherever you see it in the neighborhood.
• Do hide or screen trash containers on your property.
• Do not park vehicles so they block use of sidewalks.
• Do report suspicious or criminal behavior to the HVNA board members.
• Do be aware of our Harrods View Neighborhood Deed Restrictions,   noise ordinances, and other laws under Governing Documents on this website. Compliance avoids problems and makes this subdivision a great place to live and raise a family.
• Do let a HVNA board member know if you would like something added to the Q&A section or any section of our website.
• Do visit the HVNA website often.

We live in a great neighborhood. One reason for that is that the first residents back in 1988 worked hard to make it so, as you will see if you look under History on this website. If you have complaints, concerns, or suggestions pertaining to our neighborhood, speak to a board member. The HVNA board wants to make sure every resident is peacefully enjoying their property without undue interference by others and that this is the best place in Lexington to live and to raise a family. Your board members are committed to seeing that Harrods View remains a unique residential development where neighbors care about and respect their neighbors.

CONTACT YOUR BOARD MEMBERS.  If you have neighborhood concerns, we can help. If you have suggestions to improve our neighborhood, we want to hear them.