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Downtown Louisville is constantly evolving, with restaurants and attractions coming and going and new advancements being announced throughout the year.
As downtown continues to navigate the post-pandemic era and stakeholders reimagine what an urban core can and can be, new projects are helping to build that future.
Many projects have been announced for Louisville’s central business district in recent years (not to mention many advancements in surrounding spaces like Russell, Nulu, and Butchertown), with some expected to progress in 2024.
Here’s a (non-exhaustive) look at some downtown developments expected to come into action this year.
525 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
The long-awaited revival of Louisville Gardens is still on track for 2024, city officials say.
The historic armory and entertainment venue is expected to be rebuilt into approximately 40,000 feet of soundstage for music, film and virtual production. First announced in December 2022, the proposed allocation includes a minimum investment of $60 million to breathe new life into the area that has been dormant since 2008.
Environmental remediation work totaling about $1. 4 million (paid for by the city through its brownfield cleanup loan revolving fund) is underway and is expected to be completed in March, said Caitlin Bowling, spokeswoman for the city’s economic progress cabinet.
In June, workers began cleaning up leaded dust, asbestos and paint suspected of containing lead at the city’s nearly 120-year-old facility.
The Louisville Metropolitan Government signed a letter of intent with River City Entertainment Group LLC in December 2022 to explore a conceivable redevelopment. During this phase, the proponent conducts due diligence, exploring pricing and the feasibility of transforming the historic building based on the proposed use.
The developers intend to repair the exterior of the building as it was when it was used as the Louisville Armory, and also plan to repair the Black Box Theater above and create a public museum honoring the site’s history.
The allocation would also include state-owned land west of Louisville Gardens, which would be used as an educational center for careers in audio and film production.
Founders Square, Fifth Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard
This urban greening task at Founders Square aims to not only give a well-designed lush glow to a block from downtown, but also to tame a model for examining the social, health, and environmental effects of green spaces in the area.
On-site research exploring islands of urban warmth, stress reduction, and the site’s microbiome continued into 2023. Already a green domain in a downtown domain lacking a strong canopy, Founders Square is poised to become an urban green oasis that is aesthetically pleasing and a clinical resource.
The project is part of the larger development of the University of Louisville Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute’s New Vision of Health Campus, which will include two historic buildings on West Muhammad Ali Boulevard adjacent to Founders Square.
UofL had announced in the past that the Envirome Institute had secured a 30-year lease with the city to use the plaza as an open-air laboratory. The Trager Family Foundation donated $1 million to the Envirome Institute to launch the project.
Planting of the project, overseen through the Envirome Institute and the University of Louisville Urban Design Studio, is expected to begin early next year, said Patrick Piuma, director of the Urban Design Studio. The first phase of the block’s progression is expected to begin. in February, with the planting of half of the block, the “central forest”, which is expected to be positioned until May.
Various sites: Tax Court Building, 531 Court Place; former LMPD headquarters, 225 S. Seventh St. ; Market Street Parking Garage, 536 W. Market St. ; masses of surface parking along Market Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets; vacant lot at the northeast corner and surface parking at the northwest corner of West Washington and North Seventh streets; two Masses at 615-621 W. Main St. et the lot at the southeast corner of Jefferson and Ninth Streets.
Approximately nine acres of downtown municipal property, used for parking or government purposes, is expected to be redeveloped for more active, public-facing uses.
Louisville Metro Government announced in May 2023 that it was seeking developers for a public-private partnership to bring new life to various downtown spaces that it said were underutilized or no longer needed by the government.
The city plans to announce in January which developers have decided to go ahead with the homes, although it will be known at a later date exactly what they are proposing.
This year should bring clarity on what’s proposed for these sites, as the selected developers would enter a “due diligence” phase of 180 days — which could be extended — during which they’ll develop specifics on how the land would be used.
The city is accepting proposals for a variety of uses, adding housing, retail, grocery and hospitality, among others.
722 West Main Street
A new bourbon experience is coming to an old building along Main Street.
Independent blender and bottler of bourbon and rye whiskeys Pursuit Spirits plans to open a visitor experience at 722 W. Main St.
Founded in 2018 by Chief Operating Officer Kenny Coleman and CEO Ryan Cecil, Pursuit Spirits will occupy the ground floor and basement of the former 19th-century building, while the three main grounds will house short-term rentals.
Coleman previously told the Courier Journal that the area would be about 8,000 square feet. A fresh, modern vibe is planned for the first floor, which will feature retail stores, classroom area, and a private diversity zone where visitors can fill and cap. their own bottles.
A speakeasy on the lower level will feature rustic brick walls. The Main Street party will also feature a studio for the recording of the “Bourbon Pursuit” podcast hosted by Coleman, Cecil and bourbon authority Fred Minnick.
Pursuit Spirits anticipates opening its visitor experience in the fall of 2024.
Lee Weyland and Matt Haaga, both with CORE Real Estate Partners, with additional investors, are developing the mixed-use building as a separate investment project from their day jobs.
Weyland’s 722 W. Main QOZB LLC bought the building in July 2022 for $1 million, deed records show. The building was most recently home to Boomer’s Canteen restaurant, which closed in 2021.
Haaga, finding success in recent years in owning and managing short-term rentals elsewhere in Louisville, was looking to add to the low supply of such rentals in downtown Louisville, with bourbon tourists in mind.
“We think there’s a significant lack of resources in this area for those travelers who come to the city and prefer larger apartment-style stays, spaces where they can gather,” Haaga said.
Weyland said that, as an advocate for the city center, he believes the allocation can contribute to the resurgence of dominance by catering to the niche of Bourbon tourists who need to stay downtown.
“We will seamlessly integrate the rest into our partnership with Pursuit Spirits,” Weyland said, adding that visitors will have access to exclusive experiences, such as personal tours and tastings.
The duo is exploring other tactics to create immersive services and reports for guests.
“We want to build partnerships with other businesses in the city where they can integrate with our stays and make it a more seamless experience for the guests,” Haaga said.
Demolition interior painting is complete, Weyland said, and interior painting on rentals is expected to begin in January. It aims to complete the structure in 2024 and start renting in early 2025.
Journalist Matthew Glowicki can be reached at mglowicki@courier-journal. com, 502-582-4000 or on Twitter @mattglo.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 4 downtown Louisville developments to watch in 2024
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