From entertainment to bourbon, here 4 downtown Louisville developments to watch in 2024

Downtown Louisville is always changing, with eateries and attractions coming and going and new developments announced throughout the year.

As downtown continues to navigate the post-pandemic era and stakeholders reimagine what an urban core can and should be, new projects are helping build that future.

Many projects have been announced in recent years for Louisville's central business district (not to mention plenty of development in surrounding areas such as Russell, Nulu, and Butchertown), with some set to make progress in 2024.

Here's a (non-exhaustive) list of some downtown developments set to see movement this year.

Louisville Gardens

525 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.

The long-awaiting revival of Louisville Gardens is still on track for 2024, city officials say.

The historic armory and entertainment venue is being eyed for redevelopment into approximately 40,000 square feet of sound stages for music, film, and digital production. First announced in December 2022, the proposed project includes a minimum $60 million investment to bring new life to the space that’s been dormant since 2008.

Environmental remediation work totaling nearly $1.4 million (paid by the city via its Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund) is ongoing and expected to conclude in March, said Caitlin Bowling, spokeswoman for the city’s cabinet for economic development.

In June, workers began cleaning up lead dust, asbestos and suspected lead-based paint in the nearly 120-year-old city-owned facility.

Louisville Metro Government signed a letter of intent with River City Entertainment Group LLC in December 2022 to explore the possible redevelopment. In this phase, the developer is conducting due diligence, exploring the costs and feasibility of turning the historic building into the proposed use.

Developers intend to restore the building’s exterior to how it looked when used as the Louisville Armory and also plan on restoring the upstairs black box theater and creating a public-facing museum that honors the site’s history.

The project would also include the state-owned land to the west of Louisville Gardens, which would be used for an education facility for audio and film production careers.

Trager MicroForest Project

Founders Square, Fifth Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard

This urban greening project at Founders Square is intended to not only give a well-designed lush burst to a downtown city block but also cultivate a site to study the social, health and environmental effects of green space on the area.

Research work at the site exploring urban heat islands, stress reduction, and the site’s microbiome was ongoing in 2023. Already a green spot in a downtown that lacks a strong tree canopy, Founders Square is set to transform into an urban green oasis that’s both aesthetically pleasing and a scientific 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 previously announced the Envirome Institute had secured a 30-year lease with the city to use the square as an outdoor laboratory. The Trager Family Foundation gave the Envirome Institute $1 million to establish the project.

Planting for the project, overseen by University of Louisville's Envirome Institute and Urban Design Studio, is expected to start early next year, said Patrick Piuma, director of the Urban Design Studio. The first phase of the block's development is set to start in February, with planting of the block's center, the "central forest," set to happen by May.

Redeveloping downtown city-owned lots

Various sites: Fiscal Court Building, 531 Court Place; former LMPD headquarters, 225 S. Seventh St.; Market Street parking garage, 536 W. Market St.; surface parking lots along Market Street between Sixth and Seventh streets; vacant lot at the northeast corner and the surface parking lot at the northwest corner of West Washington and North Seventh streets; two lots at 615-621 W. Main St. and the lot at the southeast corner of Jefferson and Ninth streets.

Some 9 acres of city-owned property downtown used for parking or government purposes are set 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 anticipates announcing which developers have been selected to move forward on the properties in January, though exactly what they’re pitching would come later.

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 seeking proposals for various uses, including housing, retail, grocery and hospitality, among others.

Pursuit Spirits visitor experience, short-term rentals on Main Street

722 W. Main St.

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 late-1800s building, while the upper three floors will be home to short-term rentals.

Coleman previously told the Courier Journal the space will be about 8,000 square feet. A contemporary modern feel is planned for the first floor, which will include retail, classroom space, and a private selection experience where visitors can fill and cap their own bottles.

A lower-level speakeasy is set to feature rustic brick walls. The Main Street experience will also include a studio for recording 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 feel there’s a significant lack of supply in that area for these travelers who are coming into town who prefer larger apartment style stays, spaces where they can congregate," Haaga said.

Weyland said as a champion of downtown, he believes the project can contribute to a resurgence of the area by catering to the niche of bourbon tourists who want to stay downtown.

“We’ll be able to seamlessly integrate the stay with our partnership with Pursuit Spirits," Weyland said, adding that guests will have access to unique experiences, such as private tours and tastings.

The duo are exploring other ways to build in wrap-around amenities and experiences 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.

Interior demolition work is completed, Weyland said, with interior work on the rentals set to begin in January. He's aiming to wrap up construction in 2024 and start renting by early 2025.

Growth & development reporter 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