Thursday March 28, 2024
News Sections

Mayor Greg Fischer today joined Sadiqa Reynolds, President and CEO of Louisville Urban League, and community leaders to announce that Louisville Metro Government (LMG) has entered into a development agreement with the Louisville Urban League (LUL) for the redevelopment of the Heritage West site, a 24-acre acre property in the Russell neighborhood. LUL’s master plan is centered on a 4,000-seat indoor and outdoor track and field facility and will feature community green space and outdoor event space.

“It’s an exciting time to be in west Louisville as it is experiencing nearly $1 billion in investment right now, and we are thrilled to add this sports and education complex to the list,” said the Mayor. “This project will activate a vacant lot, bring investment and jobs to the Russell neighborhood and serve as a healthy outlet for youth and adults from across our country. I applaud Sadiqa and her team at Louisville Urban League for their vision to bring a state-of-the-art sports facility to west Louisville.”

The development agreement states that, pending Metro Council approval, LMG will provide $10 million toward construction costs of the track. Construction is expected to begin in early 2019.

“There is no silver bullet in community revitalization and while sports may be part of an answer, track is not now, nor has it ever been the entire answer. While we can’t ignore the cries of our local track teams to ‘build this facility,’ this project is about more than sports. It is about economic opportunity, families traveling into our community with disposable income and the jobs and organic growth that will happen as a result of this catalytic project. It is truly about the need for a facility like this in our community and since it is to be built, why not right here in Russell,” said Sadiqa Reynolds, President and CEO of Louisville Urban League. “I am thrilled about the work we are about to do and the support this project has garnered, not just from the local community but from partners like the National Development Council (NDC), a national not-for-profit economic development agency that has been working to increase the flow of private capital into underserved areas for almost fifty years.”

The complex will be designed to host a variety of sporting events supported by organizations such as USA Track and Field, and the NCAA, our local and regional public and private schools and local track teams. The facility also will feature retail space and related amenities and will be owned and operated by the LUL. Browne Engineering & Construction has been selected as the Project Manager and Moody Nolan has been selected as the architect.

“NDC is delighted to have the opportunity to be working with the Louisville Urban League and its first rate committee on this mixed-use recreation facility that will be a catalyst for future development opportunities and lead to a substantial community impact in the Russell neighborhood for years to come,” said Kevin Gremse, Senior Director of National Development Council.

Heritage West is located on the western border of the Russell neighborhood, which is currently seeing an influx of investment, including the $29.5 million mixed-income, mixed-use redevelopment of Beecher Terrace, a project expected to leverage at least $200 million in new investment; Waterfront Park Phase Four expansion; relocation of Passport Health Plan’s headquarters; construction of a new YMCA at 18th and Broadway; and the city’s first Bus Rapid Transit Line.

“I am excited that this project is continuing to move forward with a $10 million commitment, pending Metro Council approval, from Louisville Metro Government to help make this dream a reality. The west Louisville community participated in discussions and sessions to make this sports complex project a priority for our community, and it will certainly be a destination spot for Louisvillians and visitors to the city alike,” said Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton, D-5. “This project will help change a 24-acre vacant lot into a positive vision of hope and a productive use which will generate other positive effects for our neighborhood. Thank you to Sadiqa Reynolds and everyone at the Louisville Urban Louisville for their belief and dedication to this project, and let’s do all we can to help make this dream a reality.”

The selection of the Louisville Urban League’s development plan was announced in late 2017 after an extensive community engagement process that included multiple public meetings to hear the concerns and values of people from the Russell neighborhood. More than 125 public comments were received on the four development proposals that were submitted after the SOI was released.

An evaluation panel of both LMG staff and members of the community was formed to review all four proposals submitted and to make a recommendation to Louisville Forward. The evaluation panel used scoresheets to review each proposal.

In the evaluations panel Bonnie Cole, Bill Gatewood, Vanessa Lackey and Gary Watrous represented the community and Jeana Dunlap (Director of Redevelopment Strategies), Laura Grabowski (Director of Vacant and Public Property Administration), Scott Herrmann (Director of Economic Development), Aaron Jackson (Director of Finance) and Allison Smith (Brownsfields Program Manager) represented LMG.

LUL will now, like all development projects, formalize their plans and submit them to Louisville Metro Planning & Design Services for review by staff, the Planning Commission and, if a rezoning or street closure is needed, Metro Council.

For the latest updates on the development, follow @LouisvilleUL on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or visit www.lul.org.

To view the development agreement, evaluation panel scoresheets and more please visit

https://louisvilleky.gov/government/advanced-planning/heritage-west

Following an extensive community engagement effort and a detailed review conducted by a committee of Metro staff and citizen volunteers, Mayor Greg Fischer today announced that the Louisville Urban League has been selected to develop a state-of-the-art multi-sports complex anchored by an indoor track and field facility on the 24-acre Heritage West property located at 3029 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.

“The Urban League’s plan reflects the community’s desire for a project that will bring immediate life to this key piece of land, and provide healthy outlets for youth and adults to engage in a variety of sports and other activities,” said the Mayor. “This is an exciting process, and I look forward to returning to this site soon to break ground on a new development that brings the vision and values of the people of Russell to life.”

The complex will be designed to host a variety of sporting events potentially sponsored by organizations such as USA Track and Field (USATF), the National College Athletics Association (NCAA), colleges and universities, and local and regional public and private schools. The facility also will feature retail space and related amenities.

“We are thrilled to be chosen as the development partner for the Heritage West property,” said Sadiqa Reynolds, President and CEO of the Louisville Urban League. “This project will bring 20,000 visitors with disposable income into Louisville and more importantly into west Louisville. Louisville will be a U.S. track and field destination.”

(Learn more about the Louisville Urban League’s plan)

The total project cost is expected to be $30 million.

Heritage West is located on the western border of the Russell neighborhood, which is currently seeing unprecedented levels of investment, including the $29.5 million mixed-income, mixed-use redevelopment of Beecher Terrace, a project expected to leverage at least $200 million in new investment; Waterfront Park Phase Four expansion; relocation of Passport Health Plan’s headquarters; and construction of a new YMCA at 18th and Broadway.

“The community has anxiously awaited an exciting development and concept for the property that will help transform the neighborhood and help put west Louisville on the map,” said Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton, District 5. “We hope that this athletic facility project will become a reality for Heritage West and will be a place to help our young people realize their dreams.”

The city began the Heritage West redevelopment process in March, when it issued a Solicitation of Interest that drew four innovative and exciting proposals, one of which was eventually withdrawn. More than 125 public comments were received on the four proposals.

The West Louisville Community Council (WLCC), a grassroots organization of residents, neighborhood associations, places of worship, educational and cultural institutions, focused on responsible, citizen-engaged redevelopment of vacant and abandoned properties in west Louisville, has been a key partner throughout the review and engagement process.

The WLCC has co-hosted community visioning meetings and public review meetings for the Heritage West Property, and sponsored an art contest that led to the renaming of the site as “Heritage West.”

“Positive outcomes can be achieved when community, organizations, and government agencies strategize collectively around issues impacting people. Heritage West is an example of how our collective resources can spur transformation within a community,” said Natasha Cummins, Chair of the Executive Committee, WLCC. “Today marks the day where the community’s voice was heard and decision makers took heed.  We support this announcement and know that this initiative will create a positive vibe in our community and gain national recognition. West Louisville Community Council will continue to work closely with all involved and expect Heritage West to focus on community benefits as the project evolves.”

To read more about the project, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/sites/default/files/advanced_planning/lul_track…

Archives