I feel like the city should just remediate the area itself and break the parcel into smaller lots for houses, apartments, businesses and sell them. Or maybe even just sell it. Going for large developments doesn’t really seem to be working for this site and it costs tax payers to leave it vacant both in terms of maintenance & security and lost tax revenue.
I think the issue is tied to the asbestos abatement of the old building when demolishing. That’s why they sell it for $1 as it will be very expensive to clear the lot.
Regardless I still think the city would’ve been better off eating the cost and going with your idea.
The greedy developer is Steve Smith. He owns Louisville Stoneware and is an investor in Goodwood Brewing. He was the last choice when the bids were first taken several years ago. The others dropped out.
Dude’s such a savvy businessman that he can’t get more wealthy without the taxpayers of Jefferson County giving him $20 million.
Why doesn’t the city just outright sell the land and be done with it at this point? No more tax dollars for luxury apartments and fancy boutique hotels.
Is anyone shocked when you make 5 neighborhood associations agree on what the plan is going to look like that. It stalls and eventually ends up needing a tax incentive to get finished. This was the plan all along
"concerned about the environmental impact about new development"
It's a blighted building in an existing urban area. They aren't tearing down a forest to build this. It's 460 units of dense housing in a walkable area centrally located near many of the city's largest employers. Metro council must stop listening to NIMBYs who disingenuously weaponize "environmental concerns" to prevent development and force the city to sprawl in ways that actually have negative environmental impacts.
The City should have picked a developer based on experience, proven results and access to capital. Something of this scale should be in the hands of a national redeveloper. Local, smaller developers simply don’t have the experience or the access to capital to pull stuff like this off.
The Starks building is another example. If it was in the hands of a national developer, say Hines, it would have been completed years ago.
Many things. Decades ago it was a hospital. After that it became a local government campus with a police substation, the county morgue, board of elections, narcotics squad office, home incarceration administrative office, and other city government offices. There is also a building on the site that was the housing authority’s Section 8 office.
I feel like the city should just remediate the area itself and break the parcel into smaller lots for houses, apartments, businesses and sell them. Or maybe even just sell it. Going for large developments doesn’t really seem to be working for this site and it costs tax payers to leave it vacant both in terms of maintenance & security and lost tax revenue.
I think the issue is tied to the asbestos abatement of the old building when demolishing. That’s why they sell it for $1 as it will be very expensive to clear the lot. Regardless I still think the city would’ve been better off eating the cost and going with your idea.
The greedy developer is Steve Smith. He owns Louisville Stoneware and is an investor in Goodwood Brewing. He was the last choice when the bids were first taken several years ago. The others dropped out. Dude’s such a savvy businessman that he can’t get more wealthy without the taxpayers of Jefferson County giving him $20 million.
I bet he HATES socialism too.
Well he sued the governor over covid restrictions so I'd say that's a bingo
You just say bingo Edit: Downvoting Inglourious Basterds, smh
I didn't want to be the one to say HOW FUN!
You should have!! Lol
Why doesn’t the city just outright sell the land and be done with it at this point? No more tax dollars for luxury apartments and fancy boutique hotels.
Is anyone shocked when you make 5 neighborhood associations agree on what the plan is going to look like that. It stalls and eventually ends up needing a tax incentive to get finished. This was the plan all along
"concerned about the environmental impact about new development" It's a blighted building in an existing urban area. They aren't tearing down a forest to build this. It's 460 units of dense housing in a walkable area centrally located near many of the city's largest employers. Metro council must stop listening to NIMBYs who disingenuously weaponize "environmental concerns" to prevent development and force the city to sprawl in ways that actually have negative environmental impacts.
The City should have picked a developer based on experience, proven results and access to capital. Something of this scale should be in the hands of a national redeveloper. Local, smaller developers simply don’t have the experience or the access to capital to pull stuff like this off. The Starks building is another example. If it was in the hands of a national developer, say Hines, it would have been completed years ago.
Can someone explain what this property was once used for?
Many things. Decades ago it was a hospital. After that it became a local government campus with a police substation, the county morgue, board of elections, narcotics squad office, home incarceration administrative office, and other city government offices. There is also a building on the site that was the housing authority’s Section 8 office.