With COVID-19 restrictions coming to end this month, and businesses trying to get customers through their doors, city leaders are continuing efforts to revitalize downtown.Over the past few months, Mayor Greg Fischer and other city leaders have been focused on how to revitalize an area of Louisville that was hit hard not just by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also shut down because it was the site of the ongoing social justice movement in the wake of the deadly Breonna Taylor shooting.Fast forward to the spring, and with businesses slowly reopening and increasing capacity, Fischer formed the Downtown Revitalization Team to help come up with ideas to bring business back to the city center.On Tuesday, the team presented its final report.The group came up with more than $13 million in recommendations to improve public infrastructure, safety, green efforts and equity. Leaders said the goal is to make the area better than it was before.Here’s a look at some of the action items:Hiring new Business Improvement District ambassadorsImproving the RiverWalk from 3rd Street to 7th StreetHosting free outdoor concerts with the Louisville OrchestraPlan downtown events, including Whiskey Alley event series, The Black Out: Arts Festival on the Belvedere and Broadway Under the StarsReplacing streetlightsDeveloping a master calendar and mobile application highlighting businesses, events and notable downtown destinationsGrowing marketing efforts around the “Downtown Strong” and “Lou Needs You” campaignsTo ensure the plan’s success, efforts are divided into completion windows that are spread out 30, 60, 90 and 120 days.Click here to read more about the revitalization planFischer said he feels optimistic about the path moving forward for the city because of the state of the budget and federal relief dollars on hand. Some of the measures brought up in the plan will be depending on either budget financing or stimulus funds.The team of more than 100 plans to continue working with the city to prioritize and implement its recommendations as funding is secured.
With COVID-19 restrictions coming to end this month, and businesses trying to get customers through their doors, city leaders are continuing efforts to revitalize downtown.
Over the past few months, Mayor Greg Fischer and other city leaders have been focused on how to revitalize an area of Louisville that was hit hard not just by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also shut down because it was the site of the ongoing social justice movement in the wake of the deadly Breonna Taylor shooting.
Fast forward to the spring, and with businesses slowly reopening and increasing capacity, Fischer formed the Downtown Revitalization Team to help come up with ideas to bring business back to the city center.
On Tuesday, the team presented its final report.
The group came up with more than $13 million in recommendations to improve public infrastructure, safety, green efforts and equity. Leaders said the goal is to make the area better than it was before.
Here’s a look at some of the action items:
- Hiring new Business Improvement District ambassadors
- Improving the RiverWalk from 3rd Street to 7th Street
- Hosting free outdoor concerts with the Louisville Orchestra
- Plan downtown events, including Whiskey Alley event series, The Black Out: Arts Festival on the Belvedere and Broadway Under the Stars
- Replacing streetlights
- Developing a master calendar and mobile application highlighting businesses, events and notable downtown destinations
- Growing marketing efforts around the “Downtown Strong” and “Lou Needs You” campaigns
To ensure the plan’s success, efforts are divided into completion windows that are spread out 30, 60, 90 and 120 days.
Click here to read more about the revitalization plan
Fischer said he feels optimistic about the path moving forward for the city because of the state of the budget and federal relief dollars on hand. Some of the measures brought up in the plan will be depending on either budget financing or stimulus funds.
The team of more than 100 plans to continue working with the city to prioritize and implement its recommendations as funding is secured.
