Louisville Magazine is Louisville's city magazine, covering Louisville people, lifestyles, politics, sports, restaurants, entertainment and homes. Includes a monthly calendar of events.
Issue link: https://loumag.epubxp.com/i/842307
36 LOUISVILLE MAGAZINE 7.17 THE BIT A former Nation- al Tobacco Co. facility becomes the $53-million West Louisville FoodPort, complete with a multi-million dollar vertical farm and food-processing facilities. That was the much-hyped plan for a 24-acre site at 30th Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard in the Russell neighborhood. About a year ago, plans crumbled after an anchor tenant backed out. In March, the city requested redevel- opment proposals for the site, known as Heritage West. Here are a few morsels from the four proposals. The Louisville Urban League envisions a world-class indoor track and field facility. Cost: $24 million, with rental fees from Jefferson County Public Schools, colleges and track clubs covering annual operating expenses. Need: Plenty of studies show Louisville needs to improve its overall health and wellness. Big dreams: Maybe this facility would inspire generations of Louisville track stars? Awesome sales pitch: "Parents from across the Midwest are going to plot '3029 W. Muhammad Ali' into their GPS. Teams will be staying as close as they can to the competition site — and those accommodations will pop up to meet the new demand." Shawnee resident Denise Raine believes in Heritage Gardens, a multi-use complex of community gardens, an agri- cultural-goods distribution center, riding stables, greenhouses, an allergy research lab and a micro rain forest. Cost: $178 million, funding that Raine says could come from government sources, business sponsorships and donations. Need: Fresh produce in a part of town that lacks it. And jobs for local residents. Big dreams: "A major piece will be the development of theme-park-styled outdoor attractions…" Awesome sales pitch: "…such as a James and the Giant Peach water adventure and a Jack and the Beanstalk ropes course." Developer Clifford Turner proposes Global Biotechnology Research, which would include the following: "state of the art" laboratory, children's lab and museum, invention and innovation areas, a training center (for individuals to learn skills for biotech jobs), farmers' market and fitness center. Cost: $240 million. If built, a nonprofit would manage the park. Need: High-tech and life-sciences jobs are the future. And pay well. Big Dreams: Heard of the North Carolina Research Triangle Park? And what an economic boon it's been down there in N.C.? Let's do it here! Awesome sales pitch: "Com- panies securing space in the park, as well as overall administration needs of the park, will require the creation of thou- sands of jobs." A team of residents that includes an urban planner, a lawyer, a scholar and an urban farmer want to see the site turn into a cooperative grocery store. Cost: $1.5 million raised, plus 1,000 commit- ted co-op members, who would pay an income-based fee. Need: Much of west Louisville is a food desert. Big Dreams: Eventually the co-op could operate a cafe, as well as spaces for cooking classes and cultural events. Awesome sales pitch: "Not only will the store support local farmers, but most importantly, because it is a cooperative, it will be owned by com- munity members themselves. Economic power is one of the pillars of community power, and cooperative groceries recir- culate money within the area, rather than send profits off to distant headquarters." — AM WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO? CALL 502.625.0100 or visit louisville.com/subscriptions The best read on the city. JUNE 2017 $4.70 CITY GUIDE 2017 - 2018 DOCS AT THE DOWNS | THE GREATEST'S GRAVESITE Subscribe Now $22/year Thank you Louisville for naming us a Best Steakhouse Finalist! Proudly serving Louisville for 60 years! "We're not the best because we are the oldest. We're the oldest because we're still the best." Est. 1958 2437 Brownsboro Road | 502-893-2062 patssteakhouse.com 742 E Market Street | revelrygallery.com Thank you for voting us Best Boutique