GPNA's Alternative Proposal for the Urban Government Center Site
PRESENTED AT A COMMUNITY FORUM on MARCH 1, 2025
BACKGROUND
The German-Paristown Neighborhood Association has been opposed to the current plan for use of the site of the former Urban Government Center. Our opposition has always been based on Metro Government’s intention to give away public land to private developers in pursuit of private gain, with no benefit to the actual owners of the property — the citizens of Louisville.
As a result of the City’s neglect, and the delay of the UGC project, the site’s buildings have deteriorated, and are truly an eyesore. The understandable result among the neighbors of the site is capitulation, a grudging acceptance of anything to alleviate the eyesore it was allowed to become, even though other more responsible, sustainable, and broadly beneficial alternatives are readily attainable. This acquiescence works to the advantage of the developer who plans to turn public land to private gain, but not to the public’s.
However, recently the developer of the UGC, Steve Smith, was quoted on a WHAS television interview as saying he is, “in conversation with the local neighborhood associations about what exactly will be built.” This is welcome news, and GPNA stands ready to support the developer in a better plan should he choose to pursue it. But Mr. Smith has not contacted our neighborhood association about what will be built. And, in what must come as a surprise to the impatient neighbors, in the same interview, Mr. Smith said the project would likely take ten years to be completed.
GPNA is encouraged that Mr. Smith has apparently not settled on a final plan for the site. This suggests there is still time to steer the project in a direction more beneficial to the surrounding neighborhoods, to the environment, and to the city of Louisville at large. It is with this hope that we offer our proposal.
SUMMARY OF OUR PROPOSAL
FEATURES OF THE PROPOSAL
Preservation of existing buildings is one of the strongest actions we can take to benefit the environment. It captures the sunk economic and resource costs of an earlier era and allows us to enjoy its profitable use in our time. It also preserves the feel of the neighborhood so many call their home. It is one of the guiding principles of GPNA..The senior apartments in the refurbished hospital building would be the centerpiece of the preservation effort on the UGC site. The former Housing Authority building is not only complementary to a senior apartment building, but can also address current needs expressed at numerous public meetings about the UGC project in its various versions since 2015. People have expressed a desire for a grocery, a library, along with other low impact commercial services and amenities, real upgrades to their neighborhoods to make living in those neighborhoods more fulfilling and enjoyable. This structure, adjacent to the hospital building, would be not only a welcome enhancement for the neighborhood, but a real benefit to the apartment dwellers on the campus.
Recent news of the expected sale of the Mid City Mall only raises the strategic importance of the UGC property. The Housing Authority building offers an exciting relocation possibility for some of the displaced services now housed at the Mid City Mall. Atop the building is a functioning green roof. If the library were to occupy the top floor it could have direct access to the roof garden allowing the library to offer unique educational programs as well as a stunning facility few cities could rival. Not only would the library benefit the neighborhoods, but it would enhance the lives of the apartment residents. And, because this public property is being given to a private developer, the library is one element that can serve as a real Community Benefit, a phrase Metro Government has loosely applied to the project as a necessary quid pro quo. The stunning library space should be leased to the library at no cost as a true community benefit in exchange for the opportunity to redevelop this jewel of public property.
The bottom floor of the same building could become a new home for the Mall’s Valu Market, or some other full-service grocer, thus answering the pleas of many nearby residents for a convenient local grocery. If the Housing Authority building were preserved and refocused as a commercial services building, not only would it become a boon to the nearby residents, but it would also shift the appeal of the hospital building as a senior apartment tower. Residents, many of whom may not drive , would live in a vibrant functional urban space rather than an auto-centric island.
GPNA hopes– even at this late date– that Mr. Smith would seriously consider our proposal, which would bring his effort in line with the wishes of the majority of our neighbors. It would make a dramatic, lasting, sustainable contribution to the future of our city.
The German-Paristown Neighborhood Association has been opposed to the current plan for use of the site of the former Urban Government Center. Our opposition has always been based on Metro Government’s intention to give away public land to private developers in pursuit of private gain, with no benefit to the actual owners of the property — the citizens of Louisville.
As a result of the City’s neglect, and the delay of the UGC project, the site’s buildings have deteriorated, and are truly an eyesore. The understandable result among the neighbors of the site is capitulation, a grudging acceptance of anything to alleviate the eyesore it was allowed to become, even though other more responsible, sustainable, and broadly beneficial alternatives are readily attainable. This acquiescence works to the advantage of the developer who plans to turn public land to private gain, but not to the public’s.
However, recently the developer of the UGC, Steve Smith, was quoted on a WHAS television interview as saying he is, “in conversation with the local neighborhood associations about what exactly will be built.” This is welcome news, and GPNA stands ready to support the developer in a better plan should he choose to pursue it. But Mr. Smith has not contacted our neighborhood association about what will be built. And, in what must come as a surprise to the impatient neighbors, in the same interview, Mr. Smith said the project would likely take ten years to be completed.
GPNA is encouraged that Mr. Smith has apparently not settled on a final plan for the site. This suggests there is still time to steer the project in a direction more beneficial to the surrounding neighborhoods, to the environment, and to the city of Louisville at large. It is with this hope that we offer our proposal.
SUMMARY OF OUR PROPOSAL
- Preservation of the original hospital building and reuse as a senior apartment building,
- Preservation of the four story building on the western edge of the site, and reuse of the lower floor as a new home for the grocery displaced by the imminent sale of the Mid City Mall,
- Also in the four story building, dedication of the top floor and the green roof above that floor, as an outstanding replacement of the library also housed in the Mid City Mall,
- Preservation of the Olmsted verdancy of the site itself.
FEATURES OF THE PROPOSAL
Preservation of existing buildings is one of the strongest actions we can take to benefit the environment. It captures the sunk economic and resource costs of an earlier era and allows us to enjoy its profitable use in our time. It also preserves the feel of the neighborhood so many call their home. It is one of the guiding principles of GPNA..The senior apartments in the refurbished hospital building would be the centerpiece of the preservation effort on the UGC site. The former Housing Authority building is not only complementary to a senior apartment building, but can also address current needs expressed at numerous public meetings about the UGC project in its various versions since 2015. People have expressed a desire for a grocery, a library, along with other low impact commercial services and amenities, real upgrades to their neighborhoods to make living in those neighborhoods more fulfilling and enjoyable. This structure, adjacent to the hospital building, would be not only a welcome enhancement for the neighborhood, but a real benefit to the apartment dwellers on the campus.
Recent news of the expected sale of the Mid City Mall only raises the strategic importance of the UGC property. The Housing Authority building offers an exciting relocation possibility for some of the displaced services now housed at the Mid City Mall. Atop the building is a functioning green roof. If the library were to occupy the top floor it could have direct access to the roof garden allowing the library to offer unique educational programs as well as a stunning facility few cities could rival. Not only would the library benefit the neighborhoods, but it would enhance the lives of the apartment residents. And, because this public property is being given to a private developer, the library is one element that can serve as a real Community Benefit, a phrase Metro Government has loosely applied to the project as a necessary quid pro quo. The stunning library space should be leased to the library at no cost as a true community benefit in exchange for the opportunity to redevelop this jewel of public property.
The bottom floor of the same building could become a new home for the Mall’s Valu Market, or some other full-service grocer, thus answering the pleas of many nearby residents for a convenient local grocery. If the Housing Authority building were preserved and refocused as a commercial services building, not only would it become a boon to the nearby residents, but it would also shift the appeal of the hospital building as a senior apartment tower. Residents, many of whom may not drive , would live in a vibrant functional urban space rather than an auto-centric island.
GPNA hopes– even at this late date– that Mr. Smith would seriously consider our proposal, which would bring his effort in line with the wishes of the majority of our neighbors. It would make a dramatic, lasting, sustainable contribution to the future of our city.