Striking Visions Of Louisville’s Future Within Our Grasp
Riverfront Boulevard west from near 6th Street
These renderings are simply amazing. The folks over at 8664.org released today a few jazzed up renderings at what’s possible along Louisville’s waterfront. There’s also a video fly-by all through downtown and along the waterfront detailing just how great life without the 7th Least Wanted Highway slicing between the city and its river can be. It’s already smothering the grass at the Great Lawn and we all should know how destructive the junction will be to Downtown, but these beautiful visuals should help everyone realize what great potential there really is along Louisville’s waterfront. Perhaps most dramatic are the views of Shippingport and the areas immediately west of Downtown. The potential for urban growth and real city life almost feels graspable from the above view. As anyone who has walked the stretch of RiverWalk over in this area, this is quite an unmistakable transformation. And the numbers back the plan up, too. Here are a few of the most dramatic stats kept by 8664.org.
Consider the following:
The East End Bridge is supported by more than a 2 to 1 margin over a Downtown Bridge.
FrederickPolls, January 2008, 500 Jefferson County Voters
The East End Bridge will divert more than 30,000 cars per day from the Kennedy Bridge by 2025.
Ohio River Bridges Project, Environmental Impact Statement, 2003
The Bridges Project will widen I-64 through Cherokee Park.
KYTC Kennedy Interchange Area Study, November 2008
The “8664″ alternative provides 99% of the “system-wide performance” of the Bridges Project.
KYTC Kennedy Interchange Area Study, November 2008
These images speak louder than words, so sit back, watch the video, and ponder a stroll along Louisville’s future Waterfront Boulevard on a warm Spring morning. And then go to 8664.org to find out how you can take action to realize a better Possibility City.
(Make sure you click through below to see the rest.)
- 8664.org (Official Site)
- Interstate 64 in Louisville Ranks 7th Nationally (Broken Sidewalk)
- Standing Under The Highway, Regretting (Broken Sidewalk)
- Paving Waterfront Park: Highway Killing The Great Lawn (Broken Sidewalk)
Eastern Downtown & Waterfront Park
Downtown Louisville at night & Waterfront Park West
Current view of Waterfront Park West wasteland
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I want this to happen so bad. My heart will be absolutely crushed if they ignore the 8664 plan. I wish there was more I could do.
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Great renders
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hard times… can’t even get sharrows in a computer rendering…
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Re sharrows: Ha! Yeah, I noticed no cycling appropriations in those renderings, too.
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john
March 5th, 2009
12:24 pm
0Where are all the cars in these renderings?
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It’s a good question. Cars are as expensive to render as they are to own. Buy a rendered car today at http://www.8664.org/contribute.
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Paul Kuhl
April 2nd, 2009
7:24 pm
0Where’s the Museum Plaza?
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Billy
April 2nd, 2009
8:00 pm
0Poe couldn’t even find the financing to RENDER Museum Plaza………… ouch.
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Porter Stevens
February 24th, 2010
9:22 pm
0Does it matter? Even without cars and museum plaza, these renderings get their point across: that the 8664 plan is the ideal future for Louisville’s waterfront.
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stunoland
February 25th, 2010
12:08 pm
0I think the riverwalk is also a bike trail. If you went to the Museum Plaza exhibit when it was open you would have seen about 500 renderings from every possible angle. It is likely that Poe’s company did not let 8664 have access to these images. In my opinion you would have to be crazy to buy a condo or locate your business in a building where when you walk out the front door you are looking at and listening to one of the ugliest waterfront expressways in the country. Where are the renderings of the waterfront if Louisville becomes the only city in the world to expand an elevated waterfront expressway in the 21st century? Oh yeah, the ORBP group is delaying the release of these images until the last possible minute. Welcome to uglyville! Keep Louisville Paved!
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Edmund
February 25th, 2010
2:52 pm
0It’s been said before but if the planned expansion does become a reality I will not stay in Louisville. I know several other young professionals that have made similar statements and I think it is safe to assume the added lanes will not attract other educated young people to the area. After scanning the sites of mayoral candidates and listening to the forum on downtown many candidates participated in it seems only Tyler Allen and Fischer are not in support of the expansion. It is absurd that what has already served to disrupt and mangle our downtown should ever be under consideration for expansion.
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stunoland
February 27th, 2010
10:34 am
0Fischer has been vague on this issue at best and as the favored candidate of Riverfields can probably not be trusted to insure the east end bridge is built first. He does say that logistically it makes sense to build the east end bridge first but that both bridges are needed. According to Greg Fischer's Facebook page:
"Assuming an adequate funding plan is in place, we must start with the East End Bridge, fix Spaghetti Junction to eliminate congestion and serious safety hazards in conjunction with the new downtown bridge, and reduce the impacts of the renovations to Interstate 64 to preserve connectivity to adjacent neighborhoods and the beauty and function of Waterfront Park."
This sounds to me like he is a supporter of the current Ohio River Bridges Plan while giving lip service to the image of our city. I am interested in getting together a list of people who will not live in Louisville if this urban planing disaster becomes a realty. Please respond with a comment if you are interested in joining this list.
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Edmund
February 27th, 2010
4:54 pm
0Hey, as noted above, you can put me on the list. I was wondering about the efficacy of a rally/protest on the new mayor’s first day in office depending on who we elect. It would take some serious networking, etc. to get enough people to show up to result in a change of plans but as I have neither political clout or a personal fortune I don’t know what other options to explore. Stunoland, you can contact me at steinw@pdx.edu for personal info.
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