A tipster sent in this photo today of construction progress at the new Sapporo on Fourth Street. It looks like Fourth south of Cordish is about ready to stand on its own.
We already have the Theater Square Marketplace next door and Bycks Lofts open and City Properties Group’s plans for Clay Commons and the Caperton Block could really make an impact. Sol Azteca’s has taken the place of the former Raw Sushi and I suppose we could count the planned Eddie Merlot’s and the return of the Colonnade Cafe in the area as well, not to mention all of the businesses already in the corridor.
What do you think, is Fourth Street below Muhammad Ali ready to be an attraction all its own? What else does the area need?
Founder and Editor at Broken Sidewalk
Branden founded Broken Sidewalk in 2008 while practicing architecture in Louisville. He continued the site for seven years while living in New York City, returning to Louisville in 2016. Branden is a graduate of the College of Architecture at Washington University in St. Louis, and has covered architecture, design, and urbanism for The Architect's Newspaper, Designers & Books, Inhabitat, and the American Institute of Architects.
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Speaking of infill, the corner of 4th and Chestnut could really use some. Maybe there is something already planned for this location? Retail and housing seem like the best fit. Personally, I think downtown is lacking in quality ice cream options and would love to see a local place or even Graeter’s set up on 4th st. While I’m creating a wish list I might as well add that a downtown Trader Joe’s would make everyday spent in Louisville a little brighter.
There is a project planned for the empty corner of Fourth & Chestnut. It’s called Clay Commons. Click here for more info about that one.
We drove down Fourth St. last Saturday evening around 9:00. Its starting to shape up at the south end–starting at the Brown Hotel to about Cunninghams. After that it is dark until almost the Seelbach. I would guess out-of-towners would not go from one end to the next by foot. The 4th and Chestnut corner is really key to the future as it would tie the two pieces together.
They really really need to do something about Parking however. If they can have the Galleria garage free on the weekends and after 6, they really need to do the same for the Brown Garage, if they don’t have this in place already anyway. (They are both PARC)
What does the area need? The east side of the 500 block is nearly empty except for the Speed Bldg. and some space occupied by Jewish Hospital. It would be great if the new administration would make this a priority. You basically have two owners that control the future of this section of Fourth St., and a current adminstration that has been more than content to do nothing. Get rid of the benches. They are only used by vagrants. Switch trash collection to the alleys. Cordish closes Fourth St. way too often, at his own businesses expense. Unless there is going to be a lot of people using the plaza(weekends, concerts) people like to drive by to check a place out, Fourth St. Live included. On Sundays when it’s nice people are cruising Fourth Street if it isn’t blocked. In fact, the lack of a consistent pattern to closing Fourth St. suggests that it is almost haphazard at times, or simply someone forgot to open the road the next day.
Finally, there remains 1 slumlord that the city refuses to deal with after numerous complaints by various property owners.