How in the world did this sidewalk get approved? Located on Second Street between Jefferson and Liberty Streets, this sidewalk is pretty much all open grate. It’s part of the Marriott Hotel and a block from the convention center. Besides being impassable by ladies in high heels and those nervous of walking over pits in the sidewalk, it’s probably pretty difficult for the disabled, too. And the hotel building does absolutely nothing to enhance the sidewalk, either. Quite an unfortunate example.
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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The thinking: Well, not many people are going to want to walk there anyway. We need to demand better.
The ironic thing is this is where the tour buses load & unload at the hotel, so many of their guests do have to negotiate this nice little hazard (I usually walked on top of the curb when I worked near here). It was really fun when the grate was wet, too. Don’t look down!!!!!
This sidewalk got approved because in Louisville, any "developer" can get any permit or waiver for anything they want, all in the name of "development". You want to build a beer block? Buy some property on Baxter Avenue. ABC regulations be damned. You want a parking waiver at 1055 Bardstown Road? You got it.