The Brown Hotel in downtown Louisville at the corner of Fourth Street and Broadway has been listed as the first hotel in Kentucky in the Preferred Hotels & Resorts program, a “collection of the world’s finest independent luxury hotels.” The Brown joins 185 other independent hoteliers across the globe to receive this distinction by passing an unmatched 1,600 line item annual inspection process. A Preferred Hotels spy will also drop by unannounced once a year to make sure everything is running smoothly.
Doctor’s Office Building Grows Eyebrows
The Doctors’ Office Building under construction at Chestnut Street and Preston Street recently grew eyebrows near its cornice line. These appendages, in fact a sort of sun shade, will traverse the entire top of the building.
Medical Center Mega-Garage Under Construction
It’s official. The University of Louisville Health Sciences Center Mega-Garage is now under construction at the corner of Muhammad Ali Boulevard and Clay Street. The site, formerly a surface level parking lot, has been cleared and excavation has begun. The mega-garage is slated to have 9 floors with 1700 parking spaces and will cost $26 million.
Plans for the garage call for a brick and concrete facade to relate to the under construction bio-medical research facility next door and to soften the appearance for the new Liberty Green housing across Muhammad Ali. The mega-garage will provide retail space at sidewalk level along Muhammad Ali for a cafe or coffee shop, providing some street activity much needed in the area. Construction is long overdue as funding approval from the state has been slow. The mega-garage was designed by JRA Architects of Louisville and scheduled for completion around November 2009.
Facade Watch: Wayside Making Big Plans
Wayside Christian Mission has posted demolition notices on three of their Nulu properties and plans a multi-million dollar expansion to their campus. This news comes in the wake of a rapidly developing arts corridor along East Market Street, and to be sure the neighborhood will try to stop the demolition of historic property along its main drag.
The LEO wrote, “It is decidedly awkward to argue against an organization like Wayside Christian Mission” and the battle the neighborhood may choose to fight will be a PR nightmare. Wayside has been working for nearly a decade on their expansion plan and it has changed along the way to its current state but the agency now has $4.1 million in donations and is ready to start construction.
“The basic idea of the expansion is to connect the eastern- and westernmost points with a large, homogenous structure in the center. The new structure would house men, women, and children in both temporary and semi-permanent facilities, something Wayside does now in a significantly less unified fashion.”
The new campus has been designed by Qk4 Architecture as a donation to the Wayside charity.
- Wayside Christian Mission (Official Site)
- Tearin’ down the house (Leo)
Madrid Building Springs to Life
The Madrid Building—designed by E.T. Hutchings in 1929 (best known for his grand houses in Old Louisville & Glenview), and home to the Madrid Ballroom—has been renovated for office and retail use. The attached 220 space parking garage, also from the 1920s, has been refurbished as well.
The three-story Classical Revival building at the corner of 3rd and Guthrie streets once had an ornate Castilian interior with golden walls and tapestries. The Encyclopedia of Louisville claims the Madrid Building was considered one of the most beautiful ballrooms in America. However, in 1952, its doors closed.
Now after a $3 million renovation the building’s nearly 46,000 square feet are back in action, though not as a night club. Overall the building looks great with its new sidewalk light fixtures and glass canopy. Now we just need to see that retail space filled in.
The photos go back in time… all the way to the beginning.
Jefferson Plaza Invaded by Thousands of Tiny Flags
Thousands of tiny flags crowded Jefferson Square Friday to celebrate the Memorial Day Weekend. The fluttering red, white, and blue masses appeared as dense clumps of flowers in the wind. The group responsible for the demonstration is Flags4Vets.org who described the event as “a national citizens tribute to honor fallen veterans, law enforcement, firefighters & EMS during Memorial Day weekend 2008 in Louisville, Kentucky.” On hand were representatives of each group being remembered.
Snapshot: Zirmed Tower Rises
Here’s your update of the progress over at the ZirMed Towers on Market Street and 9th Street. Enjoy.
Snapshot: Fleur-de-Lis Condos Skinned
The Fleur-de-Lis condominiums on East Main Street were being clad in metal panels this week. The gradual skinning of the building is progressing east down Main and around Preston Street. The 82-unit, five-floor mixed-use building is the latest addition to East Main Street and will feature two interior landscaped courtyards in the center of the building with parking below, a rooftop garden, and even a miniature history museum in the lobby.
The Jagged cantilevered projections with balconies command attention and break up the typical urban edge. Stay tuned for more construction updates from this project and a look back at construction from start to finish. The building is designed and built by Potter & Associates Architects, located across Main Street at the top of the Preston Pointe building (also by P & A).
Six-Story Parking Garage Proposed at First & Jefferson Streets
The Courier-Journal reported today on plans to construct a $6.5 million, six-story, 433 space parking garage on Jefferson Street between First and Second streets. The garage would also include around 1,000 square feet of retail space, possibly to house a small restaurant. The site (shown below) is currently a surface level parking lot adjacent to the 222 Building on First Street.
Drs. Mark Chariker and T. Gerald O’Daniel plan to build the garage and reserve 200 of the spaces for the professional offices in the 222 Building, but noted that the convention center and future City Center development are less than a block away. The garage is also across from the renovated City Block entertainment complex. Construction on the garage should begin an a few months and the scheduled completion date is in early 2009. The garage was designed by Louisville-based Architectural Investments.