Renovation Complete on Old Russell Trolley Barns

Government officials have handed over possession of a $20-million facility to Louisville’s African-American Heritage Foundation. The government was assigned the task of paying for and renovating the old Russell trolley barns into a space suitable to house the Kentucky Center for African-American Heritage.The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet audited the foundation’s financial records as it was trying to renovate the building, and eventually turned the project over to the city and state. Some federal funds were funneled through the state’s budget for the project as well.The building is now finished, and Foundation Board President Christie McCravy says they’re ready to take back the reins.“We have two purposes: one, raise the funds to provide the operational support to keep it going and two, to provide the capital structure to finish the facility, exhibits and resolve our past issues," says McCravy.Those past issues include money owed to a former contractor and lender. McCravy says they hope to raise five million dollars to get the center up and running.