It's official: a sports complex will be built at Heritage West, the 24-acre site at 30th and Muhammad Ali Boulevard. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced today the city has chosen the Louisville Urban League's proposal. The project will include an indoor track and field facility, an outdoor multi-use field, retail, restaurant and hotel space and parking.
“The Urban League’s plan reflects the community’s desire for a project that will bring immediate life to this key piece of land, and provide healthy outlets for youth and adults to engage in a variety of sports and other activities,” Fischer said in a press release. “This is an exciting process, and I look forward to returning to this site soon to break ground on a new development that brings the vision and values of the people of Russell to life.”
At a press conference, Fischer touted the recent spurt of development plans in the West End as a renaissance. Kentucky Peerless Distilleries and Heine Brothers Coffee are among the companies that have or will move their corporate headquarters into the area.
Sadiqa Reynolds is President and CEO of the Louisville Urban League.
"This is is all of us coming together from every part of the community, different socioeconomic statuses coming together to say this is worth it. We believe in this," she said. "So I am excited about what we will do not just for West Louisville but for Louisville.
The total project cost is expected to be $30 million, and Fischer said the city will contribute financing with the amount to be negotiated.
Four groups submitted proposals for the space. Besides the sports complex, they included:
- a food co-op;
- an eclectic mix of retail space, housing, a dude ranch and a micro rain forest; and
- a biotech research park.
The food co-op proposal was eventually withdrawn. A spokesperson for Develop Louisville said the Louisville Food Cooperative is exploring other potential locations in the city, and that the city is still committed to working with the project.
Heritage West was originally the intended location for the former West Louisville FoodPort. Plans for the site were derailedabout a year ago when a key tenant backed out.
This post has been updated.