DIRECTOR’S TAKE blog

Dear Friend of Downtown,

February is the month of love, and lately, I’m really loving the amount of conversation and action around office conversion projects in our Downtown!
 
Two major hotel announcements at the former Brown-Williamson and Humana towers, a new bagel shop and short-term rentals at an old pharmacy on the corner of 5th and Market, 106 new apartments at the former Fiscal Court building, and the list is growing.
 
The importance of being able to keep these buildings is no small thing… it means we get to keep a solid street wall with some architecturally significant buildings that just don’t get built anymore. It means that people will walk by these buildings and have something to do and a reason to enter, creating more foot traffic and activity. It means that pieces of our city’s history and legacy remain in place, and we can appreciate how far we’ve come.
 
Adaptive reuse of buildings takes blood, sweat, and tears… and lots of money. Knowing how hard it is makes me even more excited about the hard work of developers and property owners who also appreciate and love our Downtown.
 
Keep the loving flowing… hope to see you on the streets soon.

Dear Friend of Downtown,

Our third annual Downtown Hometown Tourist Celebration is in full swing. And… due to the recent winter storm, we have officially EXTENDED the event through Sunday, February 8 to give you a chance to experience it all.

That gives you two full weekends, and the weekdays in between, to explore your own city like a tourist. If you haven’t come downtown in awhile, or if you haven’t visited one of our newer attractions or bourbon experiences, or if you’ve just not ever gotten around to visiting our anchor tourist favorites… this promotion is for YOU!

The promotion offers HALF OFF admissions at participating Downtown attractions and bourbon experiences… which means you can have twice the fun at half the price! A record number of 30 attractions and venues are participating, including hotels and retailers who are offering a variety of discounts.

Tourists come here and can’t sing their praises loudly enough of the charm and unique experiences and fun they have here. The Downtown Hometown Tourist Celebration is to share that love with our own residents to make sure you get a chance to see what others are fussing about… AND get a discount while doing so!

There’s nothing I love more than being able to help people (find new ways to enjoy friends and family IN YOUR fine city), and to help our city (bring people to our Downtown)!

With the winter weather in full effect, it’s the perfect time to find something for your family or friends to do to beat the doldrums. Do something fun (or new) in Downtown!

See you on the streets soon!

Dear Friend of Downtown,

Wrapping up a year and looking to the next year is always a momentous occasion, as it is a time to reflect on accomplishments, shortcomings, and new directions.

Downtown Louisville flourished in 2025! 8 NEW office locations, with more in the pipeline; 39 new retailers; 20 completed development projects representing $355 million of investment; and another 80 projects still to come… and the number of people in Downtown continues to increase year over year!

LDP did okay too, if I do say so myself… we launched several new programs, including Downtown Tunes pianos and two new CitySpots, hosted more than 60 events, expanded the Business Improvement District where we offer special services, and were recognized as Louisville Tourism’s Partner of the Year.

But we don’t stop. Get ready for the 3rd annual Downtown Hometown Tourist Celebration, taking place January 23 – February 1, where all locals get a 50% discount at participating Downtown attractions! Always wanted to visit the Sons of the American Revolution? Or see where the world meets Kentucky at the Frazier History Museum? Or get a discount while sipping on America’s native spirit while on our most historic and architecturally significant street? This is your chance to reap the benefits of your own awesome Downtown!

See you on the streets soon!

Dear Friend of Downtown,

You’ve heard all the carols and seen all the holiday cards declaring this the most wonderful time of the year. And I don’t disagree… my only question is where the heck did the rest of 2025 go?!
 
But if you are living for the present, it doesn’t matter how fleeting time is, it’s now your job to take advantage of the plethora of holiday events and decorations that abound in Downtown!
 
My favorite are the pop-up bars, whose numbers continue to increase year over year. I’m not sure I’ll be able to make it to every one like in years past, but I’m certainly trying. And there are dozens of holiday events, both the traditional events (A Christmas Carol is back!) and new ones with a twist.
 
LDP also put some of its own holiday touches throughout our neighborhood, lighting up the Plaza on Fourth and hanging bows and silver garland on light poles along blocks of Main Street. I don’t know the last time we had decorations hanging in public spaces, but we are on a mission to do it starting this year henceforth.
 
This time of year also brings out the best in people – generous in spending time together and buying gifts to symbolize love and gratitude for the year. No matter what holiday you observe, or if you observe none at all, smiling faces make all the difference and I’m glad to celebrate this time of year with you.

See you on the streets soon!

Dear Friend of Downtown,

This week is one I look forward to every year, though as my family members move around or away, it is not the same holiday that I grew up loving so much. It is harder to get people in one place and the array of folks gathered differs from year to year… but it’s still the holiday that asks us to slow down and put away work, enjoy our family (by blood or by choice), and rather than complain about what’s going wrong, asks us to count the things that are going right.

We each are made up of different pasts but it’s our differences that make us more understanding of each other and therefore a stronger community. Which is why we must have places to gather and connect and have events that appeal to all of us. Some of the national rhetoric makes this tougher but even more necessary.

This kickoff to the holidays is when I feel more positive energy in the air, putting a happier pep in my step. So I hope that no matter what is going on in your life that you’re able to be thankful for someone or something that makes you smile and brings lightness to your days.

In addition to my family, I’m thankful for a beautiful city that we get to call home, with a cool downtown that has so many fun things to do and beautiful places to see, and to you who believe in the power of community and showing up.

See you on the streets soon!