Louisville Downtown Partnership’s 2026 State of the Downtown
Downtown Louisville is building on a year of significant momentum, marked by record levels of investment, increased interest from new businesses, and a growing pipeline of development projects contributing to its vibrant economic and cultural landscape, according to the latest economic impact report unveiled at Louisville Downtown Partnership’s (LDP) annual State of the Downtown luncheon on March 24, presented by Republic Bank Foundation.
The event brought together more than 500 business leaders, community stakeholders, and elected officials to reflect on Downtown’s trajectory, celebrate key milestones from 2025, and recognize the critical role LDP and its partners have played in driving progress and investment in the urban core.
Our Guest Speaker
The luncheon featured urbanist and author Jeff Speck, who was hired by Louisville Metro Government in 2024 to develop the Downtown and NuLu Walkability Plan, examining how the area’s streets can be redesigned to create a more walkable and livable area through low-cost, quick-build interventions. During the event, Speck shared his perspective on reimagining Downtown with a focus on walkability, emphasizing the critical role pedestrian-friendly design plays in fostering a vibrant, successful city.
2024 Louisville Downtown Development Strategy, Year Two Update
LDP’s work is anchored by the 2024 Louisville Downtown Development Strategy, a 10-year vision for how the city, businesses, and residents can ensure that Downtown Louisville continues to thrive as the economic, cultural, and creative engine of the region. To bring this vision to life, LDP plays a key role as an advocate, funder, implementor, convener, and/or steward, to help drive forward projects that will shape the future of Downtown.
The strategy centers on three pillars: Activating Downtown by reinforcing key districts and expanding attractions; Reinforcing Downtown as a Residential Neighborhood by advocating for conversion incentives and new housing opportunities; and Enhancing the Public Realm through strategic placemaking, pedestrian-friendly design, and activation of underutilized spaces.
The projects outlined in the strategy represent a mix of public, private, and public-private-partnership developments. In the strategy’s second year, more than half of the 63 projects are already underway or in early planning stages. Highlights include:
- The iconic Humana Tower will soon be converted into a 1,000-room convention hotel enhancing Louisville’s ability to attract large conventions and national events
- JCTC’s Center for Science & Discovery, part of the $90M Jefferson Rising project, is open featuring state-of-the-art science labs for students
- The Downtown Housing Assistance Fund, administered by LDP, closed on a loan for $1.5M for Liminal, bringing 138 affordable apartments and commercial space to Portland
- Weyland Ventures is moving forward with the $28M conversion of the Fiscal Court Building into 106 apartments
- Two new CitySpots opened in 2025, adding pops of color to underutilized spaces, with two more CitySpots in the works for 2026
- LDP launched a new public piano program, called Downtown Tunes, with four pianos in public spaces
- LOUMED Commons, Trager MicroForest, Waterfront Park PlayPort, and the New Walnut Street Park are all open, increasing greenspace in and around Downtown
2025 Economic Impact Report
Each year, LDP updates the Economic Impact Report reporting several key areas including tax revenue, business and hospitality growth, employment density, and investment activity across the Downtown area. Key findings from 2025 include:
- $3.2 billion in investment across 75 projects either underway or announced, up from $2.3 billion in 2024.
- Visits to distilling & tasting experiences grew to 667,282 up from 573,116 in 2024, contributing to the 6.5 million visits to Downtown attractions and over 35 million visits to the Downtown area.
- Downtown hotel room sales remained steady with 1.5 million rooms sold in 2025 compared to 1.52 million nights in 2024 and 1.49 million in 2023.
- Nearly 800 residential units were completed in the Greater Downtown area in 2025 with the openings of The Yard, The Prestonian, Beecher Terrace, and more, with 2,557 units currently announced or underway. Additionally, The Chancery opened, offering 38 units of permanent supportive housing for the community’s more at-risk residents.
- Eight companies moved to Downtown in 2025 with eight additional companies choosing to expand their footprint or relocate within Downtown, contributing to 67,580 workers in the Downtown area.
- Forty new street-level retail businesses opened in 2025, with a net increase of 20 storefronts, compared to 14 in 2024 and seven in 2023.
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