[loupremo]

Arena's design to be revealed
Meeting is tomorrow at convention center


The design of the arena planned for Second and Main streets will be publicly unveiled tomorrow at the Kentucky International Convention Center.

Architect HOK Sport and the Louisville Arena Authority will make the announcement at a 9 a.m. press conference prior to the authority's monthly meeting.



"I think it is truly iconic," said Jim Host, the authority's chairman.

University of Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich, Mayor Jerry Abramson, Gov. Ernie Fletcher and U of L President James Ramsey are among those scheduled to speak, Host said.

The university's basketball teams will be the main tenants of the 22,000-seat arena, which is expected to open in fall 2010. The $252 million arena is part of a $371 million project that includes land acquisition, a parking garage and floodwall.

Arena officials have kept the building's design a closely guarded secret as architects and the authority's construction committee have made changes in recent months.

Dan Ulmer, who heads the committee, has declined to make the renderings public, and the arena authority refused The Courier-Journal's request to view the design under the state's open-records laws, saying the plans were preliminary.

Host said tomorrow's presentation will show the arena from several angles, and it will detail a plaza along Main Street.

Barry Alberts, the Downtown Development Corp.'s executive director, said he had seen the arena design but declined to comment on it before the meeting.

Abramson also has been briefed on the design, spokesman Chris Poynter said.

"He thinks it's an energetic design," Poynter said. "There's a very substantial amount of glass, so you can look into the building and see activity. It will make for a very vibrant addition to Main Street."
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007708190477

[loupremo]

Arena design features glass, curved roof

http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=B2&Dato=20070820&Kategori=MULTIMEDIA01&Lopenr=708200802&Ref=PH&Item=2&MaxW=455
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A transparent façade above the Main Street entrance, a public plaza with an amphitheater and dancing fountains, a roof that slopes like a wave and a giant window facing the Ohio River.

These are the prominent features of Louisville’s downtown arena, whose outside design was unveiled this morning at the Kentucky International Convention Center.

The design by architect HOK Sport was presented to the Louisville Arena Authority at its monthly meeting. Renderings showed a building rising several stories above Interstate 64, which is just to the north, with glass covering much of the south, east and north sides.

The University of Louisville’s basketball teams will be the main tenants of the $252 million arena, which is scheduled to open in fall 2010. Construction is expected to start in 2008.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070820/ZONE07/70820007

[chefjeff28]

The design surprised me a little bit, I thought it would resemble the fantasy rendering more. Three years of talking, I'm ready for construction.

[chefjeff28]

This project was just announced yesterday. Center City, a mixed-use $250 million project slated for one of the arena site finalist. http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007708190467

[chefjeff28]

Here is a link for more arena renderings.http://louisville.rivals.com/photofeature.asp?SID=923&fid=18678

[loupremo]

The design surprised me a little bit, I thought it would resemble the fantasy rendering more. Three years of talking, I'm ready for construction.

thanks...should this thread be in the midwestern section? i noticed that not a lot of folks from lousiville post in the SE section........
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$250 million project planned downtown
By Alex Davis and
Sheldon S. Shafer
The Courier-Journal

Fourth Street Live developer Cordish Co. plans to invest $250 million in new housing, restaurants, a cinema and a boutique hotel on 23 acres of downtown property along Muhammad Ali Boulevard.

Tentatively called the Center City District, the project would cost 3½ times as much as the nearby 4th Street Live entertainment complex and stretch over parts of six city blocks.

Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson said in an interview yesterday that Center City would create an “epicenter of energy” that hasn’t been seen in downtown Louisville since the 1950s.

“It’s a neighborhood rather than a project,” Abramson said, noting that the Metro Council and state officials still must approve a funding plan. “It’s a continuation of the last 20 years of planning, developing, and now implementing a center city that we can all be proud of.”

The area proposed for Center City currently includes parking lots, office buildings, city property and a few small shops.

The core of the district, often called the Louisville Water Co. block, was once a top candidate for a downtown arena and is bounded by Second, Third and Liberty streets and Ali Boulevard. An estimated 500,000 square feet of buildings would be created there — including at least one structure with more than 15 stories.

Construction is expected to start next year and be substantially compete by 2010.

Cordish would provide the entire $250 million investment in Center City upfront. About half of that money, or $130 million, would be returned to the company over the next 30 years in the form of local and state tax rebates from the 23-acre area.

No retailers have been selected for the project, but Blake Cordish, a vice president with Baltimore-based Cordish Co., said initial reaction from prospective tenants has been positive.

Also included in the plans is a major renovation of The Gardens. The city-owned property would be leased to Cordish and turned into a 6,000-seat venue for concerts and possibly a minor-league hockey team.

Blake Cordish declined to identify the league in which the team would play, but he said the Louisville squad would be an expansion team, not a franchise moved from another city.

Cordish Co. owns 4th Street Live, which opened in 2004 on the site of the Galleria mall and now draws about 4 million people annually. The company also has created urban mixed-use projects in Baltimore and other U.S. cities, and is working on similar efforts in Kansas City, St. Louis and Toronto.

The city already owns about 40 percent of the 6.2-acre Louisville Water Co. block. Cordish has an option to buy the rest.

Private landowners elsewhere in the Center City District would benefit from the public upgrades, Abramson said, and possibly invest additional money in their property. One of them, Florida developer Eric Bachelor, already plans to buy the Hilliard Lyons Center that once housed the Stewart’s department store and turn it into an Embassy Suites Hotel.

Funding from the tax rebates over the next three decades would be funneled exclusively to public improvements such as sidewalks, lighting and improved alleys. About 1,000 new parking spaces also are planned.

The Metro Council will hear a formal presentation about Center City Monday. A measure to approve the taxing district is expected to be introduced Thursday. Cordish and Abramson both said Center City is merely a working name for the project and a permanent name would be selected later.

Democrat David Tandy, the 4th District councilman who represents downtown, and council President Rick Blackwell, D-12th, said they expect the council will approve the tax rebates to Cordish. The taxing district would still need approval by a state commission. Abramson said he hopes to have the proposal to the commission by next month.

The development would be the latest in a burst of downtown activity in recent years. In addition to 4th Street Live and the arena, planned at Second and Main streets, a 62-story skyscraper called Museum Plaza is to open in 2010 and a $50 million development called Iron Quarter is in the works along Main just east of the arena.

Jim Host, chairman of the Louisville Arena Authority, said the arena wouldn’t be a good match for a minor-league hockey team that could perhaps average 4,000 fans per game. He said the arena, with 22,000 seats, would charge much higher rent than The Gardens, and there would be scheduling conflicts with the University of Louisville’s basketball teams, which have priority for games and practices.

Although a final design for Center City has not been adopted, it will most likely feature a mix of buildings, parking and some open space. Retail would most likely be on the lower floors of most buildings, with offices and housing above. Cordish declined to say how much housing would be included, but he said there would be “multiple hundreds” of units.

The vacancy rate for Class A office space in the downtown area was 9.8 percent for the second quarter of this year, down from 13.4 percent a year ago, according to figures from CB Richard Ellis Louisville.

Managers of some 4th Street Live venues have reported steady traffic in the last year or so, but many have been clamoring for more retail options to compete with suburban malls.

Andre Bradford, general manager at Maker’s Mark Bourbon House & Lounge, predicted that the additional shopping and housing planned at Center City would boost traffic at 4th Street Live.

“Anything and everything that can be put downtown is going to help,” Bradford said.
Hogan Real Estate will be a local partner in the Center City project, and Cordish said the design team will include architects from Louisville.

Cordish Co. previously announced plans to put new restaurants and other tenants in the first floor of the Starks Building, at Fourth and Ali, which also is part of the 23-acre Center City area.

There are several older buildings in the water company block that may have some historic or architectural significance. Abramson said it is not yet clear if they would be torn down or incorporated into Center City.

Reporter Alex Davis can be reached at (502) 582-4644.
Reporter Sheldon Shafer can be reached at (502) 582-7089.

[chefjeff28]

That's a good question. Louisville has always been considered to north to be south, to south to be north, to east to be midwest, and to west to be considered east. I also noticed there is a development thread in the city compilations, I think all the louisville development news should be condensed into one thread. With about 2 billion in projects, plus the bridge being developed in downtown, people should see what is going on in louisville. It is truly impressive for a city of this size.

[Kyboy]

Actually Louisville is a Southern city in most aspects.

[loupremo]

so would Jeffersonville be southern too, since it is in walking distance from Louisville? if so, would that make indiana southern? or just parts of indiana southern? if yes, then why can some parts of indiana be southern, but some parts of kentucky can't be midwestern?

[Dale]

Actually Louisville is a Southern city in most aspects.

Yes, I've been to Lousiville twice and I'd peg it for a Southern city, which is just fine in my book.

[Kyboy]

so would Jeffersonville be southern too, since it is in walking distance from Louisville? if so, would that make indiana southern? or just parts of indiana southern? if yes, then why can some parts of indiana be southern, but some parts of kentucky can't be midwestern?

Well I think that fact that Southern Indiana is a fraction of Louisville's size, which makes it less likely that that side of the river is really influencing us.

[loupremo]

well then, what about Cincinnati and Covington/Newport?

[Kyboy]

well then, what about Cincinnati and Covington/Newport?

Northern Kentucky has always generally been lumped together with Cincinnati culturally and ecomonically and has usually been thought of as Midwestern. Visa Versa with Louisville and Southern Indiana.

[jayhawk]

avoiding this debate

[dbranham]

Having lived in Eastern and Central KY for 23 years, I always lumped Northern KY with Cincy. That's not a bad thing b/c Cincy is a great city. As for Louisville, it's on the brink of the South.

Back to the arena....that's a beautiful rendering. Good for Louisville! My in-laws lived in Louisville for 5 or 6 years during med school and nearly returned upon retirement. It really is a fun city. Downtown is busting out with a beautiful ballpark and Louisville Slugger museum, 4th Street Live, that new building (can't remember it's name), a waterfront underway, and now this arena. Makes me proud to be from Kentucky.

[bw87a]

i don't really think it's a debate personally. louisville has many aspects of the city that tie it with both the south and north. it shouldn't really be categorized in any particular area in my opinion. louisville has recently been called home to many chicagoans that like the low cost of living that louisville has to offer as well as the growing job opportunities. however, louisville continues to grow its economic ties with atlanta and draw professionals from that pool as well.

aside from this, with the new center city and iron quarter retail districts coming along, what retail do you think is important for louisville to have? what national chains are important to get downtown? the refurbishing louisville gardens will prove to be an important asset as yet another downtown arena, although small, will be nice and will provide ample space for more events in the downtown area.

[chefjeff28]

I think it is time for Louisville to have some upscale retailers such as Saks, Tiffany's, Gucci, etc....people thought Starbucks wouldn't do well here and now they are everywhere. But I would also like to see some local businesses get a shot at some of that prime space.

[bw87a]

I think it is time for Louisville to have some upscale retailers such as Saks, Tiffany's, Gucci, etc....people thought Starbucks wouldn't do well here and now they are everywhere. But I would also like to see some local businesses get a shot at some of that prime space.

yeah. seems like at first that everything is destined to fail in louisville, but that is usually not the case.

[chefjeff28]

Maybe another tower in the works. Here's a link.http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071009/BUSINESS/710090365

[bw87a]

does getting your first professional sports team count as development! hopefully louisville will get the AFL team they are trying to get just in time for the new arena to open.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071012/SPORTS/710120507