Plans for Iron Quarter unveiled
By Chuck Olmstead
WHAS-TV
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A lot of shopping: that’s how the developers of the Iron Quarter project are marketing their new development for downtown Louisville.
It’s the latest in a series of downtown projects that seem to be spurred by the UofL arena. Take a look at this map and you'll see what we mean -- first came plans for the arena. To the west of that site is what will become Museum Plaza.
And look to the east and you'll find today's unveiling in the old Whisky District.
This multi-million dollar project hopes to answer the question: What do we do after the game?
It plans to offer those leaving the new downtown arena somewhere to eat and shop. In fact, shopping is what they're counting on.
“This is shopping, shopping and shopping,” says developer Todd Blue. “I’m sure we’ll have some restaurants. I’m sure we’ll have a drinking establishment or two. I’m sure they’ll have an ice cream parlor and a coffee shop. But we’re all about the shopping.”
That's the driving force behind the project says Blue as he joined with local and state leaders earlier today to talk about plans for Iron Quarter.
At a cost of $50 million, it will transform this aging row of buildings on Main Street between First and Second into a gleaming cluster of unique high-end shops, plus a glass office building. Blue says it will fill a gap other shopping venues haven't.
“I think the Summit and other developments like that are terrific and they’re fabulous, but when they were announced, they promised to bring retailers they didn’t bring, and we got the same stuff. This development will bring retailers that aren’t currently in the marketplace that people are currently driving to Cincinnati and Indianapolis, flying to Chicago to do, so that Louisvillians can have… and everything’s gonna be great.”
Plans call for breaking ground the end of this year and the project completed in 2010 -- just before the nearby new downtown arena opens.
