LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – Louisville Downtown Partnership announced a new plan for renovations along Fourth Street on Wednesday.
City leaders believe the project will improve the downtown experience. Some companies in the region disagree.
Two blocks of Fourth Street between Broadway and Muhammad Ali Boulevard and one block of Gu three between S. Third and S. Fourth Streets will receive “improvements including new landscaping, decorative tree fencing, an animal poop station and an updated irrigation system.”
The project is expected to be completed in three phases between October 8 and early November and is funded by the Louisville Downtown Partnership and Mayor Craig Greenberg's FY26 budget.
Some local businesses in the targeted areas told WAVE News they were unaware of the city's plans until reporter Meredith Lea called for an interview.
“It would have been nice if someone had told us about it,” said Holly Spears, manager of Spinelli's Pizzeria at S. Fourth St. and Chestnut. “We had no idea about it and just hope it doesn’t impact our business.”
Youness Elmesya, owner of Safier Mediterranean Deli, also claimed his staff had not heard of any construction plans in the area. He adds that he fears losing his restaurant's business while the area is under construction, recalling how the deli lost profits during an earlier S. Fourth Street renovation a few years ago.
“The construction took about four to five months and they blocked the entire road and the fence was next to my door,” Elmesya explained. “It actually had a big impact on our business. We had a lot of cancellations, people couldn't get around, they couldn't get to our restaurant.”
He adds that he fears the impact could be even worse this time, pointing out that the front door is the only access for customers, staff and deliveries.
“That's actually our only access to the restaurant because the city sold the back lot to someone and now we can't bring the stuff in the back door,” Elmesya said. “It’s very upsetting and I’m very worried about it.”
Jessica Wethington, deputy director of the Louisville Downtown Partnership, issued the following statement:
“We communicate regularly to keep downtown businesses, residents and visitors informed of everything happening in our downtown through stakeholder meetings, mailing lists, special meetings and social media. For this project, we convened a meeting and communicated the work being done in a direct email about work in the S. 4th Street corridor. Sidewalks will be accessible and the street will remain open at all times; fences in The landscape beds are being installed today and tomorrow, so.” There will be visible signs of work on S. 4th Street between Muhammad Ali Boulevard and Chestnut Street that will have little to no impact on local businesses.”
WAVE has reached out to Mayor Greenberg's office for comment but has not yet received a response.
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