Work continues on the Whiskey Row block of Main Street.
The two central buildings have been stabilized with a new roof and new interior support work, as well as extensive tuck-pointing on the front and back facades.
The two buildings on either side of the stabilization work (4 buildings in total) are not as lucky and are currently being demolished, with only their facades being preserved.
The two eastern-most buildings being demolished, still owned by Todd Blue's Cobalt Group, are being cleared away to make room for a new parking lot.
Previously, Blue's group had proposed an ambitious mixed-use development named Iron Quarter for the block, which stalled with the financing collapse of 2008.
Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown stepped in and purchased the remaining properties from Blue and began the stabilization work. Unfortunately, the two western-most buildings of the group were found to be structurally unsalvageable and they are also being taken down, while their facades are preserved.
Wilson and Brown have previously stated their intent was to stabilize the properties and make them fit for another group of developers to complete. There have been no recent announcements regarding their current intentions or prospective buyers, and it is my hope that they can recreate some of their magic from their wildly successful and growing 21c Hotel chain on this block. Perhaps something bourbon related to pay homage to the block's history and add to Louisville's burgeoning aspiration to become an "Urban Bourbon" destination.
More pictures after the jump:
