New Retail Coming to the Arena District on Main

In a new development, that I have yet to see reported elsewhere, the eastern tower of the Waterfront Plaza complex is converting a portion of the first level of it's below-grade parking garage into new retail space to service both the legions of Humana and other office workers in the area by day, and to capitalize on arena crowds by night.

A worker on site today confirmed that current plans for the location, which is underneath the Central Bank branch and also below street level, include a bar, deli and possibly an ice cream shop.

Concrete retaining walls and Iron fence-work have been removed.

During the first rounds of the NCAA tournament, back in March, the Galt House set up a temporary bar and grill in this same area to service the large crowds gathered for the games.  They must have deemed the experiment a success and want to invest in a more permanent solution to take advantage of future arena crowds, as well as offer another lunch option for area workers.

Work has included the removal of the existing concrete retaining wall and iron fence-work as well as the pouring of new footers to support an extension of the space towards the earthen embankment and to allow installation of two sets of stairs leading down from Main Street.  Patrons will also be able to access the space from the interior of Waterfront Plaza.

More Pictures of the site preparations after the jump:

Demolition Watch: Whiskey Row Demolition and Stabilization Continues

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:

Construction Watch: Stabilization work at Michter's Distillery in the Ft. Nelson Building

Following several weeks of foundation and footer work, structural steel supports have gone up to provide stabilization for the bulging east wall of the building, blocking much of the currently closed Eighth Street.

More pictures after the jump.