LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Rabbit Hole Distillery's expansion project is now on hold after a community petition was recognized and pushed back their rezoning request.
It's now up to the Louisville Metro Historic Landmarks & Preservation Districts Commission to conduct a review process on if the two buildings the distillery was looking to demolish can be considered for historic landmark status.
In Thursday's Planning Commission's meeting Rabbit Hole officials acknowledged the petition was legit, bringing the commission to pass their motion to rezone their campus to an uncertain date.
Rabbit Hole's location is surrounded by older architecture. Demolition notices have been placed on two buildings so the company can make room for their redesign and expansion. One building is located at the corner of Jefferson and Shelby Streets, and the other is right behind the business on Clay Street.
Savannah Darr, the metro's historic preservation officer, is in charge of the next step in reviewing the buildings. She said the process could be completed as early as two months, but possibly close to three.
Darr started the process on Friday and said she has up to 30 days to write a research report on both structures.
"Is there historic significance?" Darr said. "Does it have historic integrity? Does it meet any of our designation criteria? And all of that is set forth in our ordinance but it's all continued in a report for the landmark commission."
After the report, the buildings will be reviewed by a subcommittee and then a public hearing will be held. That will require another 30-day notice adding to the timeline of Rabbit Hole's project.
It's a similar situation Darr said the commission has seen before.
"There's also been petitions for properties that we didn't have any notice of any development happening," Darr said. "It's just a property owner wants to demolish a building which is their right. If this does go to the full landmarks commission there's no guarantee it will even be designated as an individual landmark."
WHAS11 reached out to Rabbit Hole officials and according to a sign on their door they're undergoing maintenance are closed for the week. Within an email the company declined to make any comments.
In Thursday's planning commission meeting, distillery leaders expressed their frustration.
"But only when someone announces the attempt to take a building down does this petition come and submitted a day or two before our public hearing," John Baker, Rabbit Hole Distillery's legal counsel, said.
Darr said the outcome of this landmark commission review could mean the business may not have to make any changes to their plan at all.
"It also could be, as their legal counsel mentioned at the planning committee if they are designated, there's still a path forward as a landmark to also be demolished," Darr said.
Until the review is complete there will be no construction to expand the distillery. Rabbit Hole officials did mention they plan to be back in front of the planning commission as soon as the process is completed.
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