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Beecher Terrace Day celebrated as demolition looms

The bar-b-que bash for this Russell Neighborhood community started in 2014. It's a day for Beecher Terrace past and present to reconnect.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – Nothing says reunion like good food and good people. And for those celebrating Beecher Terrace Day, it's a good time had by all.

“It has a lot of history. This is predominantly African American and it's just us, our culture, what we like to do and it's a lot of love,” Heather Boyd, who lived there for 2 years said, but always comes back for the reunion.

The bar-b-que bash for this Russell Neighborhood community started in 2014. It’s a day for Beecher Terrace past and present to reconnect.

“One big happy family. We all grew up here together, we were all raised together, and we all get to party together,” Rhonda Simmons said.

Simmons has lived there for about 40 years and though she enjoyed the picnic, she was reminded that it could be her last.

She's leaving on Sunday, the last day of the Beecher Terrace celebration. It’s something many of her neighbors have already done after the city announced plans to demolish Beecher Terrace and start over.

“I can't believe Beecher Terrace is coming down. it's finally coming down,” Simmons said.

It's part of a $200 million renovation project. The reconstruction is expected to be complete by 2023, but it requires current residents to leave.

Simmons already found her new home but for others, it hasn't been as easy. Denise Gardner's daughter, for example, was supposed to be out later this month and had to ask for an extension.

“She needs to be on the bus lines, she's got children, so it's kind of hard.”

Gardner said she's hopeful Beecher Terrace Day will continue even after the homes are demolished.

“We do have on more year and after that, we still want to come back because the park isn't going anywhere.”

She said buildings come and go, but these neighbors stick together.

Part of Beecher Terrace has already been shut down and is currently blocked with a fence. That Phase 1 demolition will start within the next few months. The Phase 1 area is expected to be rebuilt by 2020.

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