LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A new team of more than 60 city officials and business leaders are taking on the task of revitalizing Louisville's downtown, as new steps are already underway.
A homeless camp in Jefferson Square Park was cleared out as the team met for the first time Monday afternoon. The city relocated 13 homeless individuals out of the park and into temporary housing.
"Overall, great thing. And from what I'm being told they'll be kept in a hotel until they get housing," founder of HipHop Cares Jeff Gill, said.
Gill works as homeless outreach year-round and said he went straight to the park once he heard it was being cleared out.
The city cites unsanitary conditions and cold weather as reasons for the homeless camp clear-out. Those living there qualify for rapid housing vouchers and the city said it will help find them permanent housing.
"Today can be very very shining example of how we can effectively help people from the streets into a transition, like a hotel, and into a more permanent solution like housing. If every camp is treated like this camp was today we will be in great shape," Gill said.
“Jefferson Square Park has become a central and meaningful place for those seeking equity and justice, and we will continue to honor that,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “At the same time, we have cold weather conditions, and the park has become increasingly unsanitary. We must address that, for the good of those in the park and the community as a whole.”
The city said it is working to address memorials left in the park from summer social justice protests. Officials are working with activists to move some of the services and programming that developed at the park to other locations.
“Our goal overall is for Jefferson Square Park to once again be safe and accessible for all residents, as well as a sacred space for people to grieve the lives lost,” Fischer said. “While we have much work left to do, I am extremely grateful for all those who’ve come together to continue healing and moving forward.
Tents, firewood and other materials left in the park will be removed. They will also begin deep cleaning. The city will also enforce park hours and ban camping and fires.
It was the first example of action taken to address issues downtown, as the new revitalization team met for the first time.
"As more and more people are vaccinated and the weather warms up and the Derby gets closer too, there's going to be more and more people coming downtown we hope," Fischer said during the meeting.
The team plans to focus on homelessness, cleanliness, public safety, and the business vacancies impacted by the pandemic. Another goal, they said, it to make sure the city is inclusive of all residents and visitors.
“We want to welcome everyone into the downtown but if you look at many of our Black residents or African American residents, some don’t feel welcome downtown and that’s something we need to make sure we have an honest conversation about," Douglas Edwards, senior vice president Workplace Experience at Humana and team co-chair, said.
Councilman Anthony Piagentini, (R-19) expressed during the meeting his suburban constituents also fear traveling downtown, due to public safety concerns.
"If we think that that's the only group of people that are afraid to go downtown that's not the case," Piagentini said. "If our own citizens in the suburbs are concerned with coming, our own citizens in the west end are concerned with coming downtown, I can't imagine what people who want to drive into downtown think."
Business owners said they're thrilled to hear steps being taken to bring life back into downtown.
"Obviously it's music to my ears," Lorena Casas, owner of Mexa Tacos, said.
Mexa Tacos has had its location on Market Street closed for over 6 months, so Casas said she wants to see workers and tourists walking the streets once again.
"I 100% do. I have total hope in the city and the spirit of the people that live here in Louisville that we will make it happen," she said.
While there's no answer yet on how they'll foot the bill, the team hopes to have a plan finalized by May so actions can be taken by the end of 2021.
With the Derby in a few months and summer hopefully bringing more visitors, they also want to implement things quickly in the short-term.
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