“Hey, remember when they announced ____? Whatever happened to that?”
There’s a lot of development going on across Derby City, and it can be hard to keep track of what’s happening. We’re reminding you about these four developments that might have slipped your mind, so you can get excited about them all over again.
(No, we’re not here to tell you about another boutique hotel — there’s been plenty of news on that front lately.)
AHOY Children’s Museum
- Announced: May 2022
- Current outlook: Groundbreaking is set for this year
Inspired by spaces like the City Museum in St. Louis, this $4 million project is set to be Louisville’s first immersive children’s museum. Dubbed the “Adventure House of You” — aka AHOY — plans include indoor + outdoor spaces, like a tree house made from remnants of a steamboat.
Trellis Brewing
- Announced: July 2022
- Current outlook: No opening date has been set, but work is underway
Located at the former Merchant’s Ice Tower property in Smoketown, the brewery recently posted updates of the project’s progress to social media, including the installation of brewing equipment, new flooring + trees being planted on the outdoor patio. Trellis says there’s no official timeline yet, but they are close to sharing one soon.
Trager Microforest at Founder’s Square
- Announced: November 2022
- Current outlook: Expected implementation early this year
The University of Louisville’s Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute plans to turn Founder’s Square, the pocket park located on Muhammad Ali Boulevard between 4th + 5th Streets, into a densely packed forest.
Louisville Gardens
- Announced: December 2022
- Current outlook: On track for groundbreaking in 2024, according to reports
In 2022, River City Entertainment Group signed a letter of intent with the Louisville Metro Government pledging to re-purpose the ~120-year-old facility into a modern media + entertainment production complex. Environmental remediation work is currently ongoing.