05.22.2024

Today’s Forecast

81º | 50% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:25 a.m. | Sunset 8:53 p.m.
Full Weather Report | Traffic Report

Development

$7 million hotel proposed for the Henry Clay Building

The nearly 100-year-old building is could be returning to its glory days. | Photo by LOUtoday.

A ~100-year-old downtown Louisville landmark is getting a new lease on life while returning to its roots.

The Henry Clay building, located at 604 S. 3rd St., is slated to receive internal and external renovations to add new commercial space and hotel rooms. Masonry + windows will also see an upgrade, and a new roof and canopy will be installed. There’s no timeline on the new construction yet — Weyland Ventures, the company that owns the building, has only just filed with Louisville Metro Planning and Design.

Here’s how the Henry Clay is currently used:

Floor 1: Two theatre companies and a performance venue, plus retail space
Floor 2: The Grand Ballroom, a venue space for upwards of 500 guests
Floor 3: More meeting + convention space
Floor 4: The Beaux Arts Ballroom, a smaller and more intimate venue
Flour 5-7: 33 loft-style apartments + 11 condos

The new $7 million proposal will make the following changes:

Add 72 hotel guest rooms to floors five, six, and seven in addition to the 33 apartments.
Make room for a restaurant, gym, and spa on floor one.

Henry Clay St. Xavier dance 1947 — See anyone you know at this 1947 St. Xavier’s high school dance in the Henry Clay ballroom?
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Photo courtesy ASC, UofL

Turning back time

The Henry Clay building wasn’t built as a hotel, but that is how it spent its glory years. The building was developed as an Elks Lodge in 1924, but was converted to a hotel in 1928. It was the place to be until the suburbanization saw downtown Louisville fall into decline in the 1960s.

A black and white image of the Henry Clay building in 1926 with old cars lining the streets — The Henry Clay building in 1926, still bearing the “Elks Club” label on its top floor.
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Photo courtesy ASC, UofL

The seven-story building became a YWCA for a time, but by the late 1980s it stood empty. For a time, Preservation Louisville listed the Henry Clay as one of the most endangered historic sites in Louisville. But in 2005, the Weyland Ventures Group undertook preservation and renovation efforts to save the historic landmark. By 2009, the Henry Clay building was listed as a success rather than a concern.

Events

Wednesday, May 22

Happy Hours at the Louisville Zoo | Wednesday, May 22 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way, Louisville | $40 | Enjoy special animal encounters and food while you explore the zoo after hours at this 21+ event.

Thursday, May 23

5:05 After Hours Networking | Thursday, May 23 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Pinot’s Palette, 291 N. Hubbards Ln. Ste. 160, Louisville | Free | Meet other professionals and network while enjoying food with the Chamber of St. Matthews.

Friday, May 24

Silent Disco at The Blind Squirrel | Friday, May 24 | 8-11 p.m. | Blind Squirrel, 592 N. English Station Rd., Louisville | $10 | Dance to your own personal sounds at this entertainment venue’s first silent disco.

Saturday, May 25

Intro to Blacksmithing | Saturday, May 25 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Kaviar Forge & Gallery,147 Stevenson Ave., Louisville | $280 | Learn the basics of using a forge and anvil to create nails and hooks out of raw metal.
Creative Journal Making | Saturday, May 25 | 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Preston Arts Center, 8101 Warwick Ave., Louisville | $95 | Learn to paint, letter, and bind your own one-of-a-kind journal, notebook, or calendar.

Sunday, May 26

The Live Dating Game Show & After Party | Sunday, May 26 | 7:30-10:30 p.m. | Whirling Tiger, 1335 Story Ave., Louisville | $7.50-$15 | Participate in the classic couples game show followed by a party with DJ Dnasti.

Saturday, June 15

Vintage Dad’s Day | Saturday, June 15 | 12-4 p.m. | Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, 3501 Lexington Rd., Harrodsburg | $0-$16 | Celebrate dad with an 1860’s baseball game, car show, vintage tools & concessions — better yet, make it a weekend with a stay at the Inn.*

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Shop

The Father’s Day gifts he’ll ask for every year

It’s not too late to order the Harlestons Seaside Hoodie, Seaside Pullover, or Seaside Pocket Polo for Father’s Day. | Photos by Drew Somerville

Calling all children, partners, and friends of dads everywhere: Harlestons’ Seaside Collection will have the men in your life wishing Father’s Day — ahem, coming up on June 16 — was everyday.

Mix and match any of the pieces in the Seaside Collection (including the hoodie, polo, and quarter-zip) to create a complete look perfect for Father’s Day. Wearable throughout every season, Harlestons’ easy-care, performance fabric keeps you both cozy and cool all year long.

Father's Day gifts that won't miss

News Notes

Open

The Louisville Visitor Center has reopened following renovations. The redecorated center at 301 S. 4th St. features new displays and offers guests information on hotels + local attractions and sells Louisville apparel and souvenirs. Louisville Tourism hopes to attract 25 million annual visitors to Derby City by 2030.

Kids

Louisville kids keep winning. Two Southern High School students are headed to national competitions in auto body work + paint jobs. The school’s auto collision repair technology instructor Tim Blythe has helped 12 students find work opportunities in local body shops this year. (WLKY)

Outdoors

The Olmsted Parks Conservancy is looking for volunteer Park Stewards for the summer season. Stewards receive training in horticultural techniques + woodlands management, and volunteer an average of four hours monthly. The training series begins Tuesday, June 4, registration is now open.

Ranked

Louisville ranked no. 24 on Wallet Hub’s list of the best soccer cities in America — just behind Charlotte, NC. Derby City ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer League, thanks to Louisville City FC’s strong performance in the league and No. 12 in National Women’s Soccer League, thanks to Racing Louisville.

Community

The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) hopes to pinpoint the most pressing health priorities facing Louisville residents. Every five years, LMPHW collects information on public health via a community survey, which is open for responses now.

Watch

Move over, Hollywood. A new children’s fantasy film shot across Kentucky and Tennessee by Louisville filmmaker Chris Lombardi is coming to Apple TV. If that’s not enough, the Speed Art Museum has added more showings this weekend for Ethan Hawke’s “Wildcat,” shot partially on St. James Court. (LEO Weekly)

Sports

Pat Kelsey is spoiled for choice with his new Cards lineup. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Cardinals with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Health

Wild Health creates you a personalized 50-page report detailing your ideal nutrition, exercise, and recovery plan — all based off your genetics + biometrics. Get 20% off with code WH20.*

Try This

Want to get your brand in front of our readers? Check out our self-service advertising, a quick and easy way to get acquainted with our local audience through Display and Branded Content. Psst... Social Posts are now available. Get started today.

Civic

Public Works keeps Louisville ticking year round

A large orange dump truck in front of a fireworks display

Louisville Public Works makes events like Thunder over Louisville and the Kentucky Derby possible. | Photo by Louisville Metro

Did you know? It is National Public Works Week.

Each May, the American Public Works Association honors the thousands of public works employees around the nation who work in waste management, transportation planning, road construction, traffic control, and more.

So let’s celebrate Louisville’s Department of Public Works, which performs plenty of vital services to keep the city ticking year round. Here’s just some of the important jobs they do:

Spring Cleaning: Public Works is behind the monthly solid-waste Pop-Up Drop-Offs, as well as the large item pickup by appointment system.
Summer Scootin': Electric dockless scooter companies operating in Louisville report their data to the Public Works Department to help inform future infrastructure + development.
Fall Colors: Each year, the Public Works Department helps dispose of LOU’s autumn leaves and past-their-prime Jack ‘o Lanterns.
Winter Wonderlands: Louisville’s snowplows cover over 3,000 lane miles each year and keep ~38,000 tons of salt on hand.

Asked

How many traffic signals does Louisville Public Works operate?

A. 482
B. 647
C. 958
D. 1,093

Green means go

The Buy

Group B, The Buy 5.22.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Lululemon’s everywhere belt bag, which you truly can take everywhere, from errands to hikes to shopping. Points for being hands-free.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Declan

From the editor

I’ve been so busy with everything else LOU has had to offer this spring, I still haven’t made it to Wild Lights at the zoo — good thing it’s been extended. Last year, I went in March. This year, I think I’ll leave my mittens at home.

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