LOUISVILLE, KY – Mayor Jerry Abramson unveiled a new identity for the emerging community on the site of the former Clarksdale housing development.
Liberty Green is the new name for the $233 million, mixed-income development under construction that will replace the 1940s-era public housing barracks.
The name for the new development is drawn from Liberty Street, the roadway that cuts through the center of the six-block area on the eastern edge of downtown Louisville. The roadway was originally called Green Street because it was a grassy areawhere horses came to pasture. The name was changed officially in 1918 to Liberty Street, when the community voiced its new patriotic fervor after World War I.
“Liberty Green reflects both the heritage of the past and our hope for the future,” Abramson said. “With a mix of housing and design options, this neighborhood will give freedom of choice to people who previously had little choice about the place they called home.”
Construction work on Liberty Green, which began late last year, is on schedule with the first housing units to be available for occupancy by March 2006, said Tim Barry, executive director of the Louisville Metro Housing Authority. The development, which will include 500 apartments and 200 homes and condos, is scheduled for completion in 2009.
Interest in the development has been robust with more than 60 people have expressed interest and would like to be contacted when units are available, Barry said.
General highlights of Liberty Green development
Budget total – $233 million (a mix of public and private funds)
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Phase I: $140 million (4-block area bounded by Jefferson, Jackson, Muhammad Ali and Clay)
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Phase II: $93 million (2-block area bounded by Jefferson, Clay, Muhammad Ali and Shelby)
Projected economic impact of construction
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To date, produced 200 additional jobs, paying nearly $6 million in wages
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Life of project, 2,883 total jobs; 1,433 direct impact (jobs)*
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$85 million in total payroll; $42 million direct impact (payroll)
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$8.1 million in state/local tax revenues; $5.2 million state, $2.9 million local
*Direct effects refer to on-site activity attributable to actual spending funded through the Liberty Green project itself. The additional effects that produce the total jobs, wages, output and taxes are the result of the spin-off or multiplier effects.
Liberty Green construction status
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Phase I relocation completed (Phase II relocation complete by end of 2005)
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Phase I demolition completed (Phase II demolition complete by mid to late 2006)
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Phase I construction began June 2005 with completion scheduled for fall 2008 (Phase II construction starts fall 2006 and completed by 2009)
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Phase I occupancy begins March 2006
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Leased apartments and town homes: $425 – $850 monthly (based on income)
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Market-rate ownership homes and condominiums: $110,000 - $250,000
Apartments and town home amenities
Includes, but is not limited to: wall-to-wall carpeting, central air, cultured marble vanity top, dishwasher, garbage disposal, washer dryer hookups, 9’ ceilings, internal wiring, some porches and ceiling fans, on-site management office.
Energy Star
The Energy Star designation means than all constructed buildings and units are 30 percent more efficient than required by building codes, resulting in dramatic savings in energy costs for consumers who lease or purchase homes. Energy Star features include higher levels of insulation, high efficiency heating and cooling, energy efficient windows and enhanced ductwork (less drafty).
Project Partners
Residents, Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA), U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Louisville Metro Government, housing developer partners, private lenders and investors.
LMHA Developer Partners
On-Site: The Community Builders, Inc.
Off-Site: New Directions Housing Corporation and The Housing Partnership Inc.
Liberty Green HOPE VI Goal
To develop a mixed-income community with heightened livability for residents, reintegrate the site into the fabric of adjoining neighborhoods, and reduce the negative effects of concentrations of low-income families in one tightly constrained area.
Neighborhood Design
Urban Design Associates crafted the master plan, building on the historic character of Louisville, using a mix of attractive housing types that will not distinguish or indicate the income of the residents. The new community will include street improvements, parks and commercial development to serve residents.
Programs and support for residents
Four case managers were hired; programs offered include, but are not limited to: computer training and job placement, GED, home ownership counseling, financial skills, construction training program, scholarship and Youth IDA program.
Clarksdale background
A 65-year old public housing development was comprised of 713 dwelling units and 15 non-dwelling units.
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