LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- One year after the tragic Givaudan plant explosion rocked the Clifton neighborhood, many neighborhood residents are still fixing their homes.
One of them, Hannah Henshaw, is still seeking closure.
"We still don't have a resolution," Henshaw said. "I just want it over with."
Nearby, Patrick Livers has a front row view of what's left of the plant. He can see the lot from his second-story bedroom window.
"It's a big rubble pile sitting next to this house," he said Wednesday.
In 2024, the blast split his ceiling open and sent cracks all down the walls. His family finally moved back into their home in October.
"I think there was one bedroom we didn't pull the drywall out of," Livers said.
While he's rebuilding, several of his neighbors moved away because of the intense damage. Henshaw said the timeline for repairs and insurance money "took a long time for lots of people."
"If you take a stroll down our street, you'll see people still getting siding on the side of their houses," Livers said.
Investigators found the cause of the explosion was a cooking vessel failure. A state investigation found the issue that caused the vessel to explode had been documented months before. Two workers were killed and 11 others were hurt.
Henshaw said one of her neighbors didn't have windows until around April 2025.
"They went through much of winter and spring with bags and cardboard over their windows that were blown out," Henshaw said. "... which was crazy."
She said there were constant semi trucks and liquid haulers that "shook the house every time they drove by" right after the tragedy. The sea of first responder red lights has disappeared and the smell of caramel in the air has faded. And the debris thrown into yards and through roofs has all been cleared away as the once quiet neighborhood returns to normal.
"We're happy to be back, but there's lots of lingering issues with it," Livers said.
In a written statement, a Givaudan spokesperson said the company remains "deeply saddened" by the explosion a year later.
A Givaudan spokesperson sent WDRB the following statement:
"This was a tragedy for our team, our organization, the community and particularly for the loved ones and friends of those whose lives were lost," the company said. "We have taken action to help ensure similar incidents do not occur, and have taken on-board community feedback as we continue working to identify alternate site locations. We remain in touch with local community representatives as we continue to offer support to those impacted, and the ongoing investigations, wherever needed."
What’s next?
A portion of the food coloring plant on Payne Street was torn down back in September. Givaudan said it won't rebuild at the Clifton site and plans to consider elsewhere in Kentucky or neighboring states for a new plant.
Metro Councilmember Andrew Owens, D-9, said the city may attempt to take ownership of the property, but a Givaudan spokesperson said the company is "waiting on city officials to approve a final demolition permit." Once it's approved, Givaudan expects "it will take about 40 days to complete the work, though this could vary depending on the weather."
As for the future of the site, Louisville's mayor said there are efforts to rezone it for something other than manufacturing.
"Right now, Councilman (Andrew) Owens has introduced an ordinance to rezone that property so it can't be used for the same industrial use that it has historically been used for," Mayor Craig Greenberg said earlier this month. "I support Owens' resolution, and Givaudan still owns that property. Some cleanup continues, but I would love to see a different use for that site in the future."
Related Stories:
Louisville leaders push to rezone former Givaudan plant site 1 year after deadly blast
Clifton neighbors upset with how Givaudan has handled aftermath of deadly explosion
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