$100 million Dream Hotel project in downtown Louisville put on hold

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The city of Louisville confirms a $100 million project on Main Street in downtown in Dec. 2022. But now, a year and eight months later, plans have been put on hold.

It doesn't come as a shock for Louisville Tourism executive vice president Doug Bennett.

"Disappointed, not surprised," Bennett said. "We hadn't heard anything in a long time so that is always a red flag."

The Dream Hotel would stretch from 811-823 West Main Street, neighboring the Frazier History Museum and across from the Louisville Slugger Museum.

Dream hotel 1.jpg — Renderings for the Dream Hotel on Main Street in downtown Louisville.

"We would love to see it happen," said Andy Treinen, president and CEO of the Frazier History Museum. "I think I speak for everybody on Main Street and everybody in Louisville that this block of Main Street would be better with a great hotel partner so we are hopeful that somehow, they can make it happen."

The $100 million, 168-room hotel was tricky for developers. They aimed to keep the history of the nearby buildings while also bringing a modern feel. It would have been built within six buildings along Main Street.

Some of the buildings are 240 years old. That created some pushback from preservationists. The Historic Landmarks and Preservation Districts Commission urged the decision-making review committee to reject the demolition because it wouldn’t meet the city’s guidelines and preservation goals. The Dream Hotel group’s modified plan calls for saving more than 58 feet of the buildings’ front sections.

"It's an important block for downtown Louisville, an important block of the entire city, we'd like to see it get filled out," Treinen said.

The Dream Hotel only has a few locations around the world, and Louisville was attractive because of it's popularity with tourists in downtown.

But several Dream Hotel projects around the country have been paused. The Dream Hotel Group did not respond to a request for comment.

"It would have been a game-changer for that area of Main Street that is desperately needing some development," Bennett said.

Bennett said Louisville is a city that can support destination hotels like the Dream Hotel, but it might not be a reality anytime soon.

"It could be another developer that is a prime spot that can show it needs additional development," Bennett said.

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