Crews break ground on affordable housing in Louisville's Shawnee neighborhood

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday at the site of a planned 38-unit apartment complex in Louisville's Shawnee neighborhood that's expected to help families for years to come.

The new Portshaw Apartments will house 38 families at first but will serve as more than just a roof. Project leaders said the complex will bring lasting effects on this community.

Portshaw CDC is a nonprofit organization working to revitalize the Portland and Shawnee communities, according to a news release Thursday. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for residents and create a healthy, thriving community. Portshaw partnered with housing developer REBOUND, Inc., which recently broke ground on another affordable housing in the Russell neighborhood. It was formed by the Louisville Urban League in 1993 with the sole purpose of providing affordable housing in west Louisville.

The idea for a new apartment complex at 3825 W. Market St. started 10 years ago. Rev. Stephen Smith with Portland Memorial Baptist Church said he saw a need in his community and wanted to do something to fix it. He said he has spent the past decade calling and checking in with legislative aids, council people and mayoral offices about moving forward with the project.

The families who will eventually call the Portshaw Apartments home will also get wraparound services. Those services will include tutoring for school children or GED studies, financial literacy lessons and help transitioning to becoming a homeowner. Smith said he's grateful to see his project finally becoming reality.

"I'm so thankful today that it's done," he said. "You don't see it yet, but it's already built."

REBOUND Inc., the Louisville Urban League, the Portland Memorial Baptist Church and a $5 million investment from the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund helped make this project happen.

Leaders are hoping to start accepting applications for the one- and two-bedroom apartments sometime in 2026.

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