Developers eyeing former Louisville church as new boutique hotel near the Highlands

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A boutique hotel could be coming to the Cherokee Triangle neighborhood near the Highlands and Bardstown Road.

The former space at 1140 Cherokee Road was previously occupied as Highland Methodist Church. But it could become a 26-room boutique hotel as developers are looking to renovate the 129-year-old church.

The property at the corner of Cherokee Road and Patterson Avenue would first need a zoning change from commercial to OTF, known as an Office Tourist Facility District. To receive historical tax incentives, the building would still need to keep what made it historic, meaning the old sanctuary couldn't be significantly changed.

The sanctuary could be converted into a large event space, while former classrooms and offices could be changed to individual hotel rooms. Proposals of changing the church into apartments a few years ago were rejected because the space wouldn't have been preserved enough.

Those who live near the church are wondering if a hotel in their neighborhood would be more of a blessing or a curse.

"A hotel would be great," said Peter Karpiuk. "It adds to the community, there's people coming and going. There's lots of community stuff that feeds on the tourism here and it would be beneficial to the tourist market."

"It's a church," said Dawn Heinecken. "It was designed with the community in mind and people's well-being and I think that's why housing for more families, especially lower income people, would kind of fit the spirit that it was built in."

Developers would like to hear feedback from the community. A public meeting hosted at the Highlands - Shelby Park Library is scheduled for Jan. 10 at 6:30 p.m.