LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Some people in Louisville are now threatening to take the city to court over the development of the old Urban Government Center, while others just want construction to begin.

Construction fencing is up around the old center on Barrett Avenue, off East Broadway. But there are also weeds growing through the concrete, leaving the site seemingly untouched.

"Accountability for poor stewardship is a big, big problem," said Martina Kunnecke, president of the Neighborhood Planning and Preservation Group.

Tuesday, Kunnecke joined Steve Wiser, with the Louisville Historical League, to announce potential legal action against Metro Government. 

Wiser claims Metro Government violated Kentucky law when it allowed the developer Upper Paristown Preservation Trust to revise its proposal for the property.

Urban government center graphic from Steve Wiser.jpg

Steve Wiser, with the Louisville Historical League, made this comparison model of the proposals to redevelop the old Urban Government Center. 

"If the city had gone forth with a legal proposal in 2020, you would be standing in front of a magnificent complex," he said. "Instead, the city, for the past four years, has allowed UPPT to change the game. And it's totally illegal to do that."

The current proposal is a $249 million overhaul of the abandoned site in the Paristown Pointe neighborhood off Barrett Avenue into a hotel, apartments, condos and office space.

Wiser made a comparison model of the proposals for the property. He wants to see the goals outlined in the 2020 proposal and, if not, believes the city should revert to the beginning and open it up to new proposals, or renegotiate with the first developer hired for the project.

But not everyone agrees. Some neighbors showed up Tuesday to oppose Wiser's call for legal action.

"We waited through three different times to go through this and now we got the developer we wanted to begin with. And we we want it to go on. This is crazy, it's sour grapes is what it is," neighbor Joann Robinson said.

In a statement to WDRB News, the city's Cabinet for Economic Development said "We remain committed to seeing the former Urban Government Center redeveloped. Metro Government has a development agreement with Paristown Preservation Trust and continues to work with PPT and Metro Council towards a vote on the proposed Tax Increment Financing District.

"Paristown Preservation Trust has committed to incorporating native plants, constructing a playground, removing environmental hazards from the property, and including 55 units of affordable housing in the development, among other community benefits. Additionally, the redevelopment of this site will revitalize a long-vacant and blighted property."

When asked how long he will wait before moving forward with legal action, Wiser said it depends on the city's response.

In a statement about the project on Tuesday, the Upper Paristown Preservation Trust said "After years of neglect, these dangerous and decaying government-owned buildings can be transformed from eyesores into economic assets for Paristown, Smoketown and the Highlands."

Metro government has been trying to redevelop the site for more than seven years and is on its third developer. Meanwhile, the city has spent more than $625,000 on security, maintenance and other costs over that time, according to expense data obtained by WDRB.

Paristown Preservation Trust is the third entity chosen to transform the site since former Mayor Greg Fischer began seeking private developers for the publicly owned land in 2017.

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