Public meeting set for Monday discussing One Park project near Cherokee Park in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A public hearing on a development plan proposed near Cherokee Park is scheduled for Monday evening.

One Park — a mix of apartments, offices, stores, restaurants and a hotel in various buildings up to 18 stories tall — has been in the works since 2016, including an expansion of the project approved by city planners in 2023. The $554 million project at Lexington Road and Grinstead Drive "cannot be facilitated with private investment alone," according to an ordinance introduced by Metro Council President Markus Winkler.

It's a busy intersection for hundreds of families, and for Louisville native Miah Clay it connects everything she needs.

"I live in DC, but I love coming back. This is my go to area when I come back," Clay said.

Right now, the area has a coffee shop, an exercise studio, and a couple of restaurants. In the coming years, that could change.

WDRB News first reported a year ago that Cogan's Jefferson Development Group was seeking a "tax-increment financing" arrangement from the city and the state to subsidize One Park. Last year, the developer circulated a presentation indicating it was aiming for $96.3 million from Metro government and $147.9 million from Kentucky over the 30-year period. The project would bring a mix of apartments, offices, stores, restaurants and a hotel in various buildings up to 18 stories tall to the Irish Hill community.

"For me it would mean a lot. I literally I came here for junior prom. Back in the day when it was a completely different restaurant. I love the area. I love that there's always like a nice posh, you know, nice atmosphere to come back to and I would love to see more destination restaurants, destination hotels, they can definitely get my money if they open up," Clay said.

Developer Kevin Cogan's firm would receive up to $114 million in subsidies from Louisville Metro taxpayers over 30 years to help build One Park, according to an ordinance soon to be considered by the Metro Council. In formal documents released last week, the state portion wasn't specified.

"If you can have a nice hotel with a decent coffee shops, decent food, decent entertainment around, we will come," Clay said. "Build it and we will come."

"We will come, because it's word of mouth," Vivian Brown, who was in the area Sunday, said. "'I went there. I liked it, come'."

As required by KRS 65.7051, a public hearing will be held at the Metro Development Center at 444 S. Fifth Street, Room 101 in downtown Louisville. The meeting is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

To learn more about the public meeting, click here.

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