LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — For months, dump trucks have come and gone from the old Givaudan Sense Colour plant in Louisville's Clifton neighborhood, clearing the debris from the explosion that rocked the area 17 months ago.

Two workers were killed and 11 others were hurt in the Nov. 12, 2024, explosion that also damaged nearby homes and businesses. Investigators found the explosion was caused was a cooking vessel failure. A state investigation found the issue that caused the vessel to explode had been documented months before. 

Becky Mings still remembers that afternoon. On Wednesday, she said she and her caregiver were doing the dishes in the kitchen when the explosion busted out the windows.

"They even had to condemn one of the houses down there," Mings said. "It got hit pretty hard."

In the weeks and months after the explosion, the city and the company held meetings for residents whose homes were damaged. In January 2025, the company announced it would not rebuild.

Several lawsuits were filed by Clifton neighborhood residents who suffered damage from the explosion and burglaries in their abandoned homes afterward. Some residents also said they didn't receive adequate financial support for the damages and long-term housing needs.

Louisville Metro Council is now asking the planning commission to rezone the property, changing it from an industrial zone to a C-M commercial manufacturing zone. Doing so would keep chemical and heavy industrial plants out and make space for light manufacturing, warehousing and wholesale distribution companies instead.

However, Mings said she and her neighbors don't love the idea.

"There shouldn't even be a company even in here," she said Wednesday. "I don't even agree with these semis coming through here, because they tear up our cars and vehicles. If they're not careful, they hit our vehicles."

The Clifton Community Council submitted a letter of support for Metro Council's rezoning request, saying rezoning could promote economic activity and generate more property tax revenue.

The community council's president said rezoning the property for CM commercial manufacturing would also allow the space to be used for multi-family residential housing, retail or a park space. He said ultimately, residents would rather see the space used that way instead of for manufacturing. 

Greg Alford, another longtime Clifton neighborhood resident, said a manufacturing development is the last thing he wants to see.

"If they want to build a building there, they should do something to help people out of love," he said Wednesday.

The planning commission will vote Thursday on the rezoning change.

IMAGES | Crews begin cleanup at Givaudan site in Louisville's Clifton neighborhood

Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.