LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Dirt is being moved to build new apartments at the site of the old Iroquois Homes in Louisville's Hazelwood neighborhood.
"The new community will be adjacent to the Hazelwood Shopping Center featuring the Iroquois Health Center, a Save A Lot grocery store -- good prices there -- a Family Dollar store and other small retail outlets," said Elizabeth Strojan, executive director of the Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA). "So we're not just doing housing here. We're bringing y'all back to a great neighborhood."
Senior Living apartments are planned for the site of the former Iroquois Homes. This is Phase 1 of the project to put new housing on the property. (WDRB drone image from July 17, 2024)
LMHA broke ground for the Iroquois Senior Living Community on Wednesday morning. It's located at 1465 Bicknell Avenue, near Taylor Boulevard. It's the site of the former Iroquois Homes, a low-income housing block that had about 850 units. Several years ago, those homes were demolished in phases.
"It's home to a lot of us," said Geneva Bullitt, who used to live at Iroquois Homes in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. She holds tight to fond memories from her decades living there.
"It was a community that watched out for other people's kids and it was just unbelievable," she said. "It was the place everybody was trying to get into to live."
Geneva Bullitt says she met her husband while living at Iroquois Homes. She is hopeful to one day move back to the property when new homes are built. Bullitt shared this image of herself, her husband, and their child. (Image from Geneva Bullitt)
It's also where she met her husband, who she's now been married to for more than 30 years. It's where she spent time with family and friends, and it still holds a big piece of her heart.
"This is home. There's no place like home," Bullitt said.
After the houses there were demolished, nonprofits leased the land from the city for an urban farm and garden space. But in March 2022, LMHA made it clear that its intent had always been to make that site into housing once again.
In Nov. 2022, LMHA announced plans to build senior living apartments on the property and now, more than 19 months later, there's been an official groundbreaking for the project.
"Seniors, as much as anyone, need safe, quality, and affordable places to live and they're going to get it right here," Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said. "It's long overdue and they are going to get quality housing right here that they deserve," said Mayor Craig Greenberg.
The new, three-story building will be for residents 55 and older. It's designed to support car-free living and is in walking distance of the South-Central Neighborhood Place and TARC bus access. According to Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects, the senior living complex will include 60 apartments.
Senior Living apartments are planned for the site of the former Iroquois Homes. This is Phase 1 of the project to put new housing on the property. City leaders and former residents participated in a groundbreaking ceremony. (WDRB image from July 17, 2024)
But that is just Phase 1.
LMHA is working on plans for other potential phases to develop the full site into several acres with both affordable and market-rate housing for people of all ages.
Bullitt hopes to be able to return to this address one day as a resident once again. She's currently living in Valley Station.
"I'm pushing for Phase 2, new homes. That's what we want out here, new homes. Something people can rent on low income and also to purchase, to buy. That's what we want as well," Bullitt said. "My husband already said, 'I'll sell our home and we'll move back there for something brand new.' So that's possible for us."
Melissa Davis also has great memories from living at Iroquois Homes. She said she lived next to Bullitt as a child and also had her own apartment there as a young adult.
"We lived on the same porch. We grew up together and it was amazing. We had four kids in our house and they had six. It was really a fun time growing up," Davis said.
She's hoping to get her mother into the senior living apartments and would also like to move back when the next phase is completed.
"This is the only place that's ever felt like home in all the places that I've lived throughout my adult life," Davis said, who now lives in west Louisville. "I've always hoped that someday something like this would happen so we could come back to it."
Both women said the place had a true sense of community when they lived there. They believe that feeling could return with the future development plans.
"The fun, the laughter, the love, the get-togethers. Us getting to know other mothers out here. They nurtured you and took you in. All I got to say is my mom would probably be proud today if she was still living," said Bullitt.
Melissa Davis said she lived at Iroquois Homes between the 1970s and 1990s. (WDRB image from July 17, 2024)
Funding for Phase 1 of the project comes from a recently awarded $11.8 million grant through the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund in the American Rescue Plan.
"This is the single largest investment that we have made throughout the history of the trust fund," said Christie McCravy, executive director of the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
LMHA said rent would be 30% of residents' income. Phase 1 is expected to be completed by early 2026.
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