Revitalization Commission Agenda and Packet 2024 06 26

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Revitalization Commission Minutes May 22, 2024 Page 5of7 historic buildings and recognizes that this will require a lot of money. She is in favor of underpasses and commented that if this is a highway project we should get more state funding for it. She feels connecting North Louisville to South Louisville is important. She also noted that the LRC was willing to fund the South Street underpass if Main Street was built first. She supports bonding and requested a more final number for the Downtown Vision Plan. Commissioner Lipton commented that he is unsure that the Downtown Vision Plan is the LRC's plan. He feels it is a city plan for the downtown area and noted that the LRC may be part of the funding but is not driving it. The Director of Community Development commented that the city and the LRC are very close partners. He doesn't feel it is one or the other. He also noted that the LRC is part of the city and anything the LRC does requires council approval. There was a discussion around the role of the LRC to implement the plan of the city for the URA based on the City Council's vision. Commissioner Harald agreed with Commissioners Lipton's and Williams' comments. He feels the Vision Plan is still very high level and he supports providing a high level of funding for the vision plan. He expressed confusion about discussing the underpass without any conversation with Lafayette and RTD and he noted that, if the underpass goes to Lafayette open space, why aren't we in discussions with Lafayette to help support the project. Commissioner Harald fully supports a high level of bonding with a greater emphasis on the Downtown Vision Plan. Commissioner Tofte supports bonding at a higher level. He feels it's simplistic to think east side parking wouldn't help downtown since parking has been one of the main issues of getting people downtown. He noted that he supported the failed parking garage project and commented that to say parking and an underpass isn't important is short-sighted. He suggested that when you see 30 people waiting for breakfast at Huckleberry on Saturday morning, they aren't all Louisville residents. He feels it's short-sighted to not realize that a lack of connectivity won't have impact. He also feels that what the LRC has done so far hasn't really revitalized downtown yet, even with the Fapade Improvement Program. He feels the underpass would support revitalization of downtown. He supports the LRC considering some amount of funding for an underpass and hopefully the city could come up with more grant money to make the project happen. Commissioner Iglesias supports bonding and agreed with Commissioners Lipton's and Williams' comments. She noted that she doesn't understand why there isn't an underpass from north to south. She supports the Downtown Vision Plan to redevelop downtown Louisville. Mayor Leh commented that anything the LRC does will benefit the city. He noted that four lanes of traffic to cross will be difficult on Highway 42. He supports the Downtown Vision Plan to eliminate blight. He supports bonding but he is not sure how much. Commissioner Williams asked if the $10M bond would include the ability to support businesses similarly to what was provided to Radiant Med Spa. It was noted that this type of support will continue to be possible as tax base will increase with property improvements. Chair Adler asked when staff needs a final decision from the LRC on whether or not the LRC will support the S. Street underpass. The Director of Public Works asked the LRC what additional information it needs to decide whether to support the underpass. Staff are asking the LRC for