Downtown Development Corporation

Ddc engages in a variety of projects in collaboration with local and state government as well as private sector partners meant to increase the vitality and attractiveness of downtown. In 2024, these projects and initiatives included:- cityspots: conceptualized by leadership louisville's 2022 bingham fellows cohort, cityspots are the transformation of underutilized or forgotten public spaces into welcoming places of urban surprise where people meet, eat, play, or relax, helping to spread vibrancy across downtown. With the first two cityspots completed in 2023, this year ddc continued planning and design work for the third and fourth locations. Through the generosity of jpmorganchase and other sponsors, the third cityspot, near the corner of fourth and jefferson streets adjacent to the louisville visitors center, will bring the space to life with colorful wall and sidewalk murals, a public piano, additional seating, and flowers. The fourth cityspot, sponsored by pnc bank, will be located near the corner of fifth and main streets. This whimsical installation will feature larger-than-life swing sets for everyone to enjoy. Ribbon cuttings for these two new cityspots are planned for the summer of 2025.- management of the business improvement district (bid): through an agreement with the louisville downtown management district (ldmd), ddc administers and operates the downtown louisville bid that provides services supplemental to those provided by louisville metro government within the boundaries of the district. These services include daily cleaning of the downtown rights of way, safety and hospitality patrols, graffiti abatement, beautification programs, and public art projects. In 2024, the ambassador team removed approximately 134,600 pounds of litter and debris from the sidewalks and alleys, cleaned up more than 475 biohazardous materials, abated 1,137 graffiti tags and stickers, and recorded more than 121,000 hospitality interactions with guests and visitors. - clean collaborative: ddc continued its partnership with louisville metro's department of public works for the "clean collaborative" initiative to improve the community's cleanliness throughout the city. To address areas of downtown outside of the bid, public works extended its contract with ddc for a fourth year to provide ambassador cleaning services in often neglected parts of the greater downtown area. As part of this program, ddc's clean collaborative team of ambassadors cleared approximately 14,200 pounds of litter and debris in these locations.- beautification and art initiatives: ddc constantly focuses on expanding placemaking programs to improve the appearance and appeal of downtown's streets. A signature initiative in 2024 was the launch of a new series of temporary, rotating art installations in public spaces across our downtown core. Designed and created by austin-based lemonde studio, this program brings a series of interactive art exhibits to new locations every six to eight weeks. In preparation for a new public piano program to be unveiled in the spring of 2025, ddc partnered with two downtown schools, the j. Graham brown school and francis parker school of louisville, to have four donated pianos painted by their middle and high school students. Called "downtown tunes", these pianos will be placed in key outdoor locations and are designed to foster spontaneous musical expression, community connection, and creative placemaking. In 2024, ddc also introduced a new "butt bin" program to help reduce the number of cigarette butts discarded on downtown's streets and sidewalks while also recycling the filters for new uses. Businesses and property owners can request a free branded bin to be positioned in high-traffic smoking areas to encourage responsible disposal.- lighting programs: with planning and design completed by ddc, louisville metro government allocated $1.6 million for the installation of a new led lighting project underneath the i-65 overpasses on main and market streets. The new lighting transforms the underpasses from their former states, with standard-issue white lights, into inviting colorful destinations and new connection points between the nulu district and the core of downtown by elevating the underpasses' aesthetic appeal and creating brighter and more engaging spaces for visitors. U.s. Representative morgan mcgarvey secured an additional $1.6 million for the future expansion of the program to include two more underpasses. Ddc also completed planning and design work for a series of string light installations in its historic shopping district along south fourth street.- walking tour podcasts: ddc launched the republic bank downtown walking tour podcasts in early 2024 featuring three series: the historic west main street tour, the civil rights marker tour, and the whiskey row tour. Narrated by prominent louisvillians, the podcasts are available for free download and provide a new opportunity to find out how louisville was settled, how commerce was developed in the early days, and how louisville played a part in the 1960s civil rights movement.- derby 150: the kentucky derby celebrated its 150th anniversary on the first saturday of may in 2024. While the downtown ambassadors worked to make downtown look its best, ddc partnered with churchill downs to hang 500 "derby 150" pole banners across downtown to welcome guests from across the world to our city.- homelessness engagement: one of the tragic, lingering consequences of the pandemic was a significant increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness and mental crisis throughout louisville. Ddc continues to engage with our public, non-profit, and private partners to develop new strategies to address the complex issues surrounding homelessness and panhandling in the urban core. Of particular note, 2024 was the first full year that the district fielded its dedicated team of outreach ambassadors who work with the most vulnerable people in our downtown community. These ambassadors serve as a vital bridge between available social services and facilities, downtown's street population, and those experiencing homelessness. In this first full year of operations, the outreach team initiated 1,167 contacts with people in need of support. After building trusting relationships with these individuals, 97 individuals or families were successfully connected with vital services ranging from addiction treatment to transitional and permanent housing. - 2024 grants/allocations to others: $0

One of ddc's critical functions is telling downtown's story by sharing the economic, cultural, and societal importance of downtown for the entire city and also what people might have missed if they haven't come downtown in a while. Working with our partners and generous donors, ddc undertook the following initiatives in 2024:- ddc-hosted events: each year, ddc hosts numerous events designed to bring more people onto the streets and back downtown, which included the inaugural downtown pickleball street fest and the revival of downtown hometown tourism week in 2024. In partnership with goodbounce pickleball yard, the pickleball street fest took place on jefferson street featuring pickleball exhibitions, tournaments, open play, an artisan marketplace, music, and food trucks. The hometown tourism week was a celebration of our attractions and destinations across downtown, offering half-off admission tickets to participating venues to residents of greater louisville and southern indiana. With the assistance of louisville tourism, hotels also participated by offering discounts and package deals for the duration of the event. Perennial favorites also returned, including the second annual steins on main oktoberfest, twenty-eight food truck wednesdays, eight downtown drive-in free movie showings at waterfront park, seven downtown happy hour events, the downtown silent disco, the downtown holiday market, and the annual holiday decorating contest for downtown businesses and properties. Cyclouvia also returned downtown for a third year, this time closing south fourth street to allow people to bike, walk, or skate on the roadway while enjoying vendors and activities along the way. Of particular note, 2024 was the revival of ddc's state of the downtown address. Presented by the republic bank foundation, the event was attended by 400 downtown enthusiasts and focused on the official unveiling of the downtown development strategy, setting the stage for the next ten years of downtown's economic growth.- ddc sponsored events: in addition to its hosted events, ddc provided financial and technical support to bring unique and diverse events in and around downtown throughout the year. In 2024, ddc provided a total of $75,500 in sponsorships for events that are open to the community and have low cost or no cost to attend. These events included nulu bock fest, cinco de mayo fiesta, melannaire marketplace's ancestor's dream juneteenth festival, asian night market, latin music awards, lights on main, nulufest, dia de los mueros en el centro celebration, you decide kentucky, 502 beer day, canopy's good business summit, ken clay awards, lipstick wars: juneteenth poetry slam, movie night at the yum! Center, presley post legacy week, sky soul festival, walkable louisville, ypal unity summit, and light up louisville.- the baird urban sports park: located in a vacant redevelopment site on historic west main street, the baird urban sports park features pickleball courts and a wiffle ball field. The park is open to the public six days a week for pick-up games and is also available for use as a unique event site in the heart of downtown. In 2024, the park welcomed the national society sons of the american revolution's "flag day celebration", for the people's "rhythm and blues" event, and louisville makes games' "local game harvest".- bourbon city: ddc works closely with louisville tourism and the kentucky distillers' association to continue supporting the bourbon revival in downtown louisville which included rebranding the bourbon district as bourbon city. In support of the branding initiative, ddc installed 75 new bourbon city pole banners on historic main street. In 2024, we welcomed three new distilleries and tasting rooms to the neighborhood, including bardstown bourbon company, whiskey thief distilling, and monk's road boiler house. Another three venues are in development for openings in 2025.- downtown marketing & communications: one of ddc's vital roles is to tell the story of downtown through developing and maintaining robust marketing and communication strategies that share the strength and news about downtown to our city's and region's residents. This includes regular newsletters, press releases, announcements, and social media updates aimed at informing and connecting the downtown audience about downtown's positive momentum and to deliver important messaging and updates on development activity, downtown events, public space activations, new projects and businesses, and construction impacts. In 2024, dcc also created a new monthly video series, downtown lowdown, to promote downtown businesses, venues, and attractions showcasing all that downtown has to offer.- friends of downtown: the friends of downtown is a grassroots campaign to connect with individuals who support downtown. Friends can help add to downtown initiatives and activations through donations to ddc or by amplifying what they love about downtown through social media and other channels. Friends also have access to unique perks that include small group walking tours and behind-the-scenes experiences of downtown's attractions and venues. - 2024 grants/allocations to others: $75,500 in sponsorships for 24 unique and diverse events throughout downtown louisville.