Sidewalk changes near KFC Yum Center

Over the last few weeks, worker have been installing a new sidewalk across the street from the KFC Yum Center. Unfortunately one of the first steps was to get rid of the trees that used to line this part of main street between second and third street. They were replaced by new lamp posts. The sidewalk itself was changes into some kind of checkerboard pattern with black and grey bricks. On the picture it's hard to tell, because the bricks are completely covered by construction dust.

KFC Yum Center Video board working

Driving past the arena today, I've noticed that the giant video board overlooking the plaza is now operational. One of the first animations running was a rotating cardinal bird mascot clip.

As you can see in the picture, there is one small panel not working. 

Since you can see the jumbo tron from the road I wonder if the arena has to limit what they can show on there. I remember a couple of years ago when the Kentucky center installed a digital billboard they had to comply with state regulations. They could only change the picture so much within a certain amount of time. From what I saw today, the new jumbo tron had moving images. I wonder if that might cause some trouble in the future.

Louisville Magazine Building Remodel

Workers have been remodeling the Louisville Magazine building on Muhammad Ali and 2nd street for the last few months now. The most obvious change is the replacement of all the windows as well as the glass panels holding the windows. I was afraid it would detract from the functionalist style of the building, but after all is said and done, it looks quite nice. Remodeling has not finished yet. They are currently working on the roofs of the building. I am not sure, but I think the atrium area is probably going to be tackled next, since the doors still look like the old windows.

KFC Yum Center adds Cardinal Birds

With the opening date for the new Louisville arena only weeks away, workers are adding the last pieces of signage. This week they've installed a few giant Cardinal birds. In addition to the mascots, Yum added a few Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC logos. Cardinal Birds can now be found on the north side of the arena facing the interstate. Another bird is facing East Washington street, overlooking the second street bridge. As of today, workers were also testing the giant video screen overlooking the plaza in front of the arena.

Parking Garage near Fourth Street Update

There are currently 3 large parking garages being built in downtown Louisville. One near the arena, that looks almost complete, one adjacent to the Zirmed tower near ninth street, and this one on Fourth and Chestnut. The latter two are both built by Louisville developer Bill Weyland and seem to progress at the same rate of building speed. The one on fourth street, as you can see in the picture, has progressed to the third floor. It is not located right at the edge of the property line in order to leave room for a planned Indigo hotel with 105 rooms as well as 30 apartments. That building is supposed to be built at a later date.

New Offices near Federal Courthouse Louisville

The off-site addition to the Federal courthouse in downtown Louisville seems to be topped off. It is only a two story addition. I remember hearing it was for the immigration department of homeland security. It is located right across the street on seventh street, just north of the nail place on Broadway. They are currently putting in all the windows in the prefab concrete facade. It really looks a little better now. I was afraid it would look very generic, but with the addition of that horizontal line near the top it is not that bad. It actually makes it look kind of federal. Construction of the new 6-story US attorneys offices on the empty lot right next door has not yet started.

Jeffersonville Canal District First Proposal

Matthews Southwest of Texas was the first developer that presented its proposal for the Jeffersonville Canal District today. The 52 million Dollar canal is supposed to wind itself through Jeffersonville. It is supposed to help alleviate sewer overflow. It is also expected to spur development in the area. The rendering shows two hotels separate from a convention center.

New downtown Louisville office building complete

Louisville's downtown has a new 3 story office building. The building is located just north of West Broadway on ninth street. It was constructed using prefab concrete walls, which were than painted over.  The prefab pieces are identical to the ones used in a two story building on West Broad between 7th and 8th street, right next to the White Castle. Since that building houses medical offices, I wouldn't be surprised if the new building will also be used in such a way.

New Louisville Norton Cancer Center Progress

The new Norton Cancer Institute Radiation Center on Floyd and Broadway is coming along nicely. The steel structure is up. Once finished the building will have three floors with 65,000 square feet. It is scheduled to be open in the summer of 2011. The building has a cost of 27 million dollars.

Republic Plaza Main Signage Up

Republic Plaza's main signage block is now in place. The structure towering over seventh street seems to be complete, even though I hope they still going to paint it. If you look closely you can see the structure displaying the logo has lots of bumps and dings. I am not sure whether that is supposed to look like that.

Currently they are still working on the entry way as well as the landscaping out front.

Papa John's Stadium Expansion Started

It looks like it's actually happening. Even a 5-7 season for the Louisville Cardinals can not stop the university's stadium expansion plans at Papa Johns. As announced earlier this year, construction was supposed to start right after the end of the regular season. And indeed, construction fences are up, construction equipment has arrived, and the first actual construction (more of a destruction) has started. What they are currently doing is to remove the steel fence around the east side of the stadium. This would be the side that would see most of the construction, as they will add an upper deck to the structure.

The expansion will add more than 20,000 extra seats, boosting its capacity to 63,000. It will also add 45 new luxury suites.

Coyle Commons Open For Business

Right next to the new Buffalo Wild Wings and Rite Aid on Veteran's Parkway in Clarksville you can find a small new strip mall. It's all part of Coyle Commons, aptly named after the neighboring car dealership. The area next to the car lot was supposed to be part of its expansion plans, but once real estate prices shot up, it was more lucrative to create more retail space. Coyle did expand though. Their new building is a refurbished building near the Outback Steakhouse in Clarksville.

Coyle Commons main tenant is a Verizon Store. The other spaces are still vacant. It also housed the Buffalo Wild Wings hiring office during the restaurant's construction. It has since been vacated again.