Mayor tours Downtown Louisville's new Eddie Merlot's

Yesterday the outgoing mayor of Louisville got a private tour of the new Eddie Merlot's on Fourth street and Muhammad Ali. Workers were putting on the final touches to the outside of the building, adding light fixtures in between the awnings. The restaurants interior build out is complete, with just the stocking of the giant temperature controlled wine room in the middle of the Restaurant remaining. Opening date is set for the 18th of January. The 11,000 square feet restaurant itself is split up into several separate dining areas. The walls feature large tiled pictures as well as several stained glass windows. There's a large bar facing the Fourth street side which has a seperate entrance, but also connects to the restaurant. Eddie Merlot's Louisville is currently hiring 100 workers. Prices for the food are around 30-50 dollars for a steak and I don't think that includes any sides.

Zirmed Garage Topped Out

One of the two City Properties Garages in downtown Louisville seems to be topped out. Last week construction crews removed the tall crane at the property on West Market. The structure tops out at 6 stories and will feature a gym facing Market Street. It looks like they are getting close to topping out the second garage as on fourth and Chestnut as well.

New Sign at Cardiovascular Innovation Institute

I just made a little observation. Coming down Muhammad Ali Blvd., I've noticed that the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute on the downtown University of Louisville Health campus added new signage. The new lettering is atop of their surgical facility. That building is fairly new as well.

Mozz: Louisville's newest restaurant now open

As I was driving around town last weekend, I saw a new restaurant opening up at Cobalt Marketplace on East Market Street. It's called Mozz. It uses the space previously occupied by Primo. With the restaurant in place it looks like the retail part of the Cobalt Marketplace is fully leased ever since AAA rented the space of the former Fresh Market. According to their website, Mozz is an Italian supper club and a Neopolitan pizza counter. Their website also says they're now open. Their prices range from $12 Tortellini to $95 porterhouse steak for two or four. 

Downtown Louisville's Eddie Merlot's Adds Signage

The Fourth street location of Eddie Merlot's added signage over the weekend. The steak house also added black awnings to the Starks Building. Interior work on the steak house's fifth location is still in full swing. The restaurant also added two revolving doors. One of them is facing Fourth street, the other one faces Muhammad Ali boulevard. Earlier this year I thought they tried to paint part of the Starks building brown. Turns out that was probably just the primer for a new black coat of paint.

The signage they just put up really fits in well with the rest of the signage at fourth street live. The big bulbs on it have kind of a retro feel to it. It reminds me a lot of the signage of O'Sheas near the arena.

Zirmed Garage Building Progress

Since there are two City Properties garages going up in the central business district, here's a picture of the second one. This one is a new parking garage next to the Zirmed Tower. Crews are currently working on the six floor of the garage. The bottom floor of it will include room for a gym. The garage is all part of the City Groups masterplan for the area. With the garage in place, they finally can start looking at developing the parking lot just south of the buildings. 

Soho on Main changes color

After work stopped in September of 2008, Legacy Lofts on main seemed to be rotting away. Even though the project won several prices, the original developer went into foreclosure. The half completed building lay dormant until it was bought by Will Realty in February of this year. They decided to rename the project to Soho On Main, and change the color of the exterior, from yellow-organge, to sand. In my opinion with the new color it loses a little of its playfulness but gains a sense of luxury. It still has all the Green aspects that made Legacy Lofts an interesting project. The development still features geothermal heating and cooling. They've already hosted and open house in October, so you should be able to see people moving in in the near future. I've attached two pictures the one on the left is the Main Street View. The other one is the back of the development,

American Revolution Genealogy Center on Main complete?

As announced in 2008, the Sons of the American Revolution are in the process of relocating their headquarters to Main Street in downtown Louisville. It looks like part of the work has been completed. As you can see in the picture it seems like the S A R's Genealogy Research Library part seems to open for business. At least that's what the office desk in the front room suggests. Crews are still working hard on the museum part though. The museum part is located right next door to the research center. It will transform the "Fulton Conway & Co" building in the 800 block of west main into a history museum, adding yet another attraction to museum row.

Comfy Cow on Frankfort Rendering

As you have probably heard the Frickle Pickle at Genny's Diner on Frankfort Avenue will soon close it's doors. The restaurant and the adjacent historic home were bought by the Comfy Cow Ice Cream parlor owners a few weeks ago. They have plans to turn the Frickle Pickle into a modern 1950's Diner. There are not that many of those around. The closest one I can think of is the Denny's at the first E-Town Exit. I found a rendering of the future diner.  

Louisville Rowing's new Building taking shape.

 The University of Louisville's athletic department is improving yet another facility. This time it's the rowing teams turn. Their current facility is located on the river front just east of the Tumbleweed restaurant. It also houses several high school rowing teams. Last the June the university broke ground on a 14,000 square feet, two story addition right next to the old facility. According to the university, the new building will cost 2.65 million dollars and is funded through donations. Currently crews are working on the second floor of the building.

The Edge at Liberty Greens Groundbreaking

The folks at Liberty Greens held another groundbreaking today. Today's ceremony was to commemorate the start of the so called home-ownership portion of the housing development. The new part of the project is called "The Edge at Liberty Greens." It is being developed by Bill Weyland of City Properties. Even though it is the home ownership portion it will also feature several apartments for nearby students of the University of Louisville medical campus. They actually played a major part in the decision process. The project itself has been completely redesigned from earlier renderings. I remember seeing renderings and models that made this future property look like the "Cosby neighborhood." All the homes had steps and looked very New York urban. The renderings that were released today make it look very modern. They seem to incorporate lots of glass and metal.  

Pics of New Parking Garage at Galt House

With the new arena opening the need for parking grew near the site. The Galt stepped up and built an 860-car parking garage across the street from the arena on third street. The building looks complete, but it is still missing gates at the main entrance. As you can see in the pictures, the bricks that were used are color matched to the ones used in the lg&e power station next door. The garage replaces an old power grid structure. The new building also improves the street scape beyond the garage and gives this block of third street an unified brick look, adding also some retail space, yet to be leased.