From Louisville Mojo's Bon Air Calling blog post entitled "Your chance to revitalize the Showcase Cinema site- Bardstown RD":

Quote:

For nearly six years the Showcase Cinemas site at 3408 Bardstown Road has been closed. Its large parking lot has been empty. National Amusements closed it in 2004 after no buyer came forward. At 19.66 acres in size, it is a large blighted property that is negatively affecting the area. On Monday, February 8, 2010, you have a chance to help revitalize the site and the neighborhood it by merely showing up at a meeting. Show your support by coming to one of two meetings at the Bon Air Library (5:00pm-6:15pm or 6:30–8:00). Pat Carrico (one of the Bon Air Neighborhood Assoc. officers) told me they are hoping 200 people show up, which might persuade Jim King and Brent Ackerson to pay for a full charette out of their discretionary Metro Council funds to move the development process further along. ... The idea being pitched is conversion of the site into a lifestyle center like the Westport Village at Westport Road and Herr Lane. Before its metamorphosis, it was a declining strip mall called the Camelot Shopping Center.

Sounds like as good an idea as any, if the Metro Council funds are enough to spur movement toward this.

What do you think? And like in the article, do you have any particular fond (or otherwise) memories about Louisville's former cinematic crown jewel?

Steve Magruder — LouHI Administrator and web programmer


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I hope something can be done to the old Showcase plot. There are certainly challenges in attracting a developer or developers to renovate the area, of the 19 or so acres, much of it is towards the back away from Bardstown Road and the Beuchel area neighborhoods are not near as affluent with as much discresionary spending as the Westport/Herr Lane area so .

Because businesses generally like to be visible from the main road, I wonder if the city should consider a park in the rear instead? Off the top of my head I cannnot think of a park nearby.

Why not turn it into a better place for Wayside? Not right downtown, but close to a Walmart, Bus lines, Kroger, Food, Target, etc....

It could either be revamped or torn down and put a different building in the place. Then Wayside has a large property for their mission, they'd even have enough land to plant a small "community garden" with raised beds or something for the homeless people. Plus Then the downtown area would not have the problems that it is with them being 3 blocks from the new stadium.

This could be a total Win Win situation....

Just a thought