Plans for Downtown Retail Will Be Unveiled Tonight

The Louisville Downtown Development Corporation will hold a public meeting tonight to discuss development plans for south 4th Street downtown.Since January, the DDC has commissioned studies on the potential for the area between 4th Street Live and Broadway. About one third of the storefronts in the area are vacant, according to the DDC. And the plan will highlight how those spots could be filled with retail, restaurants or entertainment. The plan is not expected to call for the replacement of existing businesses such as the theaters, restaurants or wig shops that pepper the area now.The DDC's studies have noted the lack of retail downtown. They found that about $250 million is spent each year downtown, but there's potential for nearly $200 million more in additional commerce.Filling in the space on between Broadway and 4th Street Live has been a frequent topic of debate. It was briefly an issue during last year's mayor's race, with both candidates stressing the importance of continuous development along 4th Street.The meeting will be at 6:00 at the Seelbach Hotel.