Louisville Downtown Vision Plan

At the end of December 2021, a huge wildfire and urban conflagration caused massive damage in and around Louisville,  a small suburban city between Boulder and Denver (the “s” in Louisville is pronounced). Recovering during COVID-19 was not easy.

While the fire left profound scars, it also presented an opportunity for the community to rebuild its spirit and the identity of its downtown. For decades, the downtown had served as the heart and soul of the community—a place where residents gathered to dine, shop and celebrate, where businesses thrived, and where the spirit of innovation and creativity flourished. However, rising vacancies and business turnover put downtown Louisville in a difficult position.

The 2024 Downtown Vision Plan builds on the city’s strengths—while addressing its evolving needs, challenges and opportunities—by putting public investment first to guide and inspire private investment.

Through a series of community meetings, workshops, and online forums, residents, business owners, city officials, and urban planners came together to share their visions, dreams and concerns for downtown Louisville. Over 250 community residents and stakeholders participated.

To translate the collective vision into reality, the plan is structured on three Framework Themes, each containing specific goals and actions necessary for implementation: link, amplify and navigate. Out of the Framework Themes came three catalytic, transformative projects for Steinbaugh Plaza, Front Street and Main Street. With strong community buy-in, those projects went into immediate design studies.

And the project team realized that the success of an existing parklet pilot could yield  permanent benefits (from “pilot to permanent”). Designing new plaza spaces and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes will fostering a strong sense of community connection and belonging among its residents.

By promoting unity, economic recovery, and sustainability, the Downtown Vision Plan has emerged as a beacon of optimism for downtown Louisville, guiding the City towards a future that both honors its history and embraces progress.

Winner of a 2024 Colorado ASLA award in Urban Design.