Work is expected to last about 40 days following the deadly November 2024 explosion.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) — Demolition work is set to begin Monday at the former Givaudan plant in the Clifton neighborhood, more than a year after an explosion killed two people and damaged nearby homes.
The November 12, 2024, blast severely damaged dozens of homes, leaving many residents displaced and locked in prolonged battles with insurance companies.
Hilary Ford, who lives on Haldeman Avenue behind the former plant site, said problems with the company date back years.
“Two years ago, we all woke up and there was food coloring all over our houses and our cars, to the point where it almost looked like brown tears were coming down,” Ford said.
Standing across the train tracks from the rubble left by the explosion, Ford said she never imagined something like the November 2024 blast would happen.
“I can easily say it’s probably been the hardest year of my life,” she said through tears. “I was out of my home for over six months. I’ve been fighting with insurance almost every day since it happened. I’ve been denied claims, spent money out of my own pocket to prove things were wrong, and still wasn’t believed. It’s affected my mental health and my everyday life.”
The explosion nearly destroyed the home of Patrick Livers, one of Ford’s neighbors. He said security problems have continued since the blast.
“Before all of this, I never had issues with break-ins,” Livers said. “Since it happened, at least once a month my garage gets broken into, or I have to chase someone off because they’re squatting in my neighbor’s house.”
Livers said learning that demolition will begin next week brings some relief after months of uncertainty.
“There’s been a lot of ‘this is going to happen’ or ‘that’s going to happen,’ and it’s always delayed or pushed back, or nobody really knows who’s responsible,” he said. “So yes, it’s good to think it will finally be gone.”
Ford, however, said watching crews clear the site will be painful for residents still coping with trauma.
“I honestly think it will be triggering for a lot of people,” she said. “For me, it’s not really a relief. It feels like another attempt to make what happened disappear. We feel forgotten. We feel abandoned by the company. The city has basically told us it’s a private company and there’s nothing they can do. It’s gotten to the point where almost everyone nearby is asking, ‘What else can go wrong?’”
Ford told WAVE News that the local Givaudan team has tried to help, but she remains disappointed by what she describes as a lack of urgency and care from the company’s corporate leadership.
“On their website, they talk about human rights, but they haven’t cared about anyone in this neighborhood,” she said.
The Clifton Community Council said demolition work is expected to last about 40 days.
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