Louisville Metro is moving forward with plans to build a modern training facility for first responders.
The city has signed a letter of intent to pay $6 million for property at 11900 Dixie Highway, according to records obtained by LPM News. The undeveloped 92-acre site sits behind Stonegate Mobile Home Park off Dixie Highway and is bordered by Mill Creek and a wastewater treatment plant to the west, railroad tracks to the north, and homes along West Orell Road to the south.
Republican Metro Council Member Crystal Bast, who represents District 14 where the site is located, said South End residents would welcome the added police presence and economic activity the facility could bring.
“It’s kind of overlooked, but these people that are going to be coming in from out of town to use our facility are going to be using our gas stations, eating at our restaurants, shopping at our local retail, possibly staying in our hotels,” she said. “It’s going to help boost that economic [development] that we’re striving for in our Dixie Highway corridor.”
Bast described the letter of intent as “a great start” toward turning the training center into reality.
Last year, Metro Council’s Republican Caucus strongly pushed for the city to allocate initial funding for the project.
Mayor Craig Greenberg’s original budget proposal did not include funding, with the mayor arguing that the training center would require support from the state to be built. Council Republicans later persuaded other members to set aside $6 million for land acquisition, saying the city needed to demonstrate its commitment to the project.
Bast said sending Louisville police officers to Richmond for training — nearly a two-hour drive each way — puts a strain on city resources.
“It’s going to save the city money on the travel time going to and from Richmond,” Bast said. “Taking cars out there takes up half a day of travel just to do those sorts of things … Having this in the southwest is a game changer.”
The facility would also be available for training EMS personnel and local fire departments, in addition to Louisville Metro Police officers.
City officials are currently conducting due diligence to determine whether to move ahead with the purchase. Under the letter of intent, Louisville Metro has until May 31 to decide, with a proposed closing date of July 1.
Matt Mudd, a spokesperson for Mayor Greenberg, said the city does not yet have cost estimates for constructing the training center.
“Cost estimation to fully develop the training facility will be the next phase as we do design development and will depend largely on the features identified as priorities for the project, as well as available funds,” Mudd told LPM News in an email.
City leaders are hoping the General Assembly will provide additional funding, noting the facility could also serve police, fire, and EMS departments across the region.
The Dixie Highway property is currently owned by Edward and Benita Alvey, who also own the neighboring mobile home park and a nearby shopping center.
If the purchase is finalized, the owners have agreed to allow the city to build a new access road on a separate parcel, connecting the proposed training facility directly to Dixie Highway.
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