Plans to redevelop Mid City Mall in Louisville’s Highlands neighborhood have been postponed for at least another month as officials review design and accessibility concerns.
The Bardstown Road–Baxter Avenue Review Overlay District Committee met Tuesday to evaluate a proposal that would demolish the existing mall and replace it with five one- to two-story commercial buildings. The proposed development would include a grocery store, a library, and publicly accessible green space.
City planners told the committee that the proposal only partially meets overlay district guidelines and historic preservation standards. Members asked the developer, Branch Properties, to revise portions of the plan before a vote moves forward.
During the presentation, senior urban design planner Kat Groskreutz said the project would be renamed “Mid City Market.” Plans also include reducing parking by 232 spaces, relocating it to an internal lot, and redesigning the main entrance along Bardstown Road.
Committee members raised concerns about the design, noting the renderings rely heavily on gray and black tones instead of the traditional red brick and varied colors common along Bardstown Road. They urged the developer to expand the color palette.
Pedestrian access was another major issue, particularly along Baxter Avenue, where plans show a loading and unloading area for the proposed grocery store.
Representatives from Branch Properties said using multiple colors could make the development appear less cohesive. They also explained that adding an entrance or retail-facing design on Baxter Avenue is not practical due to the need for rear loading areas in grocery store operations.
Public feedback during the meeting largely supported redevelopment, with more than a dozen residents and business owners favoring the project, compared to a few opposing it.
“I fear the alternative to moving forward would be a decaying empty structure which would be the demise of the entire corridor,” resident Lenore Slawsky said.
Another resident, Patty McDowl, suggested improving walkability and outdoor access. “It’d be nice to have an entrance going all the way through,” she said.
After more than an hour of discussion, the committee unanimously agreed to delay the vote until next month, asking the developer to address concerns about pedestrian connectivity and design before returning with revisions.
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