Louisville - is it pedestrian friendly? Mostly car-oriented? How is the layout? (Covington: home)

[Tiger Beer]

Louisville - is it pedestrian friendly? Mostly car-oriented? How is the layout?

Not that I wouldn't have a car, but it is nice to be able to walk around places without jumping in the car for nearly everything.

Also, if there is some walkable density...are there people around...or is just walkable in the fact that you COULD walk because there are sidewalks.

I guess, essentially, thinking of neighborhood settings where you can walk to the library, bookstores, restaurants, or whatever...without having to get in a car and drive to some mall that has everything, and what might be most common.

I guess I'm seeing if there are exceptions to the normal city-oriented layouts in the city...? Neighbood names I could google map would be real helpful

[Off Topic]

No problem with restaurants, bookstores, museums or activities in the main part of downtown. The library is at the far end, however, and would make a nice hike from the river. Not impossible, but still a decent walk.

The biggest downside by far is the lack of a good grocery store downtown that you can walk to.

[Tiger Beer]

Does Louisville have anything like Pittsburgh or Cincinnati/Covington...neighborhood areas...businesses intermixed with the residential...

I'm looking at google maps, and looks like a lot of residential and then downtown of course. But not much of things mixed together...

Also, Louisville has hills as well....are there hilly parts of Louisville...with neighborhood-like areas? Maybe something like Mt.Adams in Cincinnati?

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Does Louisville have anything like Pittsburgh or Cincinnati/Covington...neighborhood areas...businesses intermixed with the residential...

I'm looking at google maps, and looks like a lot of residential and then downtown of course. But not much of things mixed together...

Also, Louisville has hills as well....are there hilly parts of Louisville...with neighborhood-like areas? Maybe something like Mt.Adams in Cincinnati?

Yes and Yes. Louisville's Highlands IMO is much better than anything in Cincinnati. It mixes urban parks with grocery, any kind of food, late night cafe, movie theatre, etc all within walking distance. It is much more pedestrian active than anywhere in Cincinnati. From a pedestrian standpoint, it is similar to southside in Pittsburgh but not as "urban looking" and certainly probably safer. The commerical corridor of Bardstown Road does not have as many urban looking bulidings but it has much more day and night pedestrian activty than anyhwere in Cincinnati. There is good bars and nightlife there. There are plenty of hills around Cherokee Road and Cherokee and Seneca Parks in this region.

Along the Frankfort Avenue corridor in Louisville is where it reminds me more of Cincinnati, perhaps Mount Lookout area.

Louisville also has nice hills, but nothing like Cincinati or Pittsburgh, where the hills are larger.

Old Louisville is somewhat comprable to Over the Rhine, although alot safer. Downtown Louisville and Cincinnati still need lots of improvement. They are about equal from a nightlife standopoint, but Cincy has substantially more density, office jobs, as well as retail in their downtown (although all retail closes super early and has limited selections compared with suburban malls IMO).

Finally, you shouldn't judge too much by google maps..read about the city or come see it yourself! remember although Louisville is part Midwestern, it is also SOuthern and therefore has a different layout and urban history than its Midwest neighbors.

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by Off Topic

No problem with restaurants, bookstores, museums or activities in the main part of downtown. The library is at the far end, however, and would make a nice hike from the river. Not impossible, but still a decent walk.

The biggest downside by far is the lack of a good grocery store downtown that you can walk to.

There are actually two very good urban/specialty grocers downtown. While it is true that there is no large Kroger or large supermarket (there is, however, "ghetto Kroger" located in SoBro at 4th and Breckenride), these small grocers provide the staples like milk, bread, cheese, etc. There is also a nice wine shop, and even the CVS on Fourth street live carries a few of the staples like milk, bread, cheese, etc.

The Bodega at Felice Home Page

New life in Theater Square brings hope of resurgence for restaurant/nightspot district at Fourth and Broadway - Business First of Louisville:

[PhillytoCincy]

Originally Posted by stx12499

Yes and Yes. Louisville's Highlands IMO is much better than anything in Cincinnati. It mixes urban parks with grocery, any kind of food, late night cafe, movie theatre, etc all within walking distance. It is much more pedestrian active than anywhere in Cincinnati. From a pedestrian standpoint, it is similar to southside in Pittsburgh but not as "urban looking" and certainly probably safer. The commerical corridor of Bardstown Road does not have as many urban looking bulidings but it has much more day and night pedestrian activty than anyhwere in Cincinnati. There is good bars and nightlife there. There are plenty of hills around Cherokee Road and Cherokee and Seneca Parks in this region.

Along the Frankfort Avenue corridor in Louisville is where it reminds me more of Cincinnati, perhaps Mount Lookout area.

Louisville also has nice hills, but nothing like Cincinati or Pittsburgh, where the hills are larger.

Old Louisville is somewhat comprable to Over the Rhine, although alot safer. Downtown Louisville and Cincinnati still need lots of improvement. They are about equal from a nightlife standopoint, but Cincy has substantially more density, office jobs, as well as retail in their downtown (although all retail closes super early and has limited selections compared with suburban malls IMO).

Finally, you shouldn't judge too much by google maps..read about the city or come see it yourself! remember although Louisville is part Midwestern, it is also SOuthern and therefore has a different layout and urban history than its Midwest neighbors.

You don't find too many downtowns with a Nordstrom, Saks, and Macy's downtown like Cincinnati.

[JefferyT]

There isnt a Nordstrom in downtown Cincy. Its out in the suburbs.

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by JefferyT

There isnt a Nordstrom in downtown Cincy. Its out in the suburbs.

And it just opened. Also, in many regards, if I lived in Cincinnati, I would choose to shop at Nordstrom over Saks. I was recently in town shopping, and I must say that Saks closes very early and also has a pretty weak selection, especially as Saks goes. That said, I think it is a very nice thing to have a Saks and Macys in downtown Cincy.

[JefferyT]

The downtown Saks is actually subsidized by the city, or so I've read. I think the Macys is kept open since Cincy is the corporate HQ for the parent company.

But geez, who can afford it? I saw a green Burberry field jacket at Saks for over $800. Sticker shock.