Through a partnership with Norton Healthcare, residents living at this development who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare will also be eligible to participate in a variety of paid training programs that are designed to lead to full-time employment with the region’s largest healthcare provider. 

February 14, 2023

Mayor Craig Greenberg and other elected officials joined with representatives from LDG Development to break ground on a development that will serve local families who earn between 30-80 percent of the area median income or up to $67,000 annually (for a family of four).  Located in the historic Russell Neighborhood, the development represents a $75 million investment into the area and  brings new high quality housing to this growing part of the community. Through a partnership with Norton Healthcare, residents living at this development who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare will also be eligible to participate in a variety of paid training programs that are designed to lead to full-time employment with the region’s largest healthcare provider. 

“Quality housing paired with promising career opportunities are essential to having a thriving and vibrant neighborhood,” said Mayor Greenberg.  “Today’s groundbreaking is not only about housing; it is also about providing the hundreds of families who will live here   tools that can change the trajectory of their lives.”

Located at 610 S. 29^th Street — steps from the Norton West Louisville Hospital under construction at 28th and Broadway — The Eclipse will provide 280 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartment homes that include a variety of unit and community amenities.  This includes spacious floor plans; a clubhouse that will include business and fitness centers, children’s play area, bike storage, and outdoor seating area.  Additionally, as a LOU 2.2 community—an initiative introduced by LDG last spring and provides a pathway to addressing Louisville’s on-going housing shortage by developing more than 2,200 units of housing, including 1,300 units of affordable housing that is supported by wrap around services.

From onsite after school and out of school time activities that are focused on boosting reading scores, to access to healthcare services that are provided by Norton Healthcare and reflects the system’s commitment to addressing healthcare disparities in underserved populations, The Eclipse residents will have access to services that are focused on improving outcomes . 

Russ Cox, president and CEO of Norton Healthcare, says that the benefits The Eclipse residents will have access to extends beyond the quality care the system is committed to providing.  This includes a partnership with LDG that will allow residents living at the development who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare to have paid training that could lead to full-time employment a Norton facility.

“Communities grow stronger when organizations come together through innovative partnerships and collaborations that benefit families,” said Cox. “By providing access to housing and pathways towards sustainable careers, Norton Healthcare is proud to continue this cooperative approach with LDG Development to support our city.”

In a similar partnership with Jefferson Community Technical College, LDG is introducing a program that will train residents interested in pursuing a career in property management and maintenance.

Dr. Ty Handy, President and CEO of Jefferson Community and Technical College, says that the partnership with LDG reflects its commitment to providing training and education that will allow students to more quickly move into the workforce.

“Jefferson is ready to deliver customized training programs for projects like these that help communities grow talent from within,” Handy said. “We’re here to help residents at The Eclipse and those living in the Russell Neighborhood become trained and prepared so that they’re able to apply for those high-wage, high-demand careers in the same neighborhood and community in which they live.”

The planned programming and services that will be offered at The Eclipse reflects LDG’s commitment to go beyond providing housing that enriches the lives of residents.  Chris Dischinger, co-principal and founder of LDG, says this commitment is an extension of the work the company has done for almost 30 years.

“At LDG, we understand that for many families we serve, housing is only the first step in helping to improve their overall quality of life,” said Dischinger.

“That is why we expanded our definition of ‘quality housing’ to include services that can change the trajectory of the lives who will one day call The Eclipse home.”

Financing for this development was provided through a number of sources: Kentucky Housing Corporation; Huntington Community Development Corporation; Fifth Third Bank; Louisville Metro Government ARP funding via the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund; and JLL Real Estate Capital.  In addition, many of the units are Project Based Voucher units awarded through Louisville Metro Housing Authority as part of the HUD Choice Neighborhood Initiative Grant revitalization and relocation plans for Beecher Terrace.

This development is named after The Eclipse Park, which is now known as Elliot Park and is part of The Olmsted Conservancy of Parks.  Located just minutes from the planned development, this recreational outdoor space once served as the home field for the major league baseball team, The Colonels. To acknowledge the rich history of the area, LDG plans to issue a request for proposal and work with local artists who have ties to the Russell community to develop artwork that will be featured in the clubhouse.

Dischinger says that the decision to move forward with The Eclipse and incorporate features that have ties to the neighborhood reflect LDG’s early roots when the company first began developing single family homes mostly in west Louisville.  Although LDG now focuses on developing multi-family housing and has created more than 20,000 units of apartment homes in eight states, the commitment to helping to revitalize underserved parts of the community can be traced back to the firms commitment to Louisville.

“The growth, investment and change occurring in west Louisville is long overdue and desperately needed to help our entire community realize its full potential,” said Dischinger.  “LDG wants to be a part of helping to bring about the changes needed by bringing in resources that can benefit this entire neighborhood.”

Construction is expected to last at least 24 months and LDG hopes to welcome its first resident in the 4^th quarter of 2024.