Louisville Real Estate Blog

Google Fiber

by BEA METTS, Agent and Co-owner

Construction on Google Fiber in the Louisville Metro began in June but the Highlands was just wired in August when technicians landed in the neighborhood.

Hutchins Telecom dug a micro-trench about 2 inches deep and a ½ inch wide beginning August 30. This trench stars around Tyler Lane and Whiteway Avenue in the Gardiner Lane neighborhood. Prior to hitting the Highlands, similar trenches went down in the Portland neighborhood and a small portion of the Newburg area. While Google Fiber has refused to comment on which neighborhoods will be wired next or the rate of progress toward completion, it is clear Google is here to stay.

Making that abundantly clear was the recent ruling against AT&T. A judge ruled that AT&T’s lawsuit against Google regarding utility poles should be dropped cementing Google as a future internet service provider in the area. This is good news for the Highlands because business owners and homeowners will soon have more choice in how they get connected. In addition, Fiber is purported to offer a significant speed increase from the services that are currently available.

Source: The Courier-Journal

Just Not Literally

by BEA METTS, Agent and Co-owner

On the night of August 12, the historic monument of John Breckenridge Castleman was vandalized with someone painting the words “Never Again” on the side of his horse.

Castleman was a Confederate officer in the Civil War which is the most likely cause of this vandalism due to the recent events in Charlottesville, Va.  Authorities have yet to catch those who committed the vandalism on the statue. However, they are searching for the vandals as the statue is circa 1913 and is made from bronze which makes it of some value. In addition to this, the cleanup was an obstacle for city workers who were unsure how to proceed because of the material in question. Since then the job has been billed at $8,200.

Residents of the Highlands expressed disappointment at the vandalism, but some empathized with the vandals as well because of the connection between Confederates and the recent wave of white supremacists. Mayor Fischer has called for a review of all city art for links to slavery calling for residents to consider all viewpoints of history. If you have any information on the vandalism you should contact authorities. Alternatively, if you have an opinion on the statue you should contact city representatives to request information on how best to express your views. The Highlands neighborhood is an historic neighborhood but it is known for being quirky, fun and inviting. Let’s keep it that way!

Source: The Courier-Journal

Louisville’s Zombie Walk

by BEA METTS Agent/Co-Owner

On Aug. 26, 2017 at 8:29 p.m., the undead will descend on Louisville with a plague of over 42,000. The Louisville Zombie Walk is a free event located on Bardstown Road.

While the walk itself begins at 8:29, showing up early will give you time to explore the area — taking in the live music, food, participants in costume and the all-new zombie market. If you are considering becoming undead yourself, there will be a costume contest in front of Hopcat beginning at 6:30 p.m. Categories for the contest include: scariest zombie, funniest zombie, hottest zombie, best child zombie and best zombie couple. The contest does not have an entry fee. Winners will be announced on Stage 2 in the Party Zone at 11 p.m.

If being a member of the legion of walking dead is not quite your thing, feel free to explore the area bars, restaurants and shops that will be participating in the festivities. Take a moment to swing by the costume contest, and cast your vote in each category. While you’re at it, be sure to get your LZW cup for specials at local bars. For participating locations you can visit: http://louisvillezombiewalk.com/vendors/#.WX612ojyu00.

Have a lively night with the undead!

St. Joseph Children’s Home Does Summer

by BEA METTS Agent/Co-owner

For 167 years St. Joseph Children’s Home has hosted the annual picnic that benefits the children they serve. The largest picnic in Kentucky averages attendance at 60,000 for Saturday alone!

If you are looking for something to do on August 11 or 12, you can mark the 168^th annual picnic on your calendar. Volunteers gather to host games, serve food and drinks, direct parking and man the various booths throughout the weekend. The picnic is Friday from 5-11 p.m. and Saturday from noon until midnight. Friday night there will be live music from 6 p.m. until closing. The opening band is Danny Flannigan and The Rain Chorus followed by Rumours: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac.

St. Joseph Children’s Home is located at 2823 Frankfort Ave., and the picnic will be on the front lawn. You will find some parking on Brownsboro Road and additional parking will be located at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a shuttle service available. The primary sponsor this year is Kosair Children’s Charities with various other corporate sponsors located throughout the metro area. For more information on booths and activities, please visit http://sjkids.org/picnic/.

Or so The Cereal Box hopes…

by BEA METTS, Co-owner and Agent

Everyone knows that you can find unique eats in the Highlands but The Cereal Box is taking that to a new level.

When you were a kid you may have fantasized about mixing your Cookie Crisps with your Fruit Loops. Well, now that fantasy can be a reality. The Cereal Box is opening at 612 Baxter Avenue in the near future. Permits are in their final stages, and this project has been in the works for about four years. Owner, Eric Richardson, lives in the Highlands and is excited to see his project come to life. He believes the Highlands to be the perfect location for his cereal café because of its reputation for quirky restaurants and shops.

Upon opening, there will be 22 cereals from which to choose. You will also be able to choose from different milks and the cereals can be mixed. In addition, there are toppings such as caramel, fruit and whipped cream. Aside from bowls of cereal with toppings, you can get a cereal milkshake, a cereal treat, cereal treat ice cream sandwiches and bowls that are made from cereal. While enjoying your treat, watch traditional Saturday morning cartoons.

Richardson's hope is that the venue will be something that crosses generations so families can enjoy the café together.

Source: Insider Louisville

Bicycle stations similar to Red Box, but with no fee

by BEA METTS Managing Partner/Agent

Last month Louisville’s new bike sharing program, Louvelo, was announced as a supplement to current public transportation in the city. Louvelo is part of the Move Louisville transportation plan. Move Louisville is intended to increase accommodations for pedestrians, cyclists and public transit riders.

Louvelo offers several “stations” in and around downtown where people can find bikes, ride them to their desired location and then drop them off at the same station or a different one. The service is intended to work like free Red Box for bikes and will hopefully ease traffic and contribute to a greener city. To begin the program, more than 300 bicycles have been purchased and placed in downtown, Old Louisville and NuLu. There is no charge to use a bike and you can use the Transit app to find the current stations. Fifteen more stations are currently being built with one located in the Highlands.

Give your wallet a break, enjoy the summer weather and avoid traffic by taking advantage of this program. The bikes are especially helpful if you don’t want to lose your parking spot and have a short distance to go. This program just adds another layer to the Highlands; making it possible for almost anyone to lead a life independent of a motorized vehicle in one of Louisville’s most walkable neighborhoods.

Source: The Courier-Journal

What’s going on around town?

by BEA METTS, Co-Owner, Agent

Celebrating the Fourth of July near the Highlands is a piece of cake. There are several events around town to strike your fancy.

In the Crescent Hill area, at 301 S. Peterson Ave., there is the Fourth of July Festival which will include live entertainment, booths, a food court and a pet contest. It will be held July 3 from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. and July 4 from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. with fireworks on the 4^th beginning at 10 p.m.

If you want to venture down to the Waterfront, there are several activities happening from fireworks to flea markets. The Louisville Waterfront Fourth begins on the Great Lawn at 5 p.m. on July 4. There will be vendors, a beer garden, music and fireworks beginning at 10 p.m. If you’re more interested in the flea market, you can visit the Kentucky Exposition Center the entire weekend or hit up the Fleur de Flea Vintage Urban Market at 231 Witherspoon St. on Saturday, July 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition to festivals, fireworks and flea markets, several businesses and restaurants are having sales or special cuisine. Be sure to check with your favorite venue to see what they have planned. One advantage to living in a walkable neighborhood like the Highlands is being able to celebrate without leaving home.

Source: The Courier-Journal

Finding your niche

by BEA METTS Managing Partner/Agent

Every year Niche.com ranks neighborhoods in major metro areas across the country. Rankings are based on statistics as well as expert insight.

The Highlands neighborhood in Louisville was ranked in the top five for millennials. The youthful vibe along with walkability and access to amenities like restaurants and public transportation all played a role. In addition, the Highlands area offers many rentals for millennials that are not yet ready to buy or those who are looking for a property they can live in and supplement their income with roommates or tenants.

The Highlands came in at number 19 of 64 neighborhoods overall for the best place to live in the Louisville area. This puts the neighborhood in the top one third — and, as its reputation continues to grow with the next generation of homebuyers, inventory will decrease and values will go up.

If you are looking for a home in the Highlands neighborhood, now is a good time to buy and begin building equity in your investment. You can reach out to any of our agents for help in finding your next home or investment property. Or, if you are interested in selling your Highlands home, we can help you find the perfect buyer.

Source: Niche.com

This Fiber is Brain Food

by MIKE HALL, Owner/Broker/Agent

Louisville has been getting a lot of press across the nation as an up-and-coming city. There is a happening food scene, population growth, new industry — and now Google is setting up shop by building a Google Fiber network in Jefferson county.

Google Fiber provides a faster Internet connection with speeds up to 1,000 megabits per second; 20 times faster than the currently available connections in the area. This faster speed will open the door for tech companies to set up shop in Louisville, meaning more jobs in the area that appeal to a younger population which heightens Louisville’s reputation as a growth center. Fiber will also mean more options for homeowners as it can provide a connection for television as well possibly impacting current Internet and television providers in the area.

Google’s interest in Louisville further confirms that the city is on a trajectory for growth and improvement. This is good news for property owners in the area. If you do not yet own property in the Louisville Metro area, now would be a good time to enter the market. You can reach out to an agent and get in on the upswing. Dates for construction and implementation of Google Fiber have not yet been announced.

Source: The Courier Journal