Parkway Place is a 640-unit (636 dwelling and four non-dwelling), 38.2-acre public housing site located in the Algonquin neighborhood of West Louisville (see site map). The site is the only remaining large, distressed, barracks-style family public housing development remaining in the city and LMHA’s inventory. Built in 1943 when the country was experiencing material shortages brought on by the war, the site’s 58 two-story, walk-up buildings are constructed of hollow glazed tiles, with concrete floors and ceilings.
Management and Maintenance offices are located on-site And the Louisville Metro Police Department has a satellite office within that same building. A computer lab and the resident council office is located across from the Management office. The site also offers a small community garden for residents, with an adjacent playground and paved walking track.
The Parkhill Community Center contains a gymnasium, a computer lab, a multi-use room for youth activities, and offices for Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation staff. Metro Parks operates the Community Center and provides a variety of programs, Monday through Friday. A Dare to Care food pantry is also operated out of the Community Center, and a large playfield and some additional playground equipment are located behind the Center. The Keystone Learning Academy is located adjacent to the Community Center
The Mabel Wiggins Center is also located on the southern border of the site at the corner of 13th Street and Algonquin Parkway. The Center currently houses the LMHA’s Special Programs Department, and the Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place, one of seven Neighborhood Places in Louisville. A variety of organizations offer programming and services at the Neighborhood Place including Jefferson County Public Schools, several Louisville Metro Government Departments. McFerran Elementary School is located behind the Neighborhood Place.
The Parkway Place site and its buildings are severely distressed with numerous design deficiencies, and aging mechanical systems and infrastructure. Many residents report not feeling safe within their community due to the site’s high rate of crime, which is often committed by non-residents who target Parkway because of its high-risk population. While long-term plans for Parkway Place are being developed and implemented, LMHA is working to stabilize the site through increased security and better lease enforcement.