The Russell neighborhood, which begins three-quarters of a mile due west of JCTC, was a thriving center of business and culture in Louisville until the 1960s, when misguided urban-renewal attempts led to disinvestment, a concentration of poverty, and many vacant and abandoned properties among other pervasive issues. Today, the 920-acre neighborhood is beginning to attract new investment as part of a focused city initiative to improve the quality of life in West Louisville. Goody Clancy developed housing and neighborhood transformation strategies as part of a team led by EJP, working with the Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA), city leaders, and community members to revitalize Russell into a place of opportunity for its residents.

Goody Clancy was involved in an extensive public-engagement process, including recurrent task force meetings and a series of larger public meetings, to define a set of goals and strategies tailored to local needs and resources. Based on this input, the housing and neighborhood plan components address:

• Replacing 768 units of public housing as part of a larger mixed-income development 
• Repurposing vacant lots in the neighborhood for community use
• Supporting growth of neighborhood services, businesses and jobs, including connections with nearby downtown reinvestment
• Increasing green space and tree canopy
• Strengthening transportation networks for improved access
• The plan helped secure a nearly $30 million HUD implementation grant for public housing redevelopment, now underway.