Louisville makes deal to build $65 million movie production facility

The city of Louisville is moving to take advantage of new movie and TV production tax incentives in Kentucky.

Last year the state reinacted a 30-35% tax credit for feature films, Broadway productions and television shows. Now, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer has announced a $65 million project to develop the historic Louisville Gardens building into 40,000 square feet of studio space divided among four stages.

The project is projected to break ground in 2023, with stages available for use in 2025. The plans includes restoring the façade of the Louisville Gardens back to the original design of the Louisville Armory and redeveloping the internal structure to construct soundstages, retail space, and a public museum.

502 Film is a nonprofit that connects visiting productions with resources in the greater Louisville region. “This investment from the River City Entertainment Group will not only allow our crew and creatives to remain local and flourish in our city, but it will also attract more productions and investments, growing our workforce and overall creative economy,” said the nonprofit's Soozie Eastman.

River City Entertainment Group will lay out a timeline for structural, environmental and other items related to the building to determine the estimated total renovation costs, the assessment of community benefits, and the availability of incentives that will be necessary to commence the revitalization of the building.

The Louisville Gardens opened in 1905 as the Jefferson County Armory, home of the Louisville Legion militia battalion before becoming primarily an entertainment venue in the 1920s. It has hosted events including Golden Gloves tournament with a young Muhammad Ali, rallies with Martin Luther King Jr., and concerts headlined by Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder.

Paving the way for the project was the 2021 passage by the Kentucky General Assembly of a bill reinstating the Kentucky Film Tax Credit, allowing the state to approve up to $75 million of refundable tax credits annually for film and entertainment productions made in the state.



Artist's conception of downtown Louisville Gardens renovation for future movie and TV production.  (Louisville Film Commission)