Russell: A Place of Promise (RPOP) is a justice-based initiative focused on generating investments in the people and places that make Louisville’s Russell neighborhood special.

RPOP will incorporate as a nonprofit designed and led by Russell residents in 2024, but currently receives incubation support from Cities United and has recently transitioned from fiscal sponsorship from the Community Foundation of Louisville. As part of its evolution toward independence, RPOP has ended its incubation with Louisville Metro Government, but remains connected to LMG through LMG’s commitment to provide land to support RPOP’s wealth building activities.

RPOP’s flagship project will be located at the southwest corner of 30th Street and Madison Street, on a 5-acre property currently owned by Louisville Metro Government that was formally committed to RPOP in 2022 through a memorandum of agreement and a declaration of surplus property that named RPOP as the future owner.

RPOP has been working since 2018 to gather input from Russell residents about what this development should include and how it should look, hosting pitch sessions, community polls and design sessions. RPOP is proud that residents have selected local partners, including a Black-owned and operated childcare provider, retail marketplace, hydroponic food producer, and coffee shop as the first four tenants.

Additional commercial uses will align with four resident-identified focus areas: community & family, arts & culture, entrepreneurship and wellness, and could include a laundromat, recreational amenity, gallery or museum space, business and professional offices, and outdoor event space.

RPOP is actively seeking additional tenants for the site. The development will represent an investment of ~$150 million over multiple phases, will clean up a long-abandoned brownfield property, and generate public revenue through the jobs and sales created there.