LOUISVILLE, Ky. — If you walk around Louisville's West End community, it won’t take long to notice a troubling trend. Elmore George III, who has lived in the West End his whole life, said countless boarded houses are going to waste. 

“The West End used to be real beautiful, had nice trees, tree lines, and the houses were nice,” said George.

That memory has been replaced with vacant houses and abandoned buildings. 

“We just ran it down. We need to get it back together,” he said. 

George may soon see big changes in the community he loves so much. One West, a community development corporation, is focused on restoring the West End’s vibrancy by growing its commercial development to boost employment opportunities and business development.  

The organization has multiple projects in the works. 

The Royal Theater one Broadway is being improved into a 10-unit commercial retail center. According to One West plans, the retail center will hold a convenience store, restaurant, daycare center, dentist, nail salon, barbershops, a clothing store and a pawn store.  

A five-story vacant warehouse, also on Broadway, is being improved into a mixed used building. One West will manage office and retail spaces on the lower floor. The plan is to partner with Housing Partnership Inc. to use the upper floors for affordable senior housing units.  

“We really don’t have any places to sit down and eat. Everything is fast food,” George added. 

Soon there will be. On 18th Street, a vacant lot and two shotgun houses will be transformed into two restaurant accelerators with outside dining space. 

“I've been on this corner by myself for a long time,” said Pamela Haines, the owner of Sweet Peaches deli and bakery on 18th Street.

Haines is excited for new restaurants to join the street. 

“A long time there was nothing down here. There was no hope of nothing even coming down here, and then when One West came and they saw the opportunity, I'm glad that they did because we needed something down here, and they have given us hope,” said Haines.  

Haines said One West was one of her first catering clients eight years ago, and when COVID hit, the organization kept her busy with orders to feed the community. 

“I made it through the COVID because of One West and the generosity,” said Haines.  

The restaurant incubator will also be available for small performances and community art activities. 

“Once we get things back together and stuff, I think it's gonna be very nice,” said George. “In 10 years, I think those who are trying to move out will try to move back here.”

Charter Communications makes a $1 million donation to Louisville's Hope Credit Union (Right to left in 1st photo) Mario Anderson, Nat Irvin II, Sadiqa Reynolds, Rhonda Crichlow, Dave Christopher, Bill Bynum & Jeffrey Buller (Spectrum News 1/Mario Anderson)

One West is one of the organizations benefitting from a donation from Spectrum News 1's parent company, Charter. Wednesday, Aug. 25  at the Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center — Charter Communications gave $1 million to Louisville's Hope Credit Union. 

Gov. Andy Beshear, Sen. president Robert Stivers (R) and others were on hand.

The money will be used to provide loans to small businesses that suport core needs in underserved communities.  The goal is to help create new jobs and make businesses stronger. 

In all Charter provided $3 million to invest in small businesses in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama.