LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Metro Council passed an Anti-Displacement Ordinance in 2023 to combat gentrification, including a tool to assess whether a developer’s project could displace residents.

While it has taken longer than expected to finalize the tool, the Planning and Zoning Committee put it to a vote Tuesday.

The city developed the Anti-Displacement Assessment Tool, along with researchers from multiple universities across the U.S. It measures the impact a potential developer seeking resources from the Louisville Metro Government would have on residents in the area to ensure they won’t get displaced.

“Whenever a development proposal is coming to Metro Council, you as a community member can see exactly how it will impact your community,” said District 4 Councilman Jecorey Arthur, the Anti-Displacement Assessment Ordinance’s sponsor.

Several housing advocates attended Tuesday’s Planning and Zoning Committee meeting, wearing red in support of the Anti-Displacement Assessment Tool’s passage.

It was also met with support from councilmembers and passed unanimously. It will now move to the entire council.

“We are ecstatic, and this is a win not just for people across the city of Louisville, but for this country because there has never been an innovative tool like this before,” said Jessica Bellamy, lead organizer of the Anti-Displacement Ordinance campaign.

The tool will be used to analyze data on city investment, rent trends and census statistics to predict how proposed developments will affect the community.

Arthur said other cities have expressed interest in this tool, and if the full council passes it, he wants to see Louisville work with those cities to implement it in other places.

The entire council will vote on the Anti-Displacement Assessment Tool during a Thursday, Nov. 21 meeting.