A plan to tear down Liberty Hall in Downtown Louisville, also known as the Oddfellows Building, in order to build a new pickleball facility is attracting the ire of preservationists.

We talk about the plans and the response on this week's Access Louisville podcast. LBF Senior Reporter Joel Stinnett is on the show to share details of a press conference he attended on Tuesday, Sept. 2. 

Steve Wiser, of the Louisville Historical League, said during the press conference that he was shocked by the plan for pickleball courts, calling it 'a joke."

Louisville Business First broke the news recently that the Omni Louisville Hotel is planning to build a $12 million pickleball-focused entertainment venue on the property, according to a permit filed with Louisville Metro Planning and Design. The 14,000-square-foot venue would feature four indoor pickleball courts, four outdoor pickleball courts, an indoor restaurant and bar, outdoor yard-game areas and flexible event and gathering spaces, according to the filing. 

The Oddfellows building is one of two downtown structures we chat about on the show. 

Reporter Olivia Estright is also on the show to talk about the recent acquisition of the 800 Tower apartments. The residential building, at 800 S. Fourth St., was purchased by FNMA for just over $20 million, according to a deed filed in June, following foreclosure proceedings against the previous owners.  

We also chat about listening sessions for the proposed revamp of the Belvedere in Downtown Louisville; and a site in Downtown Jeffersonville, Indiana where the mayor wants a grocery store to be built. We also discuss a new tavern that's heading into space in New Albany. 

And at the very end of the show, I mention a report that Isaacs & Isaacs has a new CEO. That gets us talking about our favorite TV lawyer commercials. 

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It's available on popular podcast services including Apple Podcasts and Spotify (which are linked above.) You can also listen in the player above.