18
By Matthew Glowicki – Louisville Courier-Journal
Mar 18, 2026
March 18, 2026, 5:01 a.m. ET
A 37-acre piece of vacant land in the City of Douglass Hills, one of the last undeveloped areas along Blankenbaker Parkway, is slated to welcome residential and commercial redevelopment.
The Reichenbach farmland property at 718 Watterson Trail would be turned into hundreds of apartments and a retail center, under a plan from local developer Hagan Properties.
The residential side, about 25 acres, would include three-story apartment and two-story townhouse buildings totaling 434 units (398 apartments and 36 townhomes).
This housing development would also include a dog park, pool, playground area, green space and a clubhouse.
An additional 12 acres is slated for development of a retail center, plans for which are still in flux but could include a grocery store, fast food restaurant and a gas station.
“I’m all for smart growth … and Blankenbaker is becoming a pretty good artery that has a mix of businesses and homes,” Douglass Hills Mayor Bonnie Jung said. “The opportunity opened up, and it’s wonderful to increase our population, as well.”
Jung said her administration has worked with Hagan Properties on the plans, for the northwest corner of Blankenbaker Parkway and Watterson Trail, since 2023.
Three years ago, the development was initially proposed to have 637 apartments, though that plan drew community pushback for its density and layout.
“We felt it was too much,” Jung said of the former plans.
The project recently secured a key rezoning ask that paves the way for construction.
A change from single-family residential to multi-family and commercial was recommended for approval by the Louisville Metro Planning Commission in December 2025 and approved by the City of Douglass Hills Council in early March.
A timeline for the project is dependent on a roadway project that could begin as early as this year.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is in late planning stages of widening Watterson Trail from two to three lanes, adding a two-way left turn lane.
Hagan’s development won’t proceed until the Watterson Trail improvements are made, noted project attorney John Talbott at the December Planning Commission meeting.
Talbott also noted while there is a detailed residential plan, there is currently only a general plan for the commercial side of the project, development of which would come after multifamily housing.
He mentioned the possibility of “something like a Wawa,” a coffee shop, a grocery (site plans show a proposed 65,400-square-foot grocery) and either fast food restaurants or retail.
The developer’s previous projects include Shelbyville Road Plaza, Middletown Station, and Poplar Creek Plaza, and it also has built multifamily housing at the Station at Middletown, 9910 Sawyer Apartments and Victory Knoll.
Douglass Hills is also set to welcome a new Publix location at Blankenbaker Plaza. No opening date is yet set.
“The whole corridor of Blankenbaker, we’re thrilled to death with the growth that’s coming,” Jung said.