Smoketown Community Land Trust
Louisville
Kentucky
502-616-3560
2024
Yes
Our mission is to empower Smoketown residents and to preserve the rich heritage of the historical Smoketown community. The Smoketown Community Land Trust will work with residents and give them space to make direct contributions to plan, design and build sustainable affordable housing ensuring the longevity of the community, creating pathways to homeownership and revitalizing community pride.
The Smoketown Community Land Trust began in 2020 when a $2.1 million city grant was awarded to a coalition of local organizations to support CLT creation in Russell and Smoketown. Over the next three years, residents shaped the vision through community meetings, events, and an inspiring visit to Lexington CLT. In December 2023, Smoketown CLT officially launched with a celebration at Camp Edwards Community Center. In 2024, the group formed its founding board, set policies, launched its website, and gathered community input on housing plans. By early 2025, they had hired their first Executive Director, hosted visioning sessions and CLT 101 workshops, and broken ground on their first development on Hancock Street.
Louisville Metro Government initiated the CLT by issuing a request for proposals (RFP) for $2.1 million for CLT creation in Louisville.