By HILARY HOWARD
The New York Times

"There is a cultural revolution happening here," said Gill Holland of the growing downtown arts scene in Louisville, Ky. Citing artist-friendly real estate prices comparable with those of Austin, Tex., 12 years ago, Mr. Holland and his wife, Augusta, former New Yorkers, recently snapped up properties in Louisville¹s hip but slightly depressed East Market Street area, including a 110-year-old warehouse, which they gutted and transformed into a cultural
center. Named the Green Building it¹s expected to receive platinum status from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System it will open on Sept. 27 with an exhibition featuring nine local artists.

On its ground floor, 732 Social, the second restaurant by the owners of the James Beard Award-nominated Basa, will open next month. Along West Main Street, another arts-centric building, Museum Plaza, is scheduled to open in 2011. The tower, spearheaded by the owners of 21C, a hotel and art gallery that opened in 2006, will house a Westin Hotel, condominiums, a museum, artist studios and gallery space.