Suburban living and convenient city access on the west side of Louisville
When looking at how life in Louisville has changed over the past century, few places show the contrast between the city’s previous eras and the present quite like Shively. A home-rule city surrounded by Louisville, the area was established as an independent area in the 1930s to host eight Kentucky bourbon distilleries nearby. The area would shift focus to residential life in the decades to follow, and after a time of homogeneity during the civil rights era, the Shively area would grow in diversity to form the community present today.
Welcome to Shively.
Dixie Highway runs through Shively.
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Mid-century exteriors, contemporary interiors
Buyers can find a mix of ranchers and Cape Cod and Craftsman-style homes in Shively. Most homes were built between the 1940s and 1960s, with many keeping the exterior stylings of the midcentury era while possessing minor or major interior renovations. Prices start at the $50,000 mark for fixer-uppers and investor specials, with move-in ready homes available near the $140,000s. Home values top out near $300,000, with an average three-bedroom single-family home selling for about $175,000.
Shively streets are lined with sidewalks.
Homebuyers have a wide variety of options available in the Shively neighborhood.
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Shop for everyday goods
Most shopping and dining establishments in Shively are situated along Dixie Highway, with familiar fast food outposts such as McDonald’s, Roosters and Krispy Kreme available alongside local picks such as Wing Station, Big Hopp’s Southern Eatery and Zamzam Restaurant. Shopping centers nearby offer a mix of everyday goods and specialty retailers. Dollar General, CVS, and Walgreens locations sit near Dixie and 7th Street Road, and well-known stores like Foot Locker and Rainbow are also nearby. Residents can find Kroger Marketplace, Aldi, and more shopping options to the south in the Pleasure Ridge Park area, as well as a Roses Discount Store to the west in St. Denis.
Tim Page's Cornerstore is a popular restaurant near Shively.
The Rosewater is a volunteer ran bookstore near the Shively neighborhood.
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Get from Shively to anywhere from Dixie Highway
The Shively area connects to greater Louisville through US-60/Dixie Highway, running north-south through the entire area on its east side and Interstate 264 on the west and south ends of the community. Residents are also connected to the rest of the city by Cane Run Road/KY-1934 on the northwest side. Downtown Louisville is a 6-mile drive northeast. The nearest emergency room is at the University of Louisville Health Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, about 2 miles away. Flights out of the Louisville area depart from Louisville International Airport, 5 miles east of Shively. Residents will likely need to rely on a car for travel, though Transit Authority of River City bus stops are available along Dixie Highway, Cane Run Road and Crums Lane.
Close to multiple Louisville parks
Visually marked by the decommissioned Army tank at its entrance, Shively Park sits just west of Dixie Highway near Park Road. Locals can enjoy 21 acres of green space with gazebos, tennis courts and a playground. The community's southwest side hosts Leeds Park, another local recreation spot with similar amenities. Watterson Lake Park offers a prime spot for fishing and relaxation.
Shively Park has a beautifully painted adidas basketball court.
Algonquin Park is a perfect place to play basketball with friends.
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Studying the fundamentals at Jefferson County schools
Students in Shively can attend schools in the Jefferson County Public Schools district. Local schools include Crums Lane Elementary School, which holds a 13 to 1 student-teacher ratio and a C-minus grade on Niche. Older students study at the C-minus-ranked Stuart Academy Middle School. Doss High School offers pathways for health science, technology and business education for students’ career development. The school earns a C-plus grade on Niche.
Stuart Academy provides opportunities to students across the entire area.
The front yard signage for Doss High School is creative and shows how much pride the school has.
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Distillery tastings, karaoke and pub brews
Shively’s proud tradition as a key port for the Kentucky bourbon trade continues to this day with the presence of multiple distilleries. Residents can visit the Stitzel-Weller Distillery on Fitzgerald Road to enjoy cocktails at the Garden & Gun Club or take a journey into the facility with a tasting tour. Other bars of note nearby include Bud’s Tavern and Ott’s Tavern & Sports Bar, each local favorites with live music, karaoke and pub fare.
Shively's Stitzel Weller Distillery has been open since 1935.
Bud's Tavern is a Shively favorite for food, fun, and drinks.
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Important things to know
Home buyers considering Shively and other northwest Louisville neighborhoods are advised that the area sits just southeast of a complex of 11 industrial plants for gasoline, rubber and chemical manufacturing. Residents have long expressed concerns about the air quality and pollution levels of the area, which was found to have unacceptably high levels of toxic air emissions in studies conducted by the City of Louisville in the early 2000s. A combination of local regulations and grassroots efforts from community organizations have led to an 80% reduction in toxic air contaminants in the area since 2005. Investigation into the industrial plants’ combined impact on the local environment and the health of area residents continues today. Shively’s 7/10 homicide score on the CAP Index is notably higher than the 4/10 national average. The community is included alongside other Louisville areas in the city’s group violence intervention initiatives.
Written By
Hannah Rainey
Video By
Taylor Gilbert
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Kay Cummins-Maum,
an experienced agent in this area.
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