What the public records show:

"Mayor Greg Fischer's administration has tried since 2017 to transform the city-owned Urban Government Center into a mixed-use project that would replace a collection of aging buildings. The concepts put forth by various real estate companies have included senior housing, a parking garage, a boutique hotel, a farmer's market, a grocery store and a restaurant."

After multiple failed attempts, records reveal:

"The city spent $356,207.10 from its general fund over the past four fiscal years to provide security, mow grass and do other upkeep there, according to spending reports obtained under Kentucky's open records law. Taken together, the public costs are more than 30 percent above the amounts originally budgeted."

And the property is the frequent target of criminal activity:

"Louisville Metro Police Department did not respond to email and phone messages seeking more information about its response to the site.

"The most recently available records from the department, provided through an open records request, show that officers made 21 'calls for service' to the Urban Government Center buildings between May 6 and June 2."

"That could be money-making land, instead of it sitting there," a local resident said. "It's been money-draining land."