Growing up in E-town, housing wasn’t something anyone really thought about. Neighborhoods were neighborhoods, homes were just part of the backdrop, and no one questioned whether there were enough options. But looking at it today, it’s clear that outdated zoning has made it harder, not easier, for people to find homes that fit their needs. For years, zoning has favored big single-family lots, making anything else—duplexes, triplexes, apartments over shops—nearly impossible to build. The result? A housing market that doesn’t always fit the people who need it. Younger folks who want to stay here struggle to find affordable options, older residents looking to downsize have nowhere to go, and small-scale builders face so much red tape that it’s often easier to just walk away.
But E-town is changing. The city is embracing incremental development, repurposing underutilized spaces, and exploring pre-approved housing plans to streamline construction.
The industrial portions of downtown are starting to evolve too, forcing a rethink of what mixed-use development could look like. Some of these older structures are being repurposed into hubs of activity, blending commercial, residential, and creative spaces in ways that make downtown more dynamic. This shift is sparking conversations about rezoning entirely, form-based zoning, incentivizing adaptive reuse, and opening the door for new businesses and living spaces in areas that have been overlooked for years. It’s exactly the kind of bottom-up, resourceful growth that Strong Towns advocates for—building on what’s already there instead of stretching resources thin.
E-town really is at a turning point. Leaders realize it isn’t about cramming in high-rises or changing the soul of the city—it’s about making sure people have real choices. Housing isn’t just about buildings. It’s about creating a place where people can put down roots, whether they’re fresh out of school, raising a family, or looking to retire without leaving behind the community they love.
In the '70s and '80s, downtown Elizabethtown was the heart of the community—a place where neighbors ran into each other, small businesses thrived, and life happened on foot. Then, a big shift happened. Businesses and development chased the cheaper land outside town. Farmland became parking lots, businesses turned into chains, and everything was spread so far apart that driving became the only option. Convenience won, but at the cost of the energy and connection that made downtown thrive.
But here’s the good news—Elizabethtown is making a comeback. Instead of chasing sprawl, the city is embracing smart, people-first development. There’s a renewed focus on breathing life back into historic buildings, turning them into shops, restaurants, and gathering spaces. The city’s urban trail system is creating real connections between neighborhoods, making it easier to walk and bike, not just drive. And programs like Vision Zero are making streets safer by prioritizing people over speed, with improved crosswalks and traffic-calming features.
The goal isn’t to turn back time, but to make sure that what’s built actually makes sense for the people who live here. A thriving, connected downtown isn’t just good for nostalgia—it’s good for business, good for the local economy, and good for making Elizabethtown a place where people want to put down roots.
Elizabethtown is starting to rethink the role of parking in its future. New discussions around reducing or eliminating parking minimums are gaining traction, recognizing that land should be used for people, not just for cars. We’re seeing increased support for shared parking agreements, allowing businesses to make better use of existing spaces instead of requiring costly, redundant lots.
Beyond just policy, advocates are working alongside the city to reimagine parking lots as multi-use spaces—not just dead zones for cars, but opportunities for public gathering places, pop-up markets, housing, and better urban design.
Perhaps the biggest idea entering the city’s conscious is the Elizabethtown Downtown Strategy, a plan that not only considers these parking challenges but also rethinks existing alleyways as a secondary pedestrian network. Instead of treating these spaces as forgotten backstreets, advocates looking at them as walkable corridors—places where people can park and then experience a more connected, human-scaled downtown. By repurposing these spaces, we’re freeing up the public realm for activity and safety, creating a more vibrant, accessible city core.
Obviously, these changes aren't happening overnight, but E-town is moving in the right direction. Every space that becomes a business instead of a parking lot, every new policy that prioritizes people over asphalt—that’s a win for the future!
Communication between city leaders and residents isn’t just about scheduling meetings—it’s about meeting people where they are.
Mayor Jeff Gregory, City Administrator Ed Poppe, and Planning Director Joe Reverman and his team get this. They’re not just sitting behind desks waiting for feedback. They’re out in the community, making sure people understand what’s happening with planning and zoning in a way that feels accessible and resonant. One of the best stories Ed shared was about a kiosk the city set up inside Walmart. Because let’s be honest, in a small Kentucky town like Elizabethtown, just about everyone ends up at Walmart at some point. And sure enough, more people stopped by that little booth to ask questions about planning and zoning than had ever shown up to a formal public meeting. People who would’ve never thought to attend a city hall meeting—busy parents, older residents, folks just running errands—were suddenly engaged in conversations about their community, all because the city met them where they were. That’s how it works here.
And now, there’s a push to expand how technology can help reach even more people. Instead of digging through complex regulations or waiting for the next public meeting, people could ask questions online, get AI-assisted guidance, and be directed toward information that actually makes sense and leads to real action. It’s another way of making sure that engagement isn’t just for the people who have time to sit through long meetings, but for anyone who wants to understand their city and have a say in how it grows.
That’s what makes E-town different. It’s not just about checking a box that says, Yes, we held a public meeting. It’s about real conversations, in real places, with real people—and now, in the digital spaces where people already get their information. That’s how you build trust, and that’s how you build a town that actually reflects the people who call it home.
