Norton Commons History
It's hard to believe that Norton Commons will be turning 12 this fall, but that is exactly what will be happening. The groundbreaking was in November of 2004. Since then, despite the sluggish economy, the subdivision has continued to bloom and blossom.
Norton Commons is named after the late WAVE-TV founder George W. Norton. Prior to construction in 2004, the 600-acre site was at one time the WAVE Farm, where demonstrations, interviews, and exhibits were broadcast weekly in the mid-1950s. Of the 600 acres in the master plan, 150 acres have been set aside for park space. The traditional neighborhood development has been planned to contain 2,800 housing units. The neighborhood is technically in the southeast area of Prospect and carries a 40059 zip code.
The neighborhood amenities currently in place include two pools, an amphitheater, a dog park, and a rose garden! There are currently over 50 businesses that call Norton Commons their home, including restaurants and professional services like doctors and dentists. For additional information about Norton Commons, see the homes and condos below as well as info below them about the neighborhood.
New Urbanist
Norton Commons was designed by new urbanism world renowned architects Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, LLC (DPZ). You may recognize some of their projects including Celebration and Seaside in Florida. DPZ has been developing great places to live around the world for over 35 years. New Urbanism is an urban design movement which promotes walkable neighborhoods containing a range of housing and job types.
Homeowners of all stages of life, from first-time owners, to retirees with an empty nest, will find the right home at Norton Commons. Prices begin in the low $200s, and peak over seven figures.
Living in Norton Commons
Over 700 residents currently call Norton Commons home, with another 5,000 expected to move into the neighborhood development over the next two decades as the 600 acres straddling Jefferson and Oldham counties comprising Norton Commons are built-up.
Commuting into downtown takes around 15 minutes, while a drive to Louisville International Airport takes 20 minutes. Meanwhile, transit service is scant, with two local routes -- served by TARC -- nearby upon driving under or over I-71, as well as a park-and-ride at the Ford Motor Company Kentucky Truck Plant near the single express route heading to and from downtown.
Norton Commons is generally bounded by I-71 to the south, Chamberlain Lane to the west, forests to the north, and Brownsboro Road to the east. Access to I-71 and I-265 (the latter known as the Gene Snyder Freeway) is gained by hopping onto Brownsboro Road directly or via Chamberlain Lane. From there, it’s a three-hour drive to Nashville, a two-hour trip to Indianapolis, a 90-minute jaunt to Cincinnati, or a quick 70-minute trek to Lexington.
Norton Commons Parks and Attractions
Unlike a lot of new housing developments in the Louisville Metro area, Norton Commons is a full-fledged neighborhood, with all of the amenities residents expect. Six parks and two dog parks make up some of the 150 acres set aside as green space for the neighborhood, and two neighborhood swimming pools are available, as well as a YMCA.
Petanque Park is a small triangle of space in the southwest corner of the neighborhood along Norton Commons Boulevard. Another, larger, oval-shaped park -- called Oval Park -- lays to the north, with an amphitheater across the street to the west of the park.
Within the commercial core of the neighborhood are a handful of shops, restaurants, and other services guaranteed to meet most of everyone’s needs. Karem’s Grill & Pub serves as the hangout for residents at Norton Commons, along with the newer Commonwealth Tap, Highlands mainstay gift shop Clay & Cotton will open a new location in the neighborhood by Fall 2016, and Complements has almost anything you need to make your new Norton Commons home homier.
Still not enough? A quick hop onto Brownsboro Road southwest-bound will lead you to Paddock Shops, where even more restaurants and shops await your stomach and wallet. From there, head south onto Hurstbourne Parkway to spend the afternoon at the 550-acre E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park, where one can practice their archery skills, let their dogs shake it off at the off-leash dog park, and go for a hike on one of the park’s two trails.
For those feeling the need for a round of 18, GlenOaks Country Club lays nearby Norton Commons in the northeast. Straddling the boundary between Jefferson and Oldham counties, the 18-hole course at GlenOaks has Bermuda fairways and bent grass greens, and can be enjoyed by golfers of all ages and skill. GlenOaks also boasts a swimming pool, full-service dining room, and a year-round social calendar with activities and events at their country club clubhouse.
For events close to home, the amphitheater across from Oval Park has played host to both the Music by the Water summer concert series, and the Corkestra wine-tasting and orchestral show, held every September. Norton Commons was also the site for the 2015 Scheller’s Cycling Criterium short-course speed-cycling race, and will throw its first-ever Art Festival and Spring Home Show mid-May 2016.
The Master Plan
Part of the master plan for Norton Commons included donating land to the YMCA, and Jefferson County Public School System contingent that they would build a facilities on the donated land. Part of that plan became a reality when the Louisville YMCA opened a branch in January of 2014. The new 45,000 square foot facility includes a cool water lap and exercise pool, a fitness area, a walking track. The design for the YMCA includes plans to connect the building to a future Jefferson County Public School with a gymnasium. That Jefferson County Public School is currently under construction as of December of 2015. It is set to open in the fall of 2016.
Norton Commons Schools
Saint Mary Academy serves children of all faiths, races, and nationalities from pre-school to the eighth grade, while Vanguard Academy prepares preschoolers for kindergarten, and operates a summer camp for children ages 5 through 12. Mentioned above, the public Jefferson County school Norton Commons Elementary is set to open in the fall of 2016.
Homearama 2016
Norton Commons has been selected as the site for the 2016 Homearama. Previously they hosted Homearama in 2012 as well as playing host to several charity parades of homes
Norton Commons Realty
