BOB: Saint Joseph
BOB: Saint Joseph
IN PROGRESS: FALL 2026
Saint Joseph At-a-Glance
Located just two miles south of downtown Louisville, St. Joseph is one of District 15's historic neighborhoods, situated immediately east of the University of Louisville. The neighborhood is generally bounded by Brandeis Avenue to the north, Shelby Street to the east, and Interstate 65 to the west, placing it at the crossroads of several of Louisville's most recognizable neighborhoods and institutions.
St. Joseph takes its name from St. Joseph Infirmary, a hospital established by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth that once stood at the corner of Preston Street and Eastern Parkway. Although the hospital was demolished in 1980, its legacy lives on through the neighborhood's name and history.
The neighborhood experienced significant growth during the early twentieth century, when many German immigrants, particularly from Bavaria, settled in the area. Today, St. Joseph retains much of its historic character, with a mix of classic Louisville bungalows and shotgun homes lining its tree-canopied streets. It includes time-honored businesses like Nord's Bakery and Dairy Kastle, hip spots like Zanzabar, and green spaces like Bradley Park and the Grotto & Garden of Our Lady of Lourdes. The southern portion of the neighborhood is home to three historic Jewish cemeteries: Temple Cemetery, Adath Jeshurun Cemetery, and Keneseth Israel Cemetery.
The neighborhood is represented by the Saint Joseph Area Association, which was formed in 1979. This citizen-led volunteer group is committed to serving the Saint Joseph community through regular meetings, community events, and community projects.
Rich in history and neighborhood pride, St. Joseph continues to be a welcoming community with strong connections to the surrounding neighborhoods, the University of Louisville, and the heart of the city.
Saint Joseph Demographics
Based on 2020 census data; numbers approximate
BOB makes it easy to connect with free city services and neighborhood resources! Residents can request services like a free tree, smoke alarm, soil or radon test, home repair assistance (if eligible), and much more. Every service is provided at no cost to residents.
Over the coming months, our team will also be knocking on every door in the neighborhood with our BOB Menu. You can complete your menu online, in person, or by mail—whatever is easiest for you.
BOB is about more than free services. It's your opportunity to help shape the future of your neighborhood. Whether you'd like to suggest a new crosswalk, request a public trash can, identify a traffic concern, recommend park improvements, or share another idea, we want to hear from you.
Once you submit your BOB Menu, our office will coordinate with the appropriate Metro departments and community partners to connect you with the services you've requested.
Helping your neighborhood is easy!
How BOB Works
Are you a Saint Joseph resident? You can get free services!
Upcoming BOB Events
BOB is coming to you, so join us for a BOB Pop-Up and mark your calendar for BIG BOB DAY!
There are several opportunities to connect:
🍉 Watermelon in the Park – Monday, August 10, 6:30 PM at Bradley Park
🦃 Friendsgiving in the Grotto – Wednesday, October 1, 6:00 PM at Lady of Lourdes Grotto
🏘️ Saint Joseph Area Association Neighborhood Meeting – Monday, October 12, 6:30 PM
🧹 Neighborhood Cleanup – Saturday, October 24, 11:00 AM at Zanzabar
And be sure to mark your calendar for BIG BOB DAY on Saturday, November 7, from 10 AM to 1 PM! We’ll celebrate the neighborhood with an incredible resource fair, free services, family-friendly activities, and dozens of community partners all in one place.
Become a BOB Champion!
The best people to tell a neighborhood about BOB are the people who already call it home.
That's why we're launching the BOB Champions program for our St. Joseph BOB initiative!
As our largest BOB neighborhood yet, St. Joseph is home to hundreds of neighbors, each with their own stories, ideas, and hopes for the community. While our office is committed to knocking on every door, we know there's something even more powerful than a Council office introducing BOB—it's neighbors talking to neighbors.
As a BOB Champion, you'll help welcome residents to the initiative by sharing BOB Menus, connecting neighbors with free resources, and encouraging them to get involved. Whether you knock on five doors or fifty, every conversation helps strengthen our community.
No special experience is needed. If you've ever wanted to get more involved in your community, meet new neighbors, or help shape the future of St. Joseph, we'd love to have you on the team.
Together, we're not just building better blocks, we're building stronger connections.