Sophisticated Stay: The Bellwether

Written by Bridget Williams / Photography courtesy of The Bellwether/Lemonade PR

Neighborhoods need champions and bullhorns. Anyone can cite flaws and shortcomings, but it takes people willing to walk the talk and put ideas into action to elicit true and meaningful change. Louisville's Highlands neighborhood is lucky to have Ben Botkins and Sarah Mattingly among its most prominent proponents. As a long-time resident of the eclectic and historic community, Ben is known to use his social media platform to rail against excessive speeding, litter, crime, and unkempt properties and cite case studies of successful revitalization initiatives in other cities. Ben and Sarah have shown they're going all-in on the Highlands with their latest endeavor—The Bellwether— a 20-room apartment-style boutique hotel on Bardstown Road.

Sarah Mattingly, Ben Botkins, Annie & Sean O'Leary

Ben said that he learned from looking at other cities that a critical step in revitalizing a block is starting at the corner and working in from there. A pair of century-old derelict buildings, one of which housed a police station and the other built by Bell South, fit the bill. Even after sitting empty for more than a decade, Ben saw the latent potential in this prime piece of real estate located on the 1300 block of Bardstown Road. Working in partnership with Sarah and Sean and Annie O'Leary, they purchased the properties in 2019 and immediately got to work restoring the buildings.

As owners of Parkside Bikes and 26 Airbnb properties in the city, Ben and Sarah have unique vantage points on the city's short-term rental market and took a hands-on approach to the renovation. Sarah provided the vision for the interior design, and Ben served as the general contractor. Sarah joked that they almost felt the need for an armored truck to transport sheets of plywood from the hardware store to the job site in this era of supply-chain issues. Zeroing in on the building's heyday, the 1920s, there is a palpable Art Deco vibe throughout, tempered with clean lines and mid-century touches that provide a fresh take on familiar motifs. They were careful to buy local as much as possible, sourcing lighting, furniture, and fixtures from Alcott & Bentley, No Direction Home, and Blue Ocean Traders.

Deco Suite with headboard by Tiffany Woodard and vintage overhead fixture from No Direction Home.

“Gatsby” ceramic tile from Mainzu in the bathroom of one of the Deco Suites.

Designed to operate as a "low-touch" hotel, guests of The Bellwether book and check-in online and receive a unique access code to enter the building and guestroom. A feeling of whimsy greets guests upon entering. Tucked under the stairs, "selfie check-in," an art installation by Tiffany Woodard comprised of mannequin hands holding Barbie pink phones, is sure to become an Instagram sensation. Woodard also created oversized velvet upholstered headboards in two of the suites. Up the stairs, the dramatic gathering room is notable for a soaring barrel-vaulted ceiling accentuated by rectilinear trim work. A coffee bar with a mirrored subway tile backsplash and sinuous velvet seating add to the drama. Each of the guest suites and studio rooms is uniquely designed. Original patina is preserved and presented in varying fashion and complemented by framed photos of the neighborhood surrounding the building from the early 20th century.

“Selfie Check-in” installation by Tiffany Woodard

A long photo-lined hallway connects the Bell South building to the former police station, which is now Highland Station, a fourbedroom, two-bath apartment with a full kitchen and living room under the exposed beam ceiling. Considering the condition of the buildings at the start of the renovation, it's incredible that a pair of large oil paintings from the 1940s by James Durand Pate depicting fire and rescue and a street scene survived. Wanting to secure the artwork's residency for decades to come, Ben and Sarah enlisted local artist Vennita Cantrell to restore their vibrancy.

A painting from the 1940s is a focal point of the living area in the fourbedroom Highland Station unit.

It was important for the partners that The Bellwether be an asset to the neighborhood, not just overnight guests. At press time, work was underway on a new all-day dining concept by Catherine MacDowall, chef/owner of Naïve in the Butchertown neighborhood. Sarah said the goal is to have the restaurant up and running by late winter.

The definition of bellwether is an indicator or predictor of something. True to its name, one can only believe that this unique property is a harbinger of good things to come for one of Louisville's most beloved and sometimes beleaguered corridors.