Native

I know Mr. Hollin would like for us to get back to skyscrapers, but since this story came from a man who had the best office in the L & C Tower I am going to risk it. Allan Steele, a lawyer and the last president of the Life and Casualty Insurance Company before it was gobbled up by American General, explained to me how Radnor Lake came to be the state's first Natural Area. Although it is now considered a jewel of urban conservation and most people think it was an act of pure public charity, the true motivation was quite different. When the land and the lake were owned by Oman Construction Company in the late sixties word got out that the company planned to drain the lake and build houses along Otter Creek. Alexander Heard, then Chancellor of Vanderbilt University. knew the lights from those houses would ruin the Dyer Observatory, south of the lake, so he got on the phone and alerted Allan, Victor Johnson of Alladin Industries and a group of prominent Nashville business men to see what could be done. Knowing that a movement to help Vanderbilt's astronomy department would not be popular, the group, which included DA Tom Shriver and WSM radio/TV personality Dave Overton, decided to pitch it as a public/private partnership to "Save the Lake". Sen. Douglas Henry got the legislation passed to create the State Natural Areas and funds were raised to match state money to buy the property from Oman. To their credit Oman was not hard to deal with. In 1973 the lake and about 1000 acres were saved from development and over the years other land has been acquired so the "Park" is now a real asset to Nashville. Just goes to show that the public narrative is not always the "rest of the story". But of course the money was given to save the lake, not the telescope, so all's well that ends well.

That is a Barred Owl which we Tennesseans usually call a hoot owl. If he is purple that is my fault due to poor color management on my computer. We also see screech owls (very small) and Great Horned Owls which are about the same size as a hoot owl. Owls are really cool birds.

And owls.

We also have turkeys .

Yes, they finally caved in and started calling it a park, but you can't picnic, swim or do any of the park things and the official title is still Radnor Lake State Natural Area.

Actually it is not a park. In 1973 Radnor Lake became Tennessee's first State Natural Area. But, yes, we are rich.

Speaking of power lines, here is your "view" from the 6th floor of the Healthstream Building in Capitol View.

The view from 8th and Division. Embassy Suites will be prominent from this angle when it is completed.

The utility screen is nearly done. Almost 20 feet tall and quite sturdy looking. Also, only 7 floors to go on the windows.

I wonder what steps are being taken to protect this building from a flood like we had in 2010. Anybody know?

I have mixed feelings about that shot. On the one hand it was the home of some great journalists and for decades a faithful record of the city was churned out by two papers competing for readers and working to get the scoop. But the current product is so pitiful I almost am glad to see the buildings go so the ghosts of Seigenthaler and others will not have to watch what became of Nashville newspapering. Definitely the end of an era.

A close look at this picture reveals that the rebar on the northeast corner has elbows on top. This may mean that the rest of the tower is going to be steel like the Amazon tower. Does anyone know for sure?

When the AEG cranes go up this view is going to be remarkable. Who owns that corner at 8th and Church?

Another post-weather shot. Four floors up on the office tower and The Place is topped out with work on the utility screen continuing. Not too many lights on in the 505. They probably went to the concert.

The view of downtown from the "lips" of J W Marriott's Bourbon Steakhouse is fabulous. But the cranes in the foreground hint that the view will definitely be affected when the Embassy Suites hotel is topped out.