BROADWEST (former West End Summit), 36 story Conrad Hilton Hotel/condo tower, 22 story/510,000 sq. ft. office tower, 4 story/125,000 sq. ft. retail/office, 1 acre plaza, 2,500 car garage, $490 million

[Nathan_in_DC]

He needs to swallow his pride, backfill the property and sell it. Nashville has put up with this crap since first proposed in 1998. I cannot imagine the public dollars spent on this failed project. The Board Of Zoning Appeals, MDHA, Metro Council, and the Mayors Office have given time to this fiasco, and it appears Metro taxpayers are not done yet once Public Works has to spray the water with mosquito repellant again this year.

 

I really don't see how it hasn't gotten slapped with public nuisance fines, yet, or at least with a bill.  This place is quickly turning (already turned?) from a beacon of potential in the neighborhood to something approaching the level of blight.

[dmillsphoto]

I really don't see how it hasn't gotten slapped with public nuisance fines, yet, or at least with a bill.  This place is quickly turning (already turned?) from a beacon of potential in the neighborhood to something approaching the level of blight.

 

Keep in mind he has been hit with a lien on the property for not paying the excavating company... or was it Turner... whichever. To the tune of $1.8M. It's an (widely) unpopular tool, but I'd prefer at this point to see eminent domain used on this and turn it over to a developer from there. Not that Metro would be that efficient, but still. 

[Guest]

Let the Goldberg brothers get a hold of the property and we could have the pool, a badminton operation, a cirque du soleil troupe, $10 burgers and $15 drinks!!!

 

Palmer needs to add more water to his lake to get ready for the summer months, lol !! :-) Im ready to swim in the largest pool on West End!!

[bigeasy]

Would the pool be olympic size? If so it would have my support. I have always wanted an olympic size outdoor pool on West End. It is really deep so they could probably have some high diving boards and maybe offer scuba diving classes.

[Guest]

Pre-dug natatorium !!

Would the pool be olympic size? If so it would have my support. I have always wanted an olympic size outdoor pool on West End. It is really deep so they could probably have some high diving boards and maybe offer scuba diving classes.

[Paramount747]

In any case, the city needs to step in soon before this gets much worse.

[Guest]

Come on in John, the water feels great!!!!

[CenterHill]

Careful out there today.    Heavy seas and rough weather on Lake Palmer.     Boaters and fisherman urged to use caution. 

[nashvillwill]

From what I hear, the Coast Guard response time is pretty long in this area. Every man for himself!

[MLBrumby]

No doubt ignored by most here... I decided to post this fluff piece on Alex Palmer.  Nothing new, but apparently the Tennessean wanted to know if Lake Palmer was going to be filled in anytime soon.  Apparently not. 

 

http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2014/04/28/alex-palmer-speaks-west-end-summit-future/8424961/

[smeagolsfree]

He has kept his financial partner, evidently. I guess we will have to wail and see.

[smeagolsfree]

This is the project referenced in the article.

Terminus building Atlanta.

http://www.terminusatlanta.com/

[timmay143]

Honestly, I still think it could be pulled off in some form or fashion.  The market is hot.  Even though AP may have "lost" potential "clients," he could benefit from a snowball effect.  That is, others will want to get into the market if Virgin and RB, Four Season, a new residential tower is about to start (SoBro), etc.  Of course my hopes are very low, but who knows.

[MLBrumby]

I am afraid Mr. Palmer is out of his league.  He should sell the site to someone... and he could possibly come out ahead.  I'm thinking a nice intown Home Depot or Costco.

[Nathan_in_DC]

I am afraid Mr. Palmer is out of his league.  He should sell the site to someone... and he could possibly come out ahead.  I'm thinking a nice intown Home Depot or Costco.

 

Definitely should sell.

 

I wonder if he ever stumbles across sites like this that make no bones about how we feel towards his failed endeavor that has blighted West End for so long...

[MidTenn1]

Probably back to pitching the original plan. The office building was to be 407' tall.

 

[Nathan_in_DC]

This is the project referenced in the article.

Terminus building Atlanta.

http://www.terminusatlanta.com/

 

I like how his selling points are "mixed use!" and "unlimited parking!" Generally, when I think mixed use, I think of something that is helping do away with dependency on massive parking structures, not touting unlimited parking capacity.

[Paramount747]

Definitely should sell.

 

I wonder if he ever stumbles across sites like this that make no bones about how we feel towards his failed endeavor that has blighted West End for so long...

Yes, he and members of his staff have read this site. Once a staff member from Palmer called WW about something that was posted on this site back in 2005 I believe it was, but yes they have read this site.

 

This project is nothing like the Terminus in Atlanta. Not even close. The similarities are not even remote. The Terminus took 12 years as Mr. Palmer indicated because it was at least 3 towers of 500 feet or more, and it was partially built by the City Of Atlanta to celebrate their history of being a railroad terminus that helped rebuild the south after the civil war. Atlanta is one of the largest rail cities in the country. That is what the Terminus project is celebrating.

 

West End Summit is just to satisfy his ego. It is not a celebration of West End or Nashville. I hope he gets his project done, but it is highly unlikely with the problems he has had.

 

Fill the hole and sell the lot.

Edited April 29, 2014 by Urban Architecture

[arkitekte]

Palmer trying to make WES work is like the Flyers trying to make Hal Gill work yesterday on the blue line. 

[UTgrad09]

Palmer trying to make WES work is like the Flyers trying to make Hal Gill work yesterday on the blue line. 

 

You're comparing WES to a traffic cone?

[dmillsphoto]

You're comparing WES to a traffic cone?

 

You can't compare WES to a pylon. A pylon actually exists.

[dxfret]

It appears that Alex Palmer did not actually sit down for a 1-on-1 interview and only responded with vague generalities to questions submitted to him by The Tennessean, taking the opportunity to announce promotions within his company.  This is not surprising since Palmer has a well-known reputation for being elusive and very difficult to work with.  I think this also speaks volumes about the failure to obtain timely financing for WES.  

 

The loss of 'blue chip' HCA as the anchor tenant is hugely embarrassing for Palmer and will forever be a stain on his reputation.  It will also make other prospects especially wary of partnering with him for financing or signing as tenants.

 

I question if the stated financing for WES is still in place.  If so, it is likely to have an expiration date and would not be continued without signed anchor tenant(s).  It's amazing that Nashville continues to boom all around him, yet Palmer's West End Summit remains nothing more a huge hole (lake) in the ground that is contributing to urban blight on that section of West End Ave.  

 

I heard from a former staffer that he is seriously bleeding money because of WES, so maybe he will sell the site to a developer who is actually capable of building on this prime site.  

[smeagolsfree]

It appears that Alex Palmer did not actually sit down for a 1-on-1 interview and only responded with vague generalities to questions submitted to him by The Tennessean, taking the opportunity to announce promotions within his company.  This is not surprising since Palmer has a well-known reputation for being elusive and very difficult to work with.  I think this also speaks volumes about the failure to obtain timely financing for WES.  

 

The loss of 'blue chip' HCA as the anchor tenant is hugely embarrassing for Palmer and will forever be a stain on his reputation.  It will also make other prospects especially wary of partnering with him for financing or signing as tenants.

 

I question if the stated financing for WES is still in place.  If so, it is likely to have an expiration date and would not be continued without signed anchor tenant(s).  It's amazing that Nashville continues to boom all around him, yet Palmer's Wes

t End Summit remains nothing more a huge hole (lake) in the ground that is contributing to urban blight on that section of West End Ave.  

 

I heard from a former staffer that he is seriously bleeding money because of WES, so maybe he will sell the site to a developer who is actually capable of building on this prime site.

I figured the taxes have to be eating him alive for that location alone. Would be nice if he sold it to another developer that would allow him to mange the property after being built. He could always have a clause in the contract. I really hope something happens sooner rather than later.

[bigeasy]

I actually might be sad when/if something gets built. Lake Palmer has been with us so long that it has become a part of Nashville.

[chris holman]

I just dont understand what happened he had the hole dig , market the development , As If your ready to build Today! ! Then you let the giant HCA!! Slip away , that would have filled up both of the towers at the same time, i mean how do you let that happen??

Was he never ready in the first place?? What makes us think he ever will be ?? He lost a big one!