Davidson East: East Nashville, Inglewood, Madison, Donelson, Hermitage, Old Hickory

[FatherLand]

For what it's worth, the feedback was surprisingly positive on the East Nash Facebook group, and that group is almost 100% anti-development. The consensus was  this was a good area for this type of structure...contrasted to the 3 story building right next to Bongo Java, which seems to overpower the space, the building on Main St is a perfect spot for something like this. 

[Rockatansky]

42 minutes ago, FatherLand said:

and that group is almost 100% anti-development

Hyperbole. There are many on the EN FB page that oppose development, but others who are supportive. its just that the former are a lot louder than the latter.

[FatherLand]

Yes I definitely used hyperbole. Rephrase: “The East Nashville Facebook group generally and anecdotally tends to skew moderately anti-development.” 

[root_ARCH]

That image didn't have our permission to be posted. Here's an image of what could be built on that site today.

 

[dmillsphoto]

21 minutes ago, root_ARCH said:

That image didn't have our permission to be posted. Here's an image of what could be built on that site today.

 

 

Welcome!

[markhollin]

23 minutes ago, root_ARCH said:

That image didn't have our permission to be posted. Here's an image of what could be built on that site today.

Welcome to the forum, root_ARCH.  : )

[AronG]

26 minutes ago, root_ARCH said:

That image didn't have our permission to be posted. Here's an image of what could be built on that site today.

 

Yeah, no worries, removed it. Looking forward to updated render, good luck with this project. Put a bike rack somewhere!

[rootARCH]

LOL. We are required to by the overlays to provide bike racks. Thank you. On tonight's meeting presentation at East Library at 6PM, the chances of us convincing "the public" that the 5-story compressed footprint design is better for the neighborhood versus the 3-story spread out footprint version is low. Likely, the 3-story version that consumes most of the site that won't require public input will be the path of least resistance with zoning and historic approvals and likely will be the project that gets built on this site. 

If any open minded neighbors are willing to have a constructive conversation about the future of the Main Street corridor, we encourage you to please show up tonight.

I'll ask the developer to share the 5-story concept after tonight meeting.

Edited October 26, 2017 by rootARCH

[Nashville Cliff]

15 hours ago, root_ARCH said:

That image didn't have our permission to be posted. Here's an image of what could be built on that site today.

 

The image doesn't seem to be loading.  Good luck on this project; excited to see some higher density development on that site.  Now if someone will just do something with the old Mrs. Winner's site.

[PruneTracy]

Just now, Nashville Cliff said:

Now if someone will just do something with the old Mrs. Winner's site.

Like open up a Mrs. Winner's there.

[bhibbs]

25 minutes ago, PruneTracy said:

Like open up a Mrs. Winner's there.

I would murder for their cinnamon roll right now

[AronG]

Meeting last night on the forrest & main thing was kind of a mess. People are so knee-jerk negative, it baffles me. There's like a default slide towards the thing degrading into a mob. Reminds me of parks & rec. The developer/rootarch guys laid it out as he described above - option A is they pursue their by-rights option of basically filling the entire footprint with 3 stories. Option B, if anyone is interested, is to occupy a smaller footprint with a taller design, which would give them more freedom to incorporate feedback and amenities at the ground level. Their parking plan is to go underground, along with a 20-something surface lot.

Instead of constructively engaging on any of these details, at least half of the "questions" were along the lines of "why don't you just build something very small instead?" 

I get that there's a total debate to be had here. There are nice, well-meaning people who strongly believe that we have to match the scale of the existing one-story buildings or the neighborhood is going to lose its charm. Instead of earnestly making that case, 90% of the meeting just turns into people peppering the guy with sarcastic, angry questions, with a small contingent of constructive people barely keeping the thing from running away. It's depressing, and it makes you wonder how anything ever gets built.

I have no idea why it has to be this way. Building massing aside, surely we all agree that having more foot traffic in the 5 points area makes the place even better? Having 20 apartments or whatever it was would provide built-in customers for the local businesses that *don't have to drive*. And why are people so obsessed with parking? I wish they would provide the minimal amount of parking, which encourages more people to walk and bike, and discourages people from driving in from outside the area i.e. lessens traffic.

[FatherLand]

7 minutes ago, AronG said:

Meeting last night on the forrest & main thing was kind of a mess. People are so knee-jerk negative, it baffles me. There's like a default slide towards the thing degrading into a mob. Reminds me of parks & rec. The developer/rootarch guys laid it out as he described above - option A is they pursue their by-rights option of basically filling the entire footprint with 3 stories. Option B, if anyone is interested, is to occupy a smaller footprint with a taller design, which would give them more freedom to incorporate feedback and amenities at the ground level. Their parking plan is to go underground, along with a 20-something surface lot.

Instead of constructively engaging on any of these details, at least half of the "questions" were along the lines of "why don't you just build something very small instead?" 

I get that there's a total debate to be had here. There are nice, well-meaning people who strongly believe that we have to match the scale of the existing one-story buildings or the neighborhood is going to lose its charm. Instead of earnestly making that case, 90% of the meeting just turns into people peppering the guy with sarcastic, angry questions, with a small contingent of constructive people barely keeping the thing from running away. It's depressing, and it makes you wonder how anything ever gets built.

I have no idea why it has to be this way. Building massing aside, surely we all agree that having more foot traffic in the 5 points area makes the place even better? Having 20 apartments or whatever it was would provide built-in customers for the local businesses that *don't have to drive*. And why are people so obsessed with parking? I wish they would provide the minimal amount of parking, which encourages more people to walk and bike, and discourages people from driving in from outside the area i.e. lessens traffic.

Thank you very much for the summary Aron. My personal opinion is the concept of the 'tall skinny' has become so pervasive and negative in the lexicon of the average East Nashvillian, whether new here or grew up here...that in this day and age we (they) incorporate LITERALLY any East Nash development negatively. We have associated 'development' with 'negativity'. Almost like instead of a presumption of innocence, a development starts with a presumption of guilt and has to prove otherwise. Yes, even though 'tall skinnies' are residential, this groupthink lumps in commercial development into this mindset. 

[WebberThomas4]

I was afraid this meeting would turn into a citizens of Pawnee town hall type meeting after reading some of the comments on the Lockeland Springs facebook page.  

 

[rootARCH]

We were very encouraged that there were several "no's" in the room when we started and at the end of the night they turned into "yes's". It sounds like every business owner immediately around the site is now in favor of this concept? ( I might need to do some one on one conversations to confirm that) but we got a really nice call from the Eastside Smiles owner across the street and they love the idea that we are proposing. At the end of the night, the 5 spot guys were lobbying the angry(and very rude) neighbors who live 6-8 blocks down to get on board with the idea. WW is posting these pictures today so here they are. As of right now, the project will be reconsidered with the design team and we will go back to the drawing board to design a 3-story option that encompasses the site.

[smeagolsfree]

Thanks for posting! Glad to see we still grab attention from the Pros. Looking forward to meeting with you at one of our meetups and would be thrilled to have you as a guest speaker some time.

[markhollin]

Nashville Post's coverage of this development for Main and Forrest:

http://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/article/20980837/developers-eye-mixeduse-building-for-five-points

[fieldmarshaldj]

15 hours ago, rootARCH said:

We were very encouraged that there were several "no's" in the room when we started and at the end of the night they turned into "yes's". It sounds like every business owner immediately around the site is now in favor of this concept? ( I might need to do some one on one conversations to confirm that) but we got a really nice call from the Eastside Smiles owner across the street and they love the idea that we are proposing. At the end of the night, the 5 spot guys were lobbying the angry(and very rude) neighbors who live 6-8 blocks down to get on board with the idea. WW is posting these pictures today so here they are. As of right now, the project will be reconsidered with the design team and we will go back to the drawing board to design a 3-story option that encompasses the site.

The two-story base is fine, but that... thing... sitting on top is like a turd in the punchbowl. If I were a neighbor, I wouldn't want to look at that either. Something classy should rise from the base.

[smeagolsfree]

Be nice to your fellow posters! I am glad to have JR on here. They have to do the set back because the current zoning. They can go three by rights here.

[rootARCH]

It's okay. Turd or not, this concept was done so fast we really didn't have time to develop any of the design. We took a lot of inspiration from a project in the U.K. located on Shoreham Street. We showed this project at the first meeting but the classical architecture buffs in the room completely exploded and it backfired on us. For what it's worth, we felt like it was a great example of how a historic building could be modernized and the addition piece on top be juxtaposed to the historic grounding. Kind of a metaphor for this redevelopment district in a way.

[smeagolsfree]

Very Cool, John. Sometimes we can be harsh on the board and its always great to see where the inspiration comes form in the designs. There are a number of folks here on the board that are very much traditionalist as far as architecture. The biggest issue most have on the board is the bland glass box that seems to be prevalent in out skyline. Many of which are uninspired.

I, like a number here hate the use of hardy board and pastel colors on the newer buildings and the non traditional brick colors that are being used as well.

For me color is just as important and materials. I cant stand the bug gut yellow on Peyton Stakes in Germantown and the light green mint color on the signage of the 222 building in SoBro. I just do not get colors that will have to be repainted  either because the time has taken its toll or the color and form is no longer in style. Thus I think a lot of the traditional looking building stand that test of time better than others.

Thanks for your input. I will be interested in what happens with this project.

[madisonman]

I see madison bowling Alley is for sale.  What do you think is a good use of this property.  Is nashville ready for a Brooklyn bowl.

Edited October 31, 2017 by madisonman

[markhollin]

38 minutes ago, madisonman said:

I see madison bowling Alley is for sale.  What do you think is a good use of this property.  Is nashville ready for a Brooklyn bowl.

There is a Brooklyn Bowl being considered for SW corner of Middleton and Ewing in SoBro (directly south of City Winery).  Haven't heard much about it in at least 6 months, though.

[madisonman]

A new bowling alley and music venue?

[grilled_cheese]

Why doesn't someone just open it back up as a bowling alley?  Ever since the bowling alley closed near Broadmoor/Dickerson we haven't gone anywhere else as they're all way too far away.  A bowling alley on the Eastside would kill.

Also, if anyone gets a chance, drive over the Jefferson St bridge at night to catch a glimpse of Top Golf.  It's really cool when it's lit up and I didn't realize how close it was.