Buckingham Gulch Tower 38 Floors, 450+ ft., 345 residential units, 4,900 sq. ft. retail

[titanhog]

From the Post:

https://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2015/9/17/bza_defers_vote_on_added_height_for_proposed_gulch_skyscraper

[chris holman]

This is a picture I took at 3 o'clock p.m. the Sun is on the side where the building will be but it's a little bit past the site and that's  a shadow on the pool at the Icon coming  from the Icon structure itself, so without the building built at all this already a shadow in the icon pool I'm not sure about the other buildings

[titanhog]

^^I have to ask why would you build a pool in a "hole" like that?  I can't see how that pool would get a ton of sun...even on June 21.

[chris holman]

There's two pools in this building this is the courtyard side the side facing the new tower

 

The courtyard side does get direct sunlight throughout the day

[UTgrad09]

This is a picture I took at 3 o'clock p.m. the Sun is on the side where the building will be but it's a little bit past the site and that's  a shadow on the pool at the Icon coming  from the Icon structure itself, so without the building built at all this already a shadow in the icon pool I'm not sure about the other buildings

Casper couldn't get a tan in that pool.

[smeagolsfree]

Chris,

I highly recommend that you send the photos in to BZA. If you can get more times of the day that would be great. Document it all and send in.

 

I thought the claims that the building would affect that pool were highly suspect and this proves it.

[Paramount747]

These naysayers can literally go where the sun does not shine in my opinion. If you buy anything within the downtown loop, you can expect an obstruction of some kind. How stupid are these people?

And for the woman in 1212, does she not realize her building causes an obstruction for some people? Even a 1 story building can cause an obstruction for someone.

Buckingham should be able to build whatever they want on their land, and although I think its deplorable, Travis Kelty can build his guitar skyscraper on his land if he so chooses. This local governmental building and zoning regulation is pissing this Democratic Socialist off big time. 

Edited September 18, 2015 by Paramount747

[Leif]

Was the south pool a major point of contention? If so I'd be sort of surprised as this was mentioned at the meeting Buckingham held for Icon owners on Monday but it was more an aside than anything and it was a reasonably well attended meeting.

[bigeasy]

So let me get this straight, a building is having height restrictions due to a shadow it would cast on a pool? That is absolutely absurd. I don't even understand how or why that would even be considered a legitimate reason to limit development. We are talking about preventing 10-15 floors from being built, which would financially impact the city since more people would be there, because a pool (which provides no benefit to the city) would be in a shadow. 

 

Wow..... 

[Paramount747]

This is why if you want a pool, move into a building with a rooftop pool like Viridian.

[Leif]

So let me get this straight, a building is having height restrictions due to a shadow it would cast on a pool? That is absolutely absurd. I don't even understand how or why that would even be considered a legitimate reason to limit development. We are talking about preventing 10-15 floors from being built, which would financially impact the city since more people would be there, because a pool (which provides no benefit to the city) would be in a shadow. 

 

Wow..... 

Not really, Buckingham has framed their request for more height as a means of limiting shadow and sight line impact to Terrazzo and Icon. The square footage/unit count of the building stays about the same regardless of whether it is ultimately 24-28 or 38 stories because the shorter version has larger floors.

[CenterHill]

Not really, Buckingham has framed their request for more height as a means of limiting shadow and sight line impact to Terrazzo and Icon. The square footage/unit count of the building stays about the same regardless of whether it is ultimately 24-28 or 38 stories because the shorter version has larger floors.

Leif is correct.  Let's not get this backwards.  The BZA is not limiting height due to shadows.   The height is already limited by current zoning.   Buckingham is requesting a variance to go higher (and narrower) and is giving as one reason the desire to be a good neighbor and limit their shadow effect.   BZA is just confirming that Buckingham's stated rationale holds water.     

Edited September 18, 2015 by CenterHill

[Paramount747]

So let me get this straight, a building is having height restrictions due to a shadow it would cast on a pool? That is absolutely absurd. I don't even understand how or why that would even be considered a legitimate reason to limit development. We are talking about preventing 10-15 floors from being built, which would financially impact the city since more people would be there, because a pool (which provides no benefit to the city) would be in a shadow. 

 

Wow..... 

The most perfect post I have read in a while. This sums it up beautifully! 

Edited September 18, 2015 by Paramount747

[titanhog]

I think Buckingham was just trying to be forward-thinking by bringing up the fact that their building would cast a shadow on Icon and Terrazzo...thus they brought up the "swimming pool" shadow idea, believing that would be a reason some people might object at an MDHA meeting.  I'm not sure anyone has actually complained about the building's future shadow.

[RonCamp]

The most perfect post I have read in a while. This sums it up beautifully! A few self absorbed rich kids in the Gulch don't want the pool sunlight blocked while they lay out in the sun 3 months out of the year getting skin cancer in their designer swimsuit while  sipping Krystal on the pool deck chair. How lovely! I guess they can get daddy to buy them a sunlamp as well!

The Icon meeting was well-attended by building residents and the majority of attendees supported the project.  Indeed, the majority of Gulch residents I've talked to support the Buckingham 38 story proposal.  Most seem to believe that the taller design would be a high-quality addition to the neighborhood, city, and skyline, that would continue the trend of dense but thoughtful development that has made the Gulch the most desirable urban residential neighborhood in Nashville (as evidenced by the price PSF of both rentals and condos). 

[Paramount747]

I think Buckingham was just trying to be forward-thinking by bringing up the fact that their building would cast a shadow on Icon and Terrazzo...thus they brought up the "swimming pool" shadow idea, believing that would be a reason some people might object at an MDHA meeting.  I'm not sure anyone has actually complained about the building's future shadow.

I would still hate to see this derailed because of a shadow issue. One moves to the city for convenience and lifestyle, not swimming pools and sundecks. IMHO, swimming pools and sundecks is a suburban lifestyle.

[Leif]

I would still hate to see this derailed because of a shadow issue. One moves to the city for convenience and lifestyle, not swimming pools and sundecks. IMHO, swimming pools and sundecks is a suburban lifestyle.

By framing this as a shadow issue they for the most part avoiding a head on discussion about height. And by having the building architected in a manner that is deferential to the surrounding buildings we get a more interesting glass box which hopefully sets a precedent going forward.

[MTFAN]

 

Another article in the Tennessean on the deferral.

From the article

"Last month Metro Council passed an ordinance that would make it more difficult to get a special exception for height in areas within the Downtown Code district, including Buckingham's proposed Gulch project site"

This is first I have heard of this.  I can't believe they are actually making it harder to build taller downtown.  Could we be anymore backward?

 

http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2015/09/17/decision-deferred-38-story-height-gulch-tower/32574665/

[Leif]

 

Another article in the Tennessean on the deferral.

From the article

"Last month Metro Council passed an ordinance that would make it more difficult to get a special exception for height in areas within the Downtown Code district, including Buckingham's proposed Gulch project site"

This is first I have heard of this.  I can't believe they are actually making it harder to build taller downtown.  Could we be anymore backward?

 

http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2015/09/17/decision-deferred-38-story-height-gulch-tower/32574665/

I'm interested in this Esa study, never heard about that before this article.

[Vrtigo]

 

Another article in the Tennessean on the deferral.

From the article

"Last month Metro Council passed an ordinance that would make it more difficult to get a special exception for height in areas within the Downtown Code district, including Buckingham's proposed Gulch project site"

This is first I have heard of this.  I can't believe they are actually making it harder to build taller downtown.  Could we be anymore backward?

 

http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2015/09/17/decision-deferred-38-story-height-gulch-tower/32574665/

Edited September 18, 2015 by Vrtigo

[Leif]

FWIW if I'm processing the change correctly it basically lines up with what a lot of you guys on here want as far as architectural significance. Basically if you want to go higher you better bring something interesting to the table and it'll be a planning commission decision instead of BZA. 

 

If it has been determined that all reasonable efforts have been made to use the Bonus Height Program, the applicant shall hold a community meeting providing notices to property owners within 300 feet, and the Planning Commission shall review the modification request and may grant additional height for exceptional design, including but not limited to unique architecture, exceptionally strong streetscape, and improvement of the project’s relationship to surrounding properties.

[Lexy]

 

Another article in the Tennessean on the deferral.

From the article

"Last month Metro Council passed an ordinance that would make it more difficult to get a special exception for height in areas within the Downtown Code district, including Buckingham's proposed Gulch project site"

This is first I have heard of this.  I can't believe they are actually making it harder to build taller downtown.  Could we be anymore backward?

 

http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2015/09/17/decision-deferred-38-story-height-gulch-tower/32574665/

You have got to be kidding me.

 

This city is going to choke its growth and cap it unlike everybody else.  What a stupid idea.  

[ajs]

I would still hate to see this derailed because of a shadow issue. One moves to the city for convenience and lifestyle, not swimming pools and sundecks. IMHO, swimming pools and sundecks is a suburban lifestyle.

I live in a highrise in Midtown and the pool deck is very important to the people who live here.  I would guess that if it weren't available more of them would be living in the suburbs.  If I were a developer I wouldn't even consider building any significant project without one.  I do agree that they should get the variance and go to 38.  Everyone else around here got theirs.

[chris holman]

I'm willing to do anything to help this tower get built at 38 story even it even if they can do that I'll study from my unit in the icon to prove that the building is not going to be a problem I would like to let the company use my unit just come help study the shadow problem

[titanhog]

Sometimes, we really come off as a city afraid to be a city.

And...seems people move from the suburbs into a high-rise condo...but still want to make sure they're surrounded by a buffer of land.