Repurposed/revitalized historical buildings in Nashville

[markhollin]

Work has begun on converting the old church building at 509 Houston Street in WeHo district. Originally built in 1930, the 4,238 sq. ft. structure will reopen in September opening as a yet-named coffee shop and a cocktail bar to be called The Flamingo. The former will operate in the front space of the building with the latter to take the back space.

http://www.nashvillepost.com/business/food-business/article/20864453/exweho-church-to-see-coffee-shop-cocktail-bar

 

[LA_TN]

A treasure lost:

2nd Ave S, just north of Lea Ave

[nashvylle]

criminal

[BnaBreaker]

4 hours ago, nashvylle said:

criminal

Looks like a very beautiful unused grass lot graces that corner now.  Seriously, WTF was wrong with people back then.  

[Pyramid Scheme]

I wonder what the real reason it was razed. Surely people didn't think "Oh, what a great grass lot this would be, if only that house wasn't there!"

[CenterHill]

1 hour ago, BnaBreaker said:

Looks like a very beautiful unused grass lot graces that corner now.  Seriously, WTF was wrong with people back then.  

"Same thing that is wrong with people today", said the Corinthian Lodge replaced by Lake Palmer and the antebellum home now sprouting weeds waiting for a Virgin hotel.  

[rookzie]

14 hours ago, BnaBreaker said:

Looks like a very beautiful unused grass lot graces that corner now.  Seriously, WTF was wrong with people back then.  

 

14 hours ago, Philip said:

I wonder what the real reason it was razed. Surely people didn't think "Oh, what a great grass lot this would be, if only that house wasn't there!"

I'm going to attempt to be someone somewhat "objectively analytical" here.  Many structures built during the late Nineteenth Century had fallen in disrepair by 1940.  In consideration that none of the Ryman family members resided at that home past 1926, the home could have changed hands one or more times since.  Also because the dwelling lasted just beyond the ten years identified with the Great Depression period, provisions for maintaining such a large and stately structure of brick and stone, with fancy limestone stairs and balustrades, multiple masonry fireplaces, slated roof and turrets, and other extensive details, could have been marginal, if not prohibitive, for most owners of even modest means back then.

For all I know, the home could have been gutted with fire, a very common occurrence, for structures in such elevated areas as Rutledge Hill.  Given the fact that a negligible rate of development transpired during WW-II, little if any potential existed for erecting a new permanent structure on that site until after 1946, by which time private development focus had begun to shift to suburban areas.  As such, the site had been re-purposed as a small trailer park by 1951, the year I was born, and the area as a whole likely had been somewhat in disrepair, similar to the fate of Germantown during that same period, as I well recall throughout my childhood and teens.

Edited June 16, 2017 by rookzie

[BnaBreaker]

^Excellent points all around rookzie.  My response was, admittedly, an emotional one, not a rational one.  Sometimes, at least for me, it's easy to kind of succumb to the illusion that every structure is possible to maintain more or less indefinitely, and that it is practical to do so.  That definitely is not the case for many structures, particularly those built primarily with wood, and in terms of practicality, it may simply not be possible to renovate a structure that large, particularly in times of war and depression.  Still though... a damn shame we don't have more structures from that era, and I do think that, aside from all of the practical reasons given above, it is true that cities in the Sunbelt, generally speaking, did simply have a much more fleeting desire to save structures from past eras.

[markhollin]

The handsome 2 story, 3,886 sq. ft. home at 340 21st Ave. North was built in 1900, and has housed law offices for several decades.  Very fond of the wrap-around porch:

 

[markhollin]

The one-time grocery store and butcher shop built in 1974 at 631 Middleton Street in SoBro is being converted into an art studio.  The 3,477 sq. ft. space is now owned by the neighboring Plaza Artist Materials & Picture Framing.

http://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/article/20865011/sobro-property-could-land-art-studios

 

[MidTenn1]

12 hours ago, markhollin said:

The one-time grocery store and butcher shop built in 1974 at 631 Middleton Street in SoBro is being converted into an art studio.  The 3,477 sq. ft. space is now owned by the neighboring Plaza Artist Materials & Picture Framing.

http://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/article/20865011/sobro-property-could-land-art-studios

 

Sounds like 'Plaza' is going strong in that SoBro location and may not be moving anytime soon. I always wondered if that property was too valuable to allow operation of a one story retail (it's right across from the City Winery), but if Plaza is buying studio space, they must be planning on sticking around. It's always busy when I go in and get materials for my artistic endeavors. They have a small room in the store for the many art classes and open studios they sponsor, so the new building must provide more room to present these classes. There is certainly a demand for workshops and I can see it being quite successful.

No, it's not an apartment block, but it is much needed niche retail in a City whose arts scene is growing exponentially.

Jerry's, Nashville's other art-only supply store, will relocate from its current Antioch/Hickory Hollow location to one at Five-Points in East Nashville. That's where they need to be.

[PaulChinetti]

13 hours ago, PHofKS said:

Jerry's, Nashville's other art-only supply store, will relocate from its current Antioch/Hickory Hollow location to one at Five-Points in East Nashville. That's where they need to be.

Excellent! I've been a patron of the one in Knoxville all during college and out in Antioch for years, they have more of my money than any other art supply store. Always so helpful and knowledgable. 

[markhollin]

Cafe Roze will be the latest tenant in the building constructed in 1933 at 1115 Porter Rd. in East Nashville.  Originally, the 5,994 1-story brick storefront had been a small grocery back during the Depression. It is now split in two parcels, with The Dandelion taking up the other half.

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2017/06/19/what-to-expect-from-this-new-east-nashville.html

 

[markhollin]

The gorgeous Italianate-styled 2 story brick mansion at 28 Middleton St. in Rutledge Hill is up for sale at $2.1 million asking price.  Built in 1897.  Will be interesting to see who buys it and what they might develop it into.

http://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/article/20865658/historic-sobroarea-office-building-now-for-sale


 

[timmay143]

Purdy!

[markhollin]

Two Old Hippies is the current tenant in the reimagined former manufacturing/warehouse structure at 401 12th Ave. South in the Gulch.  Originally built in 1951, the one story brick building has about 5,500 sq. ft. of space:

 

[markhollin]

Merchants Bank Building was built in 1892 at 401 Broadway, and has been home to one of Nashville's best downtown restaurants for the past couple of decades. The three story edifice has 17,712 square feet of space.

 

[donNdonelson2]

I always heard that was Merchants Hotel originally.

[markhollin]

The two story brick building at 2105 Elliston Place that was built in 1907 as the Cumberland Telephone Exchange and has had a diverse clientele over 110 years since. The 9,516 sq. ft. of space is now being utilized as a high-end antique store on the first floor, and bank support company on the second.

 

[markhollin]

Corner Pub in The Nations has redeveloped the one time Church of God Prophecy at 1105 51st Ave. North.  It was originally built in 1950.

http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2016/08/25/corner-pub-open-nations/89355084/

[markhollin]

The 4 story, 14,780 sq. ft. structure at 400 Broadway has served many purposes since it's original construction in 1910. It is currently being retrofitted for Dierks Bentley's Whisky Row Bar, and a 5th floor party deck is being added onto the roof.

Looking north across Broadway just west of 4th Ave. South:

 

 

5th floor party deck addition visible here from the rear. Looking south along 4th Ave. North:

 

Looking at renovations on the first floor:

[markhollin]

Preservation Station antiques is the current occupant of the two buildings at 1807-1809 8th Ave. South.  The structures have 5,097 sq. ft. of space. The section on the right was built in 1935, and the left around 1955.

 

[markhollin]

The two story, 2,364 sq. ft. home built 99 years ago at 1618 17th Ave. South is being retrofitted, with an additional three story, 2,000 sq. ft. section added to the back.  Is being marketed for medical/office space.

 

[markhollin]

The one  story building at 305 Arrington in Cleveland Park is being gutted and will become another restaurant.  Originally built in 1966, it has 1,832 sq. ft. of space:

 

[markhollin]

The two homes at 1910 and 1912 21st Ave. South have served many purposes since their construction in 1909.  Their combined 9,468 sq. ft. of space is currently being thoroughly redone for another entertainment business, if I recall correctly.