Northcap Center (conversion of 21 story Parkway Towers to residential & new 9 story residential w/ 358 total units, 12,413 sq. ft. retail, 403 capacity garage)

[markhollin]

This is significant enough that it deserves its own thread:

The 21 story, 220,000 sq. ft. Parkway Towers (circa 1968) will undergo a $15 million upgrade by Wheelock Street Capital and Commonwealth Commercial Partners that will include a new facade, windows, rooftop,  street-level plaza, lobby, and amenity floor (including conference rooms and fitness center). It will be renamed the NorthCapCenter. Foundry Commercial will be leasing up to 150,000 sq. ft. of the structure.  

More behind the Nashville Post paywall here:

https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/article/21143315/downtown-office-tower-to-get-15m-upgrade

And behind the NBJ paywall here:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2020/09/11/wheelock-street-capital-commonwealth-parkway-tower.html?ana=twt

[downtownresident]

It’s an improvement! 

[nashvylle]

Looks much better! 

[smeagolsfree]

If any building needs a face lift it is this one.

[PillowTalk4]

I don't know... I might miss the 1960's charm of Parkway Towers.   For me it's just as much of an integral component of the history of James Robertson Parkway as the Municipal Auditorium.  Granted, I used to go to meetings in that building during the late 80's and into the late 90's, and I always felt like it needed major interior renovations.  And, I can understand replacing the windows with more energy efficient and noise reduction windows.  But its something about that buildings exterior style (as is) and location that fits appropriately in the surrounding area.   At least it's not being demolished.

  

[PaulChinetti]

12 minutes ago, PillowTalk4 said:

  

It looks like it needs an AGGRESSIVE power washing.

[PillowTalk4]

26 minutes ago, PaulChinetti said:

It looks like it needs an AGGRESSIVE power washing.

That would be cheaper than a $15M upgrade....  Power wash the outside and renovate the interior...

[bnacincy]

I worked in the building briefly for BWSC in the mid 80's-liked the fact you could open the windows and the higher floors have great views of downtown.

And even though I normally can't stand above ground parking garages they did a good job with this one as far as aesthetics go.

All in all a good example of late 60's architecture that hopefully the new ownership will keep.

[Auntie Yock]

^I have to part company on the opinions here. I think Parkway Towers is flat-out ugly. It represented the banality of the architecture of that era (1960s-early '80s). I would not mind seeing it demo'd (along with its smaller neighbor just to the south) and something beautiful and majestic put here instead.

[smeagolsfree]

On 9/11/2020 at 5:00 PM, Auntie Yock said:

^I have to part company on the opinions here. I think Parkway Towers is flat-out ugly. It represented the banality of the architecture of that era (1960s-early '80s). I would not mind seeing it demo'd (along with its smaller neighbor just to the south) and something beautiful and majestic put here instead.

Well you brought it up, I sort of thought they were putting lipstick on a pig, but lipstick is better than nothing when a pig kisses you.

[Auntie Yock]

8 hours ago, smeagolsfree said:

Well you brought it up, I sort of thought they were putting lipstick on a pig, but lipstick is better than nothing when a pig kisses you.

It's funny you mention that, since I was thinking "lipstick on a pig" as a perfect analogy for any attempts to tart up this building.

[smeagolsfree]

I just do not want to lose any height on that end of town. I am unsure if it would ever be replaced with a building of similar height the way way Metro operates today.

The one building that beat them all is Spence Manor @ 11 Music  Sq. E.  They only thing they could do to make that building look a little better is to cover it all in bright murals and make it stick out like a sore thumb.

https://www.facebook.com/SpenceManor/

 

[Auntie Yock]

14 hours ago, smeagolsfree said:

I just do not want to lose any height on that end of town. I am unsure if it would ever be replaced with a building of similar height the way way Metro operates today.

The one building that beat them all is Spence Manor @ 11 Music  Sq. E.  They only thing they could do to make that building look a little better is to cover it all in bright murals and make it stick out like a sore thumb.

https://www.facebook.com/SpenceManor/

 

If I'm not mistaken, in the 1970s, Spence Manor had a 5-diamond (5-star) rating from AAA(!) It was famous for the country music celebs that would stay there when in town (Elvis, too) and had the famous, but tiny, guitar-shaped pool. That dog, of course, has long since had its day and should be demo'd for something more attractive. It's as ugly as the former Sheraton on Broadway (now the Holiday Inn Express) across from the new Grand Hyatt, and which also similarly needs to come down.

[MLBrumby]

Where did I read that this building was constructed in two parts at two distinct periods of time (early 60s and late 60s)? 

[donNdonelson2]

2 hours ago, MLBrumby said:

Where did I read that this building was constructed in two parts at two distinct periods of time (early 60s and late 60s)? 

According to Emporis, construction started in 1967 and the building was completed in 1968. (Also noted on the Emporis site, a construction worker was killed at the building when he was struck by a material elevator on April 17, 1968.)

[smeagolsfree]

7 hours ago, donNdonelson2 said:

According to Emporis, construction started in 1967 and the building was completed in 1968. (Also noted on the Emporis site, a construction worker was killed at the building when he was struck by a material elevator on April 17, 1968.)

So then it is also ugly and most likely haunted and to make matters worse Elvis stayed there. No offence to you Elvis Lovers but I hated his music and his movies. When I see or hear them on the radio or TV I change the station. Sorry its just me, probably a disturbed childhood or something but Elvis just gave me the creeps!

[MidTenn1]

31 minutes ago, smeagolsfree said:

So then it is also ugly and most likely haunted and to make matters worse Elvis stayed there. No offence to you Elvis Lovers but I hated his music and his movies. When I see or hear them on the radio or TV I change the station. Sorry its just me, probably a disturbed childhood or something but Elvis just gave me the creeps!

I recall that it was built to specifically serve the A list clientele because the rest of the Nashville Hotel stock was basically crud. Supposedly Sinatra and Dean Martin stayed there among others.

[donNdonelson2]

4 hours ago, smeagolsfree said:

So then it is also ugly and most likely haunted and to make matters worse Elvis stayed there. No offence to you Elvis Lovers but I hated his music and his movies. When I see or hear them on the radio or TV I change the station. Sorry its just me, probably a disturbed childhood or something but Elvis just gave me the creeps!

My post with Emporis information was regarding the Parkway Towers renovation, NOT Spence Manor.  Perhaps I misunderstood which building you meant when you asked about the timetable of construction.

[nashville born]

Whatever happened with this makeover effort?  Anyone know?

[markhollin]

Wheelock Street and Commonwealth Commercial Partners have announced even more changes to the Northcap campus that will include imploding the 7 story Court House Square, an office building at 300 James Robertson Parkway that opened in 1965 which Wheelock quietly purchased in June for $8.25 million. In its place they will create a 9 story, 166 unit curved residential structure that will hug James Robertson Parkway. This will be connected to the former Parkway Towers office building (21 stories), which will be converted to 192 residential units along with extensive exterior updating. Both buildings will share Parkway's existing parking deck, which holds 403 cars, and will also have a combine 12,413 sq. ft. of ground level retail between the two, as well as 7,723 sq. ft. of co-working space. There will be an internal auto courtyard between the two structures.  So, there will be a grand total of 358 residential units between the two buildings.

R2L Architects will be in charge of design. They and Wheelock will go before Metro Planning Commission on Dec. 8th to seek rezoning.

When they implode the Court House Square Building, our Urban Planning Meet-Up crew will need to attend and raise a toast, as we met many years in the street level restaurant there (which has been closed for several years due to the pandemic).

More behind the Nashville Post paywall here:

https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/downtown-site-of-modernist-buildings-to-be-reimagined/article_73bbe700-48e3-11ed-8fb0-1fb1a98a30d3.html
 

A view of the Court Square building which will be razed:

This screen shot from Smeagolsfree's excellent development map shows the expanded footprint highlighted in teal at the center of the frame:

[MLBrumby]

Nice!  A real improvement to that street. 

[donNdonelson2]

This is a very tasteful adaptation and addition that makes optimal use of an awkwardly shaped lot. I love it!

[jjbradleyBrooklyn]

This is a really nicely-scaled building for that area. Will add mid-rise height and continued density to an area not seeing *as much* development as it could. 

Hoping that changes soon! Seems like it is.

[BeaveStirs]

Nice! I will be interested to see how the office conversion goes. Good stuff

[fishsticks176]

Our old meet spot! I actually really liked that building, although I’m excited about this new one too.