Rebuilding Second Avenue

[jmtunafish]

2 hours ago, MLBrumby said:

Turner makes it sound like he was the only one on Second Avenue in 1992.  Hmmm... I recall going to Second Avenue many times when I was at Vandy, and I graduated that year.  Of course, there were fewer establishments at the time, but there was already a burgeoning scene. Sure, I suppose crime rose after midnight, after the crowds left, but I recall that San Antonio Taco Co. had recently opened a new restaurant next to Demos' a block away. There was a lot of renovation going on along the west side of the street at the time. IIRC, at that time it was more bustling than Broadway. It even had a 'new' name to convey an entertainment hub, Market Street. I believe it was later dubbed "The District".  I had even heard that the block that burned down in the mid-1980s was intentionally set because the investors decided they could make more money from parking. That's just a persistent rumor I heard in the late 80s. 

Hard Rock Café opened in 1994, and I'm sure they wouldn't have opened at that location if 2nd Ave/Market Street/The District was a ghost town.  Like you, I remember going there in the late 80s/early 90s.  Broadway was still pretty sketchy, but 2nd Ave's renaissance was already well underway.  In fact, Mère Bulles opened in 1985 on 2nd and was a wonderful place to go for some amazing food and good music.  The Old Spaghetti Factory opened in 1980.  I was in college in Utah back then but made many trips to Nashville (had tons of friends recruited by Opryland every summer).  We always enjoyed heading downtown.

[chriss752]

I haven't seen any pictures like this, so I thought I would share them here...

[MLBrumby]

Damn jerk!  

[titanhog]

Chris…those photos are amazing.  So sad to see it again.  Unbelievable carnage.

[TNinVB]

Makes me sick to my stomach. 

[Sean blackdog]

White RV park where explosion.  

[markhollin]

Long feature on the history of 2nd Ave. North, and how portion of it m ay be lost after the bombing. Behind the paywall at The Tennessean:

https://www.tennessean.com/in-depth/news/local/2021/01/14/nashvilles-birthplace-devastated-bombing-but-recovery-offers-hope/4141811001/?for-guid=1eea646d-632b-4c47-87eb-062bb676cd8f&utm_source=tennessean-Daily Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_briefing&utm_term=hero

[Sean blackdog]

Replaced with skyrises or parking lots? 

https://fox17.com/news/local/buildings-damaged-in-nashville-blast-wont-be-replaced-with-skyrises-parking-lots?fbclid=IwAR2mLWKa9vQxLQlzVdjkERrPXZJo2hbhzh4QQXcBqm-7f1jmDtRu2rclbeY

 

 

[NashRugger]

Leave it to WZTV and their group of morons to say "skyrises" like that's a real accepted word. 

I think it's been made abundantly clear from the jump reconstruction to as close to pre-bombing was the plan.

[titanhog]

There’s something really cool and gritty knowing you have buildings that are very, very old and still standing…but I guess, in the scheme of things, if you can build some of these back to look the same on the outside, but you have superior building techniques to use today to help them stand the test of time…and are able to construct the interior to fit today’s needs…in a few decades, it won’t matter that much (other than the lack of bragging rights on age).  As long as it looks traditional, I’m cool with it.  It’s like the Schermerhorn.  It was built in the 2000’s…but looks like something from ages ago….and it will stand the test of time (no matter when it was built).

[jmtunafish]

There's no reason why 2nd Ave can't  be rebuilt to exactly how it looked prior to the bombing.  War-torn cities and villages all across Europe have been able to do it.  I lived in Arras, France, a city that was almost completely obliterated by the Germans during WW1.  Only 5 percent of the city's buildings survived the war intact.  They rebuilt the downtown area to look exactly as it did prior to the war which was a monumental feat considering there were almost no original architectural plans (the city hall and its belfry were built in 1517, for example).  It took 15 years.  A visitor to the city today would have no idea that the "historic" downtown is only 85 years old instead of 500.

left - before WW1; right - just after the war:

 

And today:

 

It might take longer and cost more for Nashville to do the same, but I think it'll be worth it.  It certainly won't take 15 years as Nashville doesn't have an entire city to rebuild.  If done right, 2nd Ave could emerge from this looking just like it did prior to the bombing.

Edited January 16, 2021 by jmtunafish

[Armacing]

On 1/15/2021 at 7:19 PM, jmtunafish said:

It might take longer and cost more for Nashville to do the same, but I think it'll be worth it.  It certainly won't take 15 years as Nashville doesn't have an entire city to rebuild.  If done right, 2nd Ave could emerge from this looking just like it did prior to the bombing.

Well, not exactly.  Don't you think there will be some kind of memorial or historic marker at the site of the explosion?  I'm reminded of Dallas where there is a constant stream of tourists to the "Grassy Knoll" just for the morbid fascination of visiting a location where something happened.  At the very least, this spot on 2nd Avenue will be a destination on those downtown walking tours where the group will stop for a second while the tour guide explains what happened.  But I think there will be some kind of visual indicator there, in some form.

[titanhog]

8 hours ago, Armacing said:

Well, not exactly.  Don't you think there will be some kind of memorial or historic marker at the site of the explosion?  I'm reminded of Dallas where there is a constant stream of tourists to the "Grassy Knoll" just for the morbid fascination of visiting a location where something happened.  At the very least, this spot on 2nd Avenue will be a destination on those downtown walking tours where the group will stop for a second while the tour guide explains what happened.  But I think there will be some kind of visual indicator there, in some form.

Since no one but the bomber was killed, I’m not sure if there will be a marker (other than maybe one of the buildings will have a “2021” or “2022” date or something placed into the building to mark its new build date.) 

[Jamie Hall]

Before the rebuilding phase begins, I hope serious consideration is given to how to really maximize 2nd Avenue. If it is actually configured to be closed off to through traffic and become pedestrian-friendly, maybe leave slots for food trucks on select nights? Maybe a farmers market on the weekends? Maybe find a way to really set it apart the way 5th Ave (the Avenue of the Arts) is set off with overhead lighting or some other perk. 

[Nash_12South]

1 hour ago, Jamie Hall said:

Before the rebuilding phase begins, I hope serious consideration is given to how to really maximize 2nd Avenue. If it is actually configured to be closed off to through traffic and become pedestrian-friendly, maybe leave slots for food trucks on select nights? Maybe a farmers market on the weekends? Maybe find a way to really set it apart the way 5th Ave (the Avenue of the Arts) is set off with overhead lighting or some other perk. 

I like the food truck idea, especially on the AT&T side. It would make much better use of the space. Any restaurants would gripe though.

[Jamie Hall]

On 1/19/2021 at 9:39 AM, Armacing said:

Don't you think there will be some kind of memorial or historic marker at the site of the explosion? 

That empty side of the brick AT&T building would be a good place for a massive mural. With the AT&T connection and potential AT&T funding, maybe a mural could highlight communication milestones in Nashville, or something river-related since that street is so historic for its river commerce. A meaningful mural could be something beautiful created from a tragic event.

[smeagolsfree]

4 hours ago, Jamie Hall said:

That empty side of the brick AT&T building would be a good place for a massive mural. With the AT&T connection and potential AT&T funding, maybe a mural could highlight communication milestones in Nashville, or something river-related since that street is so historic for its river commerce. A meaningful mural could be something beautiful created from a tragic event.

That was in the works or at least some typeof art project.

[FrankNash]

^^^A vertical garden would be nice.

[titanhog]

Some photos from yesterday courtesy of Karen Tice

 

[smeagolsfree]

The first permit for stabilization was issued for the Hooters building for 500,000. 

[downtownresident]

I was listening to the presentation Metro is putting on about the rebuilding effort, and it sounds like utility damage was minimal. 

[markhollin]

Preservationists and developers gear up for bombing demolition/rebuild debate:

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2021/01/25/nashville-bombing-rebuilding-second-avenue-continues-businesses-reopening-others-delayed/6670481002/

[Nash_12South]

While  I'm all for recreating the damaged Second Avenue buildings, there are things to consider. To what era do you restore to? 2020?, 1920?, 1870? The facades of these building had endured incremental, but in the long run, sometimes extensive changes over time. Whatever gets built back is a recreation, a stage set in a way. The original is gone. The interiors of these  building were 90% changed long ago. I do understand that some building owners will want to maximize the usefulness of whatever gets built back. This reminds me of the neighbor down the street that proudly states he lives in a 100 year old restored home. Only a small portion of the façade of that house is actually 100 years old. Walk thru the front door and it's all brand new.  

Edited January 25, 2021 by Nash_12South

[titanhog]

2 minutes ago, Nash_12South said:

While  I'm all for recreating the damaged Second Avenue buildings, there are things to consider. To what era do you restore to? 2020?, 1920?, 1870? The facades of these building had endured incremental, but in the long run, extensive changes over time. Whatever gets built back is a recreation. The original is gone. The interiors of these  building were 90% changed long ago. I do understand that some building owners will want to maximize the usefulness of whatever gets built back. This reminds me of the neighbor down the street that proudly states he lives in a 100 year old restored home. Only a small portion of the façade of that house is actually 100 years old. Walk thru the front door and it's all brand new.   

I personally believe they should do their best to build the exterior to fit the current look of the other structures…and if you can take away any “bad” architectural pieces that were added over time and attempt to create it closer to the original…that would be best.  Interior…I would think it’s best to include 21st century room sizes, plumbing, etc…but still attempt to use some old wood and stone inside to give it an older feel.

[L'burgnative]

This may be a pipe dream too, but I had a thought a couple weeks along the lines MLBrumby's has been preaching about moving it's location.  Rather than relocating it in some far off land relocate it in its current location but under ground.  One way in one way out or only accessible through the underground utility tunnels that I'm sure are already there.  It would be secure from future attacks being that it's underground and a lot less accessible furthering it's protection and the equipment inside wouldn't have to be relocated/rerouted.  AT&T could sale air rights above (I think "Air Rights" is the correct term, selling the land or space above your facility)  to developers extending the 2nd Ave. district onto this property as well.  These new extended 2nd Ave. structures would not have any physical access to the below ground utilities.  I'm sure this wouldn't be cheap but it would be much cheaper than moving to some far off land where this utilities would have to be relocated and also making money back from the sale of air rights.  

Edited January 25, 2021 by L'burgnative