901 King Blvd. (33 stories/375', 250 residential units)

[UrbanWes03]

Wow! I can’t believe this project is already seeing movement like this! So so exciting!

[smeagolsfree]

Here is the Demo permit and the status was ISSUED!

https://epermits.nashville.gov/#/permit/4211814?initial=1&searchType=permit&orderBy=fullAddress ASC,permitNumber ASC&searchText=&page=1&searchCode=ADDR

[lmc123]

[markhollin]

Otis Elevator structure nearly gone.

Looking SW from intersection of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. (Charlotte Ave.) and YMCA Way:

Looking NW from YMCA Way, just south of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. (Charlotte Ave.):

[nashville born]

Perhaps it's just me, yet I'm really happy to see this project go up.  So cool to see Snoddy getting neighbors after some many decades of isolation.

[lmc123]

[Bos2Nash]

I spoke with someone recently who is very knowledgeable and heard they are still working through design and costs for this one. 

[markhollin]

The working name will be 901 King Blvd.  It will officially be 33 stories, and offer 250 units (186 one-bedroom units and 64 two-bedroom units, with some of the residences expected to offer below-market rental rates). 

The plan is fully code-compliant, but a ground breaking has not been set yet, as the Metro Planning Department Downtown Code Design Review Committee has to give a final sign-off on the  plan.

More behind the Nashville Post paywall here:

https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/planned-giarratana-high-rise-will-offer-250-units/article_857e0a12-ad61-11ed-895e-2f39bb8d27d4.html

[Sean blackdog]

Here we go. 

[markhollin]

Markings on site.

Looking SW from intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King, Blvd. (Charlotte Ave.) and YMCA Way:
 

Looking SE from iDr. Martin Luther King, Blvd. (Charlotte Ave.), 1/4 block west of YMCA Way:

[MLBrumby]

I always thought that TSU building was rather cool in an ugly sort of way. I’m sure that makes sense to nearly no one, but it has so many ins and outs and the whole building looks like it was poured into a mold. The drab gray looks even more depressing in the rain.  Anyone know the history… year built, architect, if built to be a school building, was there any public opposition to such an ugly structure near the capitol, etc?

[chc3]

29 minutes ago, MLBrumby said:

I always thought that TSU building was rather cool in an ugly sort of way. I’m sure that makes sense to nearly no one, but it has so many ins and outs and the whole building looks like it was poured into a mold. The drab gray looks even more depressing in the rain.  Anyone know the history… year built, architect, if built to be a school building, was there any public opposition to such an ugly structure near the capitol, etc?

One of the few Brutalist buildings in Nashville 

[nashville born]

Okay, do these markings mean anything?  Have any permits been applied for or pulled?  

[smeagolsfree]

1 minute ago, nashville born said:

Okay, do these markings mean anything?  Have any permits been applied for or pulled?  

I think Stormwater Grading permits have been applied for and blasting permits have been applied for and approved and blasting due to start in March.

[downtownresident]

17 minutes ago, smeagolsfree said:

I think Stormwater Grading permits have been applied for and blasting permits have been applied for and approved and blasting due to start in March.

The blasting permit application was for 1010 Church, not 901 MLK. 

[Rick Dalton]

Looks a bit like the infamous Boston City Hall

[Baronakim]

1 hour ago, MLBrumby said:

I always thought that TSU building was rather cool in an ugly sort of way. I’m sure that makes sense to nearly no one, but it has so many ins and outs and the whole building looks like it was poured into a mold. The drab gray looks even more depressing in the rain.  Anyone know the history… year built, architect, if built to be a school building, was there any public opposition to such an ugly structure near the capitol, etc?

The building was built  in the early 1970s as the new campus for the University of Tennessee Nashville and was designed by Nashville's premier architectural firm, Earl Swensson Associates.  It was transferred to TSU to become the Avon Williams downtown campus in about 1979.   It was built in warm concrete tans, not grey.  Whether this was painted  or just is dirty from decades of pollution, I don't know.  I do not consider the building to be ugly, though many folks do not like the general look of the brutalist architectural genre.  I think the articulation of the fascade reminds me of many of the proportions from  temples at Ankor Wat.  One of the criticisms of brutalism is that the scale of the buildings is often so overwhelming.  This building I think is  a better scale than mostand when it was built, it was one of the first buildings to offer full accessabilty way before the ADA required it.  Perhaps the horizontal aspects of its design does not appeal very much to the tall building lovers on the forum?  It does dominate over the sea of ugly government parking lots of the State of Tennessee.

Edited February 27, 2023 by Baronakim

[smeagolsfree]

2 hours ago, downtownresident said:

The blasting permit application was for 1010 Church, not 901 MLK. 

Doh!

[PillowTalk4]

The TSU campus to my knowledge has never been painted.  It's just weathered.  They did a power washing on some portions of the building but that will only last for long.  It's my understanding that the reason TSU has never painted the building is because of costs and it would eventually have to be repainted.  Besides, I wouldn't want to be the one choosing a color or color scheme to paint that building.   Some people want it to be white with black or dark grey accents.  Claiming it would soften it and give it a more modern look. 

[tragenvol]

I've been in the TSU building a handful of times....once for a wedding in the auditorium.

[Baronakim]

2 hours ago, PillowTalk4 said:

The TSU campus to my knowledge has never been painted.  It's just weathered.  They did a power washing on some portions of the building but that will only last for long.  It's my understanding that the reason TSU has never painted the building is because of costs and it would eventually have to be repainted.  Besides, I wouldn't want to be the one choosing a color or color scheme to paint that building.   Some people want it to be white with black or dark grey accents.  Claiming it would soften it and give it a more modern look. 

I remember in the 1960s when the city finally moved away from coal heating due to the construction of Old Hickory dam.  Most of downtown was a nasty blackish grey and the mayor promoted a  big campaign of cleaning public buildings.  The change in the courthouse ,one of the first to be cleaned, was awesome , but the Customs House was absolutely stunning.  I think another round of cleaning would be very surprisingly rewarding.

Edited February 27, 2023 by Baronakim

[bnacincy]

I've noticed in some downtown photos and aerial drone videos there are quite a few buildings that could use a pressure wash-they are looking pretty grimy.

And I remember when the Customs House was cleaned up and it did make a huge difference.

[markhollin]

Some new renderings and diagrams.  Officially 370' now.

Ground floor:

Layout of most of the residential floors:


Top floor:

[Sean blackdog]

[nashville born]

Popcorn!!