3 new condo midrise for Nashville

[BrandonTO416 77]

Tech condos on horizon

By William Williams/nashvillecitypaper.com

June 03, 2004

One of downtown Nashville's most underused areas is bracing for a transformation as Brentwood-based developer Van Christian is proposing three mid-rise buildings for land between the Bicentennial Mall and the Cumberland River.

The first building, to be called The Harrison Lofts and to contain 36 cutting-edge contemporary living units on nine floors, will be located at Harrison Street and Third Avenue North and carry a price tag of about $7 million. Pending pre-sales of 18 units to meet financing approval from Fifth Third Bank, Christian said he will close on the purchase of the 1.65-acre tract July 15 and hopes to break ground this summer. A completion date is slated for October 2005.

Buildings Two and Three would then follow and likely be constructed simultaneously, with Phase III offering some retail and office space. The project has received approval from the Metro Planning Commission.

"The units will be upscale, but we have tried to keep the overall price affordable," he said. The smallest units contain 769 square feet and start at $159,900, for a cost of approximately $200 per square foot. Units range in size up to 1,525 and price up to $459,900 for each for the two penthouses.

With the Harrison Lofts to rise about 95 feet, Christian said the views of downtown and the river will be "spectacular."

Christian, president of Chi Development Inc., has enlisted Karen Hoff, broker with ERA Historic and Distinctive Homes, to handle the pre-sales of the units.

Hoff said she has three units under reservation contract and has about 65 days to pre-sell 15 additional units.

"This project will be great for somebody who likes 'industrial cool,'" Hoff said.

Michael Marchetti, president of Nashville-based The Marchetti Co., designed Harrison Lofts and said he has given the units and the building's exterior an ultra-sleek feel, much like that of Mercury View Lofts in The Gulch.

"The whole idea is to make the skin one surface with no separation between the pre-cast concrete panels and the glass fronts," Marchetti said of the exterior.

Interiors will feature rubbed-concrete walls, concrete floors, exposed mechanicals and high-tech appliances.

"We're going for a very clean industrial look," he said.

Marchetti said the development could serve as a spark for the area, which is known for being home to The Stockyard restaurant.

"I think it can [redefine the area architecturally]," he said.

The area, whose borders are James Robertson Parkway (north), the Bicentennial Mall (west), the Cumberland River (east) and Jefferson Street (north), is slated to be the future home of the Tennessee State Museum and the Nashville School for the Arts.

[wolfdawg54 0]

That will be very good news for the Nashville area. I love the rendering. It is an architectural gem.

[Allan 0]

It looks like a great building! Not very tall, but it will add a lot to downtown Nashville.

[doormanpoet 0]

The first one is sold out already. have they started construction yet?

[it's just dave 8]

Starting soon I think. It'll be a good boost to an area where there's not much of anything except prime real estate. I think they're calling it the River District. It's one of the mayor's pet areas. He wants the entire area between downtown and Jefferson to the river reclaimed as an urban neighborhood to link up with Germantown.

This is a good start.