Nashville Bits and Pieces

[BnaBreaker]

This isn't development news by any means, but I just wanted to bring this to people's attention.  I just watched a great 43 minute documentary on Nashville and the history of it's music scene on youtube, featuring some of Nashville's most famous music personalities.  I found it to be very interesting and I think you might as well. 

 

 

EDIT:  Wow...just realized that dmills posted this exact same video just a few hours ago in Coffee House.  Weird!!

Edited December 20, 2013 by BnaBreaker

[timmay143]

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2013/12/2013s-best-performing-american-cities/7887/

 

Nashville up from 27th to 14th from 2012 to 2013.

[chris holman]

Should Nashville become a skycraper cityhttp://nashvillepost.com/news/2013/12/9/should_nashville_be_a_skyscraper_city

[chris holman]

An update on some of the stalled projects, according to this article, it sounds like Sobro tower is a definite go for next year. http://nashvillepost.com/news/2013/11/27/delayed_construction_limits_years_major_urban_developments_list

[timmay143]

Both good articles!

[Paramount747]

Nashville a skyscraper city? Maybe 50-75 years from now, but currently our population base could not support it, and even then it will be residential and hotels.

 

I really think for the most part, with the exception of Asia, The Middle East, and major European and North American cities, the skyscraper may be a thing of the past. Yes, they are iconic and I love them, however; even height enthusiasts like me who like buildings of 300 feet or taller realize what attracts people to cities like Nashville, Portland, Raleigh,  and others is density and street activation.

 

Besides those of us on this forum who read, or read and post, most everyday people could care less how tall buildings are. Instead, they want safe places to walk, and park their cars. They want activated streets full of retail and restaurants. They want theaters, and performance venues. Many want residential within walking distance of work and play. I think this is the future of Nashville.

 

Had Nashville not had so many zoning restrictions, there would have been dozens of residential  buildings in the core decades ago. Tony G in 1998 was the first to get residential zoning restrictions lifted in the CBD! This was something many of our peer cities did decades ago.

 

Once we have 50,000 or more living in the core, maybe we will see some new buildings above 30 stories and 400 feet, but that could be awhile. Look how long it is taking Tony to get the Sobro out of the ground. First proposed officially 2 years ago, (although he has wanted to develop that lot for years) and still no dirt has been moved.

 

The issue is getting banks to warm up to city living. If we were a larger city with a population base of 1,000,000 in the county, not MSA, we would have more skyscrapers. Banks would be more willing to lend, and there would be a dozen Tony G's, not just one.

 

With the suburban areas like Brentwood, Cool Springs, and Franklin in tremendous sprawl building booms, there is little left for skyscrapers in downtown Nashville.

[Paramount747]

Interesting article on skyscrapers:

 

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jan/13/skyscrapers-corporate-pride-fall

[chris holman]

More Charlotte developers are targeting Nashvillehttp://nashvillepost.com/news/2013/12/6/charlotte_developers_increasingly_target_nashville

[chris holman]

Area development momentum braced to continue in 2014http://nashvillepost.com/news/2013/12/23/nashville_area_development_momentum_braced_to_continue_in_2014

[Paramount747]

I am beginning to question whether the Sobro happens or not. Getting a little anxious.

[CenterHill]

I am beginning to question whether the Sobro happens or not. Getting a little anxious.

 

What makes you say that?   

[Paramount747]

No advertisements  and no media in a long while. I know he got his zoning variance and has his financing. May just be the holidays, but the rendering sign has never been put on the site, but I guess no one does that anymore. I guess spring 2014 is the time table now from what I hear.

 

Still not sure which rendering they are using either since The Tennessean ran both in their article a while back. No update on the website either. I know with all the marketing he did for Signature Tower, and nothing happened, maybe he is gunshy about publicity. I remember how people rudely defaced the Signature Tower signage. Maybe he just does not want to advertise this tower too much.

 

In any case, The Sobro seems to be the most viable out of all the high rise projects in the pipeline at this time. With the Hensler tower almost topped out, this may be the last 250+ foot tower we get for awhile, although this one should be 380-400 feet when all is said and done.

 

 

 

What makes you say that?   

Edited December 23, 2013 by Urban Architecture

[henburg]

If I am not mistaken, I believe that construction has been confirmed on the SoBro for early next year in a couple of recent articles. 

[arkitekte]

Isn't SoBro mainly if not all apartments? In that case he doesn't need pre-leases signed and the construction of a 400' tower should be advertising enough. By the time those units are ready to be lived in plenty of people will be interested. 

 

If this thing hasn't started construction by June or so then we should probably start to worry. 

[nashvylle]

I am beginning to question whether the Sobro happens or not. Getting a little anxious.

Agree..

[fieldmarshaldj]

I'm rooting for "Sheet Music."

[smeagolsfree]

Tony has already stated it will be after the first of the year for SoBro to start. I think it will be fine.

[Paramount747]

Tony has already stated it will be after the first of the year for SoBro to start. I think it will be fine.

True that Ron, but Tony used to be so public with his PR about his projects. He wont even place signage on the lot or update his website. That is what makes it a bit irritating is we cannot get an updated website or any signage. I noticed there is no signage on the Hilton Garden Inn site either. Maybe they don't do that anymore.

[smeagolsfree]

Signs are for egos which Tony does not have. A lot of the projects do not have signs. Also a number of the companies do not have websites showcasing their projects. Examples of this are Stonehenge, Ed Fulcher, Ray Hensler, and that is off the top of my head. It takes time to get the complex projects off the ground. Look how long it took Hensler and the 2 hotels being built on West End.

[Paramount747]

Your are probably right Ron. The Westin could be years away as is the Broadway Hyatt Hotel. It seems other cities like Atlanta and Austin get things done a lot quicker.

 

It's going to take the Hilton Garden inn quite awhile as well. It has been 10 months since they did the demolition for the project, and they still have not gotten very far. The turnaround for these projects is painfully slow.

 

Could be the politics of it, and an overwhelmed permitting department in Metro.

[UTgrad09]

How closely do you follow the projects in Austin and Atlanta? If you followed everything from those places like you follow development here, you might find it takes quite a bit of time to get things off the ground there, too.

 

Do they get done quicker there? Possibly. But I would guess not a 'lot' quicker. There are obviously differences when you are dealing with market characteristics, financing, and, as you mention, politics. But the time from when a project is announced to when construction starts...that seems to always take a couple of years. It just doesn't seem like it with those cities because you don't check in on the news as often.

[nashmoney]

Nashville in the top 5 on new economic momentum list

http://www.newgeography.com/content/004111-metro-areas-most-economic-momentum-2014

[dmillsphoto]

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2013/12/nashville-colonial-bakery-to-close.html

 

Unfortunate that the Colonial Bakery is closing. I know it will probably open that lot up to be the next large development along the stretch, but I am going to really miss the smell. It's a little bit of heaven every time you drive by...

[RandomHero]

Nashville in the top 5 on new economic momentum list

http://www.newgeography.com/content/004111-metro-areas-most-economic-momentum-2014

 

Unreal that of the Top 52 metros only 2 have had their median income rise from 2007-2012.

 

For all of the new fancy stores, restaurants bars around town catering to people with money there is a mammoth swath of people who have just been completely left behind. 

[Neigeville]

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2013/12/nashville-colonial-bakery-to-close.html

 

Unfortunate that the Colonial Bakery is closing. I know it will probably open that lot up to be the next large development along the stretch, but I am going to really miss the smell. It's a little bit of heaven every time you drive by...

 

It's also exactly the kind of small, non-noxious industry that should be part of genuine mixed-use urban development.  I hate to see downtown devolving into nothing but luxury housing and expensive restaurants.  That's not a real city.