[Nashville Bits and Pieces]

OK gotcha... Thanks! I didn't see that 

[Nashville Bits and Pieces]

Quick question... I came across this article today regarding New Orleans plans for a convention center hotel - 1k room with the omni flag. 

In the rendering, is that our convention center, country music hall of fame across the street, and just a taller version of our omni?!  

https://www-nola-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.nola.com/news/business/new-orleans-convention-center-hotel-is-up-for-a-vote/article_74118a04-184c-11ef-8992-632e4d5d2da1.amp.html?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From %1%24s&aoh=17164841293729&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nola.com%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fnew-orleans-convention-center-hotel-is-up-for-a-vote%2Farticle_74118a04-184c-11ef-8992-632e4d5d2da1.html

[Nashville Bits and Pieces]

12 hours ago, smeagolsfree said:

Not diverse in what ways? I have a good idea what they were talking about, but I want to hear it from their POV. My guess is that the DT shopping sort of sucks. No large, big box stores like you would find in a traditional large downtown. Downtown also lacks a diversity of other types of services type stores to fill the needs of the residents downtown. That will have to come sooner or later.

 

 

Diverse in terms of people. They only saw majority white people in bars, restaurants, walking, bands playing on stages. We walked from 5th and Broadway to the Riverfront and back up. They didn't have an issue or anything, just pointed out they didn't see any other groups of people. 

This was a diverse group of people in my group ... White, black, Hispanic.  

Definitely the new African American music museum has brought a diverse group of people to downtown and 5th and broad has helped. 

This was our group. We did a team event at the curling facility in West Nashville 

[Nashville Bits and Pieces]

I was in Nashville last week for a conference at the Renaissance and training at my company's Lavergne plant. Me and my coworkers stayed in Smyrna Sam Ridley Parkway area. 

I was born and raised in Nashville, but have not lived in the city since 2019. I visit often for work and family. 

Here are my observations from my trip:

- coworkers were visiting from all over the country, California, Seattle, Florida, Philly, Ohio, Chicago. Out of the 12 people that visited, 9 of them had never been to Nashville before. 

- We went to 5th and and Broad for the assembly hall. This was my first time visiting the development. Man they were impressed with that development. Loved the atmosphere and variety of restaurants. Everyone got something different and loved their food. This place is a home run and was full of downtown workers, convention attendees, and tourist. 

- They were surprised that downtown was jumping at 12 noon on a Monday. Lots of people out. They loved all of the rooftops and commented on how a lot of famous people have bars here. 

- The Renaissance hotel did a great job with their renovation of their ballrooms and connectivity to 5th and broad. You could basically walk from the inside of the hotel directly into assembly Food hall. Definitely a plus for hotel and convention guest. There were also signs in the meeting space areas directing folks to 5th and broad 

- I was surprised to find parking at the library garage at $20 flat rate for 24hrs! 

- I took some of them down Broadway to West End and Vandy and showed them midtown, vandy, and centennial park. They all loved the Parthenon and didn't know a full scale replica existed. 

- It took me 1.5hrs to go 24 miles from Smyrna exit 66a Sam Ridley to the Renaissance on Tues morning leaving out at 7am. I-24 was a mess. My coworkers commented that the road seemed like it was paved with gravel. The signs that tell you the lanes and speed limits were stupid. OK the current rate of speed is 35mph excellent. Not sure how that helps traffic. Potholes were terrible. Someone mentioned it looked like the roads up in Ohio. 

On the way back to Smyrna from downtown, we went some back roads through cane ridge. New subdivisions being built on both sides of a 2 lane road, which will add to the already crowded streets and interstate. 

- Overall everyone enjoyed their visit to Nashville. Only complaints I heard was that downtown didn't seem as diverse as other cities they have visited. And of course the traffic was a complaint, especially with the lack of mass transit. They loved the food, atmosphere and overall big city vibe of Nashville. They did point all of the construction and new towers being built. 

The pictures were taken from the 31st and 15th floor of Bridgestone tower 

 

[Oracle, 60 acres at River North, 1,200,000 sq. ft. of space, $1.2B Investment, 8,500 jobs]

On 4/26/2024 at 9:04 AM, Luvemtall said:

As I’ve mentioned before, Nashville is one of the most affordable large cities regardless of what the locals think. They just haven’t experienced living elsewhere.

https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/142k-salary-needed-to-afford-median-home-price-in-nashville-realtor-com-says/

$142K salary needed to afford median home price in Nashville, Realtor.com says

https://www.wsmv.com/2023/04/12/study-how-much-do-you-need-make-be-middle-class-nashville/

The study says Nashville is ranked No. 52 among the 100 largest cities in the U.S., with a median household income of $64,857. The middle income lower limit is just over $43,000, and the upper limit is just shy of $130,000.

[Nashville Bits and Pieces]

Interesting that the TN State Museum is not listed. 

[Nashville Bits and Pieces]

Video of the NYE Music city note drop. 

This was nationally televised on CBS. Great exposure for the city. 

I still think downtown Broadway is a better place to have this event, since the city has to pay to resod the grass at bicentennial mall and there isn't much parking or food /drink options in the vicinity, but overall great turnout and great event. 

 

 

[Inner Loop - CBD, Downtown, East Bank, Germantown, Gulch, Rutledge]

22 hours ago, Bos2Nash said:

This is going to be a HAWK pedestrian signal. It was part of the development's OHM package.

Good! They have these all over the busy roads in Tampa. Definitely helps with pedestrian safety. 

Here's an example of a crossing in Tampa. 6 lane busy road. 

Once pedestrian presses button and gets OK to go, traffic stops on both sides of the road. 

[The Transportation and Mass Transit Megathread]

21 minutes ago, andywildman said:

Free streetcars (for tourists & downtown residents alike) have been a boon for Cincinnati's and Kansas City's downtowns. A Broadway streetcar from the Parthenon to the Cumberland would immediately be bigger than KC's 4k/day ridership, and it would connect

• the East Bank (Titans)
• Lower Broad
• the CBD
• the Gulch
• Nashville Yards
• Midtown dealerships
• Vandy
• Centennial Park
• and the hospital district.

Plug that into a future Murfreesboro Pike light rail, and airport tourists can do downtown Nashville without ever needing a car.

I know Karl Dean's AMP wasn't too popular, and car dealers and anti transit people ultimately killed it, but it would have covered all of those areas you mentioned and ended at St Thomas in belle meade. 

I definitely think it would have been very successful, especially given Nashville's popularity with tourist, events, and residents now living in that area. 

[Nashville International Airport PHOTOS (BNA), Airlines and Flights General discussion]

Southwest Airlines Announces New Crew Base for Pilots and Flight Attendants at Nashville International Airport (BNA)

https://swamedia.com/NashvilleCrewBase

Aug 14, 2023

DALLAS – Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today furthered its commitment to Music City by announcing the addition of a Crew Base at Nashville International Airport (BNA) in the second quarter of 2024.Nashville will become the 12th Crew Base in the Southwest® system with approximately 150-250 Pilots, growing to 500-600 Pilots, and an estimated 500-700 Flight Attendants based in the new Crew location beginning in 2024, with continued growth planned.

 

 

[Inner Loop - CBD, Downtown, East Bank, Germantown, Gulch, Rutledge]

So the update is they added two nails??  

It's literally been 6 years. Owner must not be hurting for money 

[Inner Loop - CBD, Downtown, East Bank, Germantown, Gulch, Rutledge]

I remember that building from my days of catching MTA (no WeGo lol) when the station was outdoors on Deadrick St. 

I always liked how it faced the corner... Kind of like the Phillips building (old bofa building). 

[Inner Loop - CBD, Downtown, East Bank, Germantown, Gulch, Rutledge]

10 hours ago, natethegreat said:

Where are the million dollar single family homes on that block??? It’s all fences and warehouses. I agree it’s a good mission, but it’s out of control. I can’t walk down that street without getting harassed, it’s like a zombie movie. It’s a bad look. Circle South and Ritz have failed to get off the ground, I might know a reason why.

My apologies... I thought the post was about the mission in Salemtown not the one in downtown. 

There are townhomes that have sold for over $800k in Salemtown right behind the women's rescue mission. 

Downtown. Yes is an issue. 

Homes sold in Salem town near the rescue mission 

Homes for sale in Salemtown near rescue mission. 

[Inner Loop - CBD, Downtown, East Bank, Germantown, Gulch, Rutledge]

41 minutes ago, natethegreat said:

When are they going to move the rescue mission? It really puts a damper on that part of town. No one is gonna want to build there.

Where would you like to move it?? Dickson, TN? 

The rescue mission, the housing projects, and the 1950s homes in this city have been there long before gentrification and investment moved in. 

Unfortunately there are homeless people and people that need assistance in this world that need access to goods services in the city, not somewhere in the country where there are no bus lines or access. 

We should do more to try to end homelessness than trying to get rid of them so they can't be seen. 

Also, everyone is building there. There are million dollar homes being sold in that area. Multi family and single family. 

The rescue mission has done a good job with their management of the facility and being a partner in that community. 

FYI... A family member had to use that facility when I was younger for a couple of months to get back on her feet. Those facilities do actually help people. 

[The Transportation and Mass Transit Megathread]

Every time I see a new post from this thread I'm like... Yaaaaayyy mass transit. Then I scroll down and it's things that should have been done 20 years ago like sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, bridge rebuilds, and safety bollards on Broadway. I guess mass transit will never come to Nashville... Oh Well. I'll keep wishing... 

[The Transportation and Mass Transit Megathread]

I always thought Nashville and the state would benefit greatly with developing elevated reverse express lanes on Ellington Parkway in the Grassy median. My proposal would be no local exits, just a straight shot from the downtown loop to briley Parkway and 65 N and reverse. This would help alleviate a lot of the traffic going through 65/40 split and the 24/65 split. From my experience, a lot of the traffic during rush hour on Ellington Parkway is from people commuting from Madison and the northern suburbs to downtown. 

It blows my mind that Ellington Parkway is not 3 lanes in both directions.

Tampa has elevated reverse espress lanes above the Selmon expressway, which is a toll road, and a portion of it is elevated above street level as well. 

 

Selmon expressway elevated express lanes 

Reverse express lanes - no local exits - Selmon expressway 

[Travel observations and new developments of other cities and countries]

7 hours ago, Binbin98 said:

Some photos of downtown Tampa as I’m here for a few days. 
 

Nashville does not want to end up like Tampa as this area has 3 million people with a mediocre airport, no public transportation whatsoever aside from a few bus routes, and high unemployment. That being said it’s nicer to visit though just not to live in.

I have to respectfully disagree. I currently live in Tampa. I'm from Nashville, but have lived in Atlanta, Charleston and now Tampa within the past 5 years.

The Tampa metro does not have a high unemployment rate. US national unemployment = 3.9%. Tampa metro = 2.6%. Nashville metro = 2.7%.

https://www.bls.gov/web/metro/laummtrk.htm

Regarding the infrastructure, yes I-4 to Orlando is a cluster. You have two major metropolitan, tourist, and convention cities within an hour and a half of each other with only 3 lanes each way, with no mass transit. 

Tampa does have toll roads which gives options to folks traveling north or south. One thing I will say is that FL and it's cities take really good care of both the interstates and city roads. They are paved, lighted street signs, signs that tell you which intersection is ahead, and pedestrian cross walks on major roads that require motororist to stop. 

Plus interstates aren't trashy (SC was the worst with litter) and a lot of the exit and on ramps are landscaped and well maintained... Something I wish TN would do more of. 

There are more than a "few" bus routes, plus there is a free trolley system downtown. The bus network actually operate nearly 500 buses, service more than 9000 transit stops, and provide rides to nearly 28 million passengers each year in Tampa Bay.

https://www.tbarta.com/en/commute-tampa-bay/transit/

Tampa Airport was rated number 1 in customer satisfaction and number 1 large American Airport by JD Power 

https://news.tampaairport.com/tampa-international-airport-ranked-no-1-in-industry-benchmarking-air-service-quality-awards/#:~:text=Airport ranked No.-,1 in industry benchmarking Airport Service Quality Awards,passengers for calendar year 2021.

https://news.tampaairport.com/jd-power-names-tpa-1-large-airport-in-2022-north-american-airport-satisfaction-study/

FL may not be for everyone, but it's kind of one sided to make statements with providing data to back it up. 

[The Transportation and Mass Transit Megathread]

After driving all over the southeast for work, I will say Nashville traffic is not the worst. One thing that I like about the middle TN road network, is that there are state highways that all run parallel to the main interstate that lead you to the main cities and towns along the major interstate routes. 

Ex:

24W - Clarksville Hwy 

24E - Murfreesboro Rd and Nolensville Rd 

65N - Gallatin pk

65S - Franklin Rd and Nolensville Rd 

40E - Lebanon pk

40W - Charlotte pk, 70S, and Hwy 100

I'm saying all of this to say Nashville is fortunate to have alternate routes in case there are wrecks that shutdown the interstate, or just heavy traffic. I hate sitting in traffic and not moving and stop and go traffic. I would rather be moving and it take me an extra 15 minutes than to be sitting for half an hour or more. 

I used to live in Clarksville and would often take Clarksville Hwy if there was a wreck on I-24W. 

I currently live in Tampa and had family from Nashville come down for the weekend. We went to animal kingdom on Saturday and left Tampa  at 9am and it took us 2.5 hrs for a normal 1.5hr trip. No wrecks or anything, just heavy volume. I-4 between Orlando and Tampa is a complete cluster no matter when you travel it. And there are no roads that run parallel to I-4 that will get you to either city without going an extra 50 miles out of the way.

 

 

[Travel observations and new developments of other cities and countries]

Riding Nashville’s wave of national popularity, themed Yankee-tonks have popped up in many cities, channeling a crude version of Music City’s culture, sounds, and food

https://www.eater.com/23620493/nashville-themed-bars-honky-tonk-restaurants

Our influence is world known. From music, food, to culture, the Nashville brand is strong! 

[Project Thread/New Construction/Photo du jour/Const. CAMs]

17 minutes ago, nashville born said:

Anyone remember where the post showing downtown with all the proposed projects populated is located.  I think maybe @MidTenn1or @UTgrad09might have done it.  Sorry if I got the composer wrong....

Robert has an awesome summary of projects in Nashville. 

Check it out. 

https://citynownext.com/2023/02/28/45-upcoming-towers-climbing-15-to-60-stories-in-downtown-nashville/

 

[Travel observations and new developments of other cities and countries]

https://atlanta.urbanize.city/post/midtown-skysraper-rockefeller-under-construction-development-tallest-building

Construction fencing moves in for Atlanta's tallest building in ages

Nice tower! Will definitely make an impact on the midtown skyline. 

[Inner Loop - CBD, Downtown, East Bank, Germantown, Gulch, Rutledge]

5 minutes ago, colemangaines said:

Lol .... And those pictures are probably a year apart. 

[The Transportation and Mass Transit Megathread]

Transforming transportation: TDOT's proposal for 'choice lanes,' $3 billion in road improvements

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/transforming-transportation-tdots-proposal-for-choice-lanes-3-billion-in-road-improvements

More studies, widening in rural areas, and 30 year buildouts. Projects would probably start in 2033 and complete in 2063, which by that time we will be due for more studies, even wider lanes, and more studies for the future. I'm being sarcastic on the dates, but that's how it feels when it comes to TDOT projects. 

No mention whatsoever of mass transit. 

[Knoxville Construction and Updates]

40 minutes ago, UrbanWes03 said:

Johnson City based Yee-Haw Brewing Company will open its Knoxville location in the old Elkmont Exchange space on 745 N. Broadway in Old North Knoxville on Friday. The surprise here is that Prince's Hot Chicken, the staple hot chicken restaurant in Nashville, will have a location within the restaurant! There will be other food offered as well. The outdoor space added was converted from multiple parking and unused lots and features a stage, outdoor bar, fire pits, and seating for hundreds of people. Inside of Knoxville states that "paid admission shows will begin in the spring and should offer similar artists to many who play the Bijou.", one of the theaters on Gay St. in Downtown.

Read more on Inside of Knoxville: https://insideofknoxville.com/2023/02/yee-haw-brewing-co-officially-opens-tomorrow/

 

Glad to see Princes expanding beyond Nashville! That's awesome. I know they were one of the original Nashville hot chicken places, but haven't really expanded outside of Nashville like others have. Gonna have to visit when I'm in Knoxville.....Go VOLS! 

[The Transportation and Mass Transit Megathread]

Maybe once the train expansion is complete, the Blue Parrot in Sobro will be open and riders can hop off the train downtown and grab a drink! I wonder which would be complete first....