Vrtigo

Not calling you out specifically, Mark, but I feel compelled to set the record straight since this name has been spelled 87 different ways by 34 different people in this thread over the past two weeks. Properly, the name is spelled Boscobel. Presumably after the Boscobel College for Young Ladies, which was founded in East Nashville in the late 1800s.

What a treat indeed! Thanks for the quick trip back in time, m'lord. (A hat-tip to the castle talk in the other thread.) I think it would be such a neat experiment for someone to capture a "today" equivalent of all of these streetscape photos. While I have spent plenty of time on today's Church St. and surely have stood in just about every location pictured, I'm still having trouble remembering each location and what stands there now. These bygone times would seem much more real with some real-life experiences to back them up!

You know the place is tiny when the renderings show a built-in Murphy bed!

I don't ordinarily post construction camera photos because I think doing so is kinda lame, but this from one of the Asurion campus cams was too good to leave in obscurity:

Speaking of which, the Marriott out by the airport is getting a paint job, too! Any day we cover up puke yellow with slate grey is a good day.

Very pretty. But I absolutely loathe that surface parking facing Commerce. Is that part of this project's footprint?

Parking tickets for exceeding the paid time at the meter are currently $11, and are definitely being enforced. Ask me how I know.

Well, props to them for respecting good urban design and practicing what they preach! I'm a fan.

^ I think what this means is that the free market still thinks there is capacity to add more vehicles to our already congested streets. Until the traffic gets so bad that people finally yield to alternative forms of transportation (or stop coming to Nashville entirely), parking capacity will continue to be built. This mass transit lover hates it as much as anyone, but I can't argue with the basic economics of it. While I once was romantic enough to think otherwise, I'm now sort of ambivalent about the situation. In some strange way, I now almost encourage the building of parking structures because every parking space built brings us one vehicle closer to that critical mass where our streets simply can't support any more vehicles. Then, we'll finally reach that utopian promised land...

Protip: You can often get a good idea of the final height of a building based on the height of the crane(s). The crane boom typically hangs about 30 feet above the finished height of the building, so you can eyeball the height by counting down two or three mast sections from the base of the cab.

"Drinkville".

Regarding the pedestrian bridge: There is a lot of discussion going on about the time saved or distance traveled, but very little acknowledgement of the psychological impact that it might have on the pedestrian experience. I have been in numerous different cities and circumstances where a fifteen minute trip through an unpleasant or downright dangerous area was enough deterrent to keep me from making the trip altogether. On the other hand, I have been in plenty of other circumstances where the same length trip with pleasant transportation and intriguing sights along the way was more than enough impetus for me to make the trek. Yes, the distance is not much shorter and the time saved is minimal, but I guarantee you that this bridge will see plenty enough use to make its construction worthwhile. (Now if they would just quit value-engineering the crap out of it, there might still be enough attraction remaining to leave my point valid.)

^ Yeah, it's kind of an of juxtaposition with the original street frontage next door. I had always hoped those would one day spark their neighbors to again construct a whole block of similar structures, but alas. I'm sure the CH will grow on me.

Yup. Looks like a jail.

Two new renderings revealed today with some slight visual refinements (no major changes):

In addition to the aforementioned letter, the city should mandate a per-ride surcharge dedicated solely to funding the city's sidewalk fund. In my opinion, riders use the sidewalks because they feel unsafe on the streets. So, use the sidewalk fund to build and improve upon the sidewalk and bike lane infrastructure such that people feel safe using them. A dollar per ride and thousands of rides per day will get you somewhere, right?

I thought this was a nice move by Lyft. There's still a lot of work to be done, but you can't say they are completely ignorant to the problem. (Spotted on Saturday at 3rd & Demonbreun)

^ But the cherry trees...!

But what about the cherry trees?! /sarcasm

@markhollin, that last photo is awesome!

^ AKA Margaritaville

Agreed, @smeagolsfree. Sidewalks would go a long way toward reducing the "second class" status of bus riding here in Nashville. Especially for someone like myself; I would happily ride the bus every day if I was headed downtown and the schedule made sense, since the last-mile walk is properly equipped for pedestrians. Unfortunately, anything outside of the core results in walking a half mile or more along a soggy ditch adjacent to a four lane highway. Nobody with any other option is going to willingly choose that.

^ Fair point. I didn't mean any negative connotation with my choice of words, but I can see why it would come across that way. I only meant to emphasize the illusion built into the appearance of the structure.

Right; I remember hearing that as well, but last I remember hearing it was several years ago. Anyway, I'd be thrilled if it is still true. I'm just surprised, given the numerous hotels that have recently opened, or are recently under construction.