Canuck87

That's correct. I never realized how large that facility is until seeing the aerial view. It completely dwarfs the farmers market.

A couple pics of the ongoing demolition of the police station on James Robertson.

Aerial shot of the museum site with the downtown in the background.

Nashville: ‘Music City’ has amplified appeal for homebuyers The capital of Tennessee is one of the top six cities in the US for property investments The US in 1968 was in ferment. In April, Martin Luther King was assassinated, sparking riots across the country. In June, Senator Bobby Kennedy was shot, too. The war in Vietnam was claiming more than 500 American lives a month. As the country simmered, Bob Dylan was in a Tennessee recording studio. The resultant Nashville Skyline, released the following year, was a paean to the city of Nashville and the country music industry it had nurtured. Not for the first time, fans complained the voice of a generation was neglecting his duties. Tennessee’s capital, nicknamed “Music City”, has drawn in the greats of country and rock, from Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash to Kings of Leon and Taylor Swift. Today, businesses and their employees are feeling the draw, too. Office construction is at an all-time high, according to agent Cushman & Wakefield. And vacancies are at record lows, says Keith DeCoster of Savills’ research department in New York, despite a huge 2.9m sq ft of office space created since 2009. The healthy local economy is attracting workers. At 3.9 per cent, Nashville’s unemployment rate in October was well below the US figure of 4.9 per cent. Between them, healthcare — the city’s largest sector, worth about $38bn — finance and technology, as well as the bellwethers of music and entertainment, are in rude health, says DeCoster. US Census data from the Nashville metropolitan area show its population is growing at more than twice the national rate. “Today the city is seeing roughly 90 new arrivals per day, meaning prices [are] on the rise and affordable housing [is] running low,” says Denise Creswell, president of the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors. Across Davidson County — an area dominated by the city — median sales prices in the three months to September were up 15 per cent on the same period in 2015. Nashville is the sixth-most appealing city in the US for property investments, according to PwC’s yearly nationwide survey. Many of the younger, affluent new arrivals make a beeline for 12 South, a neighbourhood roughly three miles south of central Nashville. Its ready supply of new homes, central location and proximity to Belmont and Vanderbilt universities have made the area popular with young families and singletons alike, says Clay Kelton of Pilkerton Realtors, a local agent. A two-bedroom penthouse apartment on 20th Avenue South in the neighbourhood is on sale for $2.99m through Pilkerton. That price is right at Nashville’s top end; median sale prices in October were $261,000, according to Creswell. And the city’s relative affordability is at the heart of its appeal. Companies filling Nashville’s growing tech and finance sectors, in particular, are exiles from larger US cities, where spiralling office and residential prices are making running a business — or even a home — increasingly tough. “Nashville is among a clutch of secondary cities providing cheaper living and working with a trendy urban lifestyle. In particular, this is providing affordable talent [staff] to start-up companies driven out of Silicon Valley, Manhattan and Boston,” says DeCoster. Those working in Nashville’s growing financial services sector, meanwhile, will be looking to roost in the city’s well-heeled, roomy suburbs, which include Franklin, Belle Meade and Brentwood. Family homes here sell for a prayer in comparison with the best neighbourhoods in New York or Los Angeles. Pilkerton is selling a five-bedroom house, with a large garden, on Granny White Pike in Brentwood for $2.15m. Those with deeper pockets might consider the home available on Westview Avenue in Belle Meade. A 20-minute drive from Nashville’s airport, it has eight bedrooms, a pool and a large landscaped garden. It is on sale for $11.95m through The Lipman Group Sotheby’s International Realty. Meanwhile, Nashville’s music scene has not missed out on the action. High studio rents in New York and LA are driving recording studios and artists back to the city, says Kelton. Early recruits included Jack White of The White Stripes who bought a studio in 2009 to house Third Man Records, the label he started in 2001. Dylan, sadly, has left for sunnier climes. Forty-eight years and (by this fan’s count) 55 albums after Nashville Skyline, the singer recorded his latest album, Fallen Angels, last year in LA. Buying guide ● Flights from Nashville international airport to New York take about two hours and 15 minutes ● The population of the metropolitan area of Nashville is 1.8m ● Transfer tax on all home purchases in the city is 0.37 per cent. An additional 1 per cent annual property tax is calculated on the assessed value of a home ● Nashville’s famous recordings include Elvis Presley’s 1956 single “Heartbreak Hotel” and Bob Dylan’s 1966 album Blonde on Blonde What you can buy for . . . $500,000 A two-bedroom condo apartment in downtown Nashville $1.25m A four-bedroom home with a pool on 1.5 acres in Belle Meade $2m A five-bedroom, detached house on three acres in Brentwood

"Nashville: ‘Music City’ has amplified appeal for homebuyers" A great write-up about Nashville's recent growth and development from the Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/26e68698-bd42-11e6-8b45-b8b81dd5d080

My fault. I forgot there was a road separating the two. I took Mark's comment that it "will open up the land that C.B. Ragland owns on 2nd Avenue" to be referring to that lot. Wishful thinking, perhaps.

I've been wondering for a while now how much longer this lot (also owned by C.B. Ragland) would be able to survive. It appears now that it's days are numbered...

"Franklin pursues a developer's dream: Faster vetting and taller buildings" For many properties, the ultimate outcome could reduce "six months of a rezoning request to a six-week review cycle," city officials say. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2016/12/13/franklin-pursues-a-developers-dream-faster-vetting.html

I agree with both of you, and I certainly did not intend to come across as critical of the stadium itself or the city's decision in choosing that location. I think it's an excellent facility, and I really believe the location will prove to be the best choice in the long run. If anything, I'm surprised that: A) it's taken as long as it has to develop the area around the ballpark (not that 1.5 years is an especially long time), and B) that the existing development (i.e., the Carillon Apartments) did not do more to cater to the park's attendees. But neither of those issues are attributable to the city. I guess I was expecting more of an immediate response from developers, but to echo Mark, Rome wasn't built in a day...

A great little feature from PBS NewsHour about music row.

"Hilton-brand hotel surfaces at $750M downtown development" NBJ is reporting that the first of the two hotels located on the Capitol View property will be a Hilton brand hotel. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2016/12/13/hilton-brand-hotel-surfaces-at-750m-downtown.html?ana=twt

"Developers land Marriott-brand hotel with views of the Parthenon" A 10-story Fairfield Inn & Suites is in the works at a site one block off West End Avenue. The investors pursuing the 156-room hotel plan to request a necessary variance from Metro next month. The developer is in final talks with lender regarding a construction loan. Should Metro approve the variance, the project is expected to break ground in the second half of 2017. Article: http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2016/12/13/developers-land-marriott-brand-hotel-with-views-of.html

Mayor Berry has hired Brian Kelsey to serve as the city's first-ever "Chief Strategy Officer." The position was recommended as part of the Strategic Budgeting and Innovation Project Public Investment Plan, and its purpose is to "promote collaboration and align the Metro budget with the needs and priorities of Nashville's residents." Kelsey is the Principal and Founder of Civic Analytics, an economic development research and consulting firm based in Austin, Texas. He also served as an adjunct lecturer in economic development at The University of Texas at Austin. He will work with Metro department heads and staff, as well as citizens, to design and implement changes to government functions. Additionally, he will work with the city's chief data officer to better collect and publish data. Hopefully, he can bring some of that Austin-growth with him to Nashville. Coverage: Press Release: http://www.nashville.gov/News-Media/News-Article/ID/5964/Mayor-Barry-Names-Brian-Kelsey-to-Serve-as-Chief-Strategy-Officer-for-Metro.aspx Tennessean Article: http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2016/12/13/mayor-barry-appoints-first-chief-strategy-officer-bring-business-tools-nashville/95384374/ Nashville Post Article: http://www.nashvillepost.com/politics/metro-government/article/20846643/barry-fills-new-chief-strategy-officer-position Full biography: http://civicanalytics.com/brian-kelsey/

"Popular 12South restaurant finds second Nashville home" Taqueria del Sol will be opening a second location at 4500 Charlotte Ave., beside M.L. Rose. The restaurant will occupy half of the 6,500-square-foot building that is currently being constructed on the property. Austin Ray, the owner of M.L. Rose, is a partner on the project. Article: http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2016/12/13/popular-12south-restaurant-finds-second-nashville.html

My bad. I misread that.

"Mad Donna's mystery solved?" Apparently a new restaurant is opening at 1313 Woodland St. and is being featured on a reality TV project. Hence, the secrecy. Article: http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2016/12/13/mad-donnas-mystery-solved/95367886/?hootPostID=0ef6fcd60234685e81bfaf56c6ab4a57

[UNRELATED TO THE ONGOING FAIRGROUNDS DEBATE] "Investors 'aggressive on Antioch' pounce on development site" McArthur VanOsdale and Juan Vallarino of V2 Capital have purchased 19 acres of land in Antioch for $2.26 million. The duo's plan is to develop some combination of office buildings, a hotel, and retail on the site, but the full extent of the development is still to be determined. VanOsdalesaid it is too early to say what the project's budget will be, and the investors likely will need a bank to finance construction. Coverage: NBJ: http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2016/12/13/investors-aggressive-on-antioch-pounce-on.html Tennessean: http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2016/12/13/office-hospitality-retail-uses-eyed-antioch-site/95371762/ Nashville Post: http://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/article/20846620/antioch-properties-eyed-for-development-following-sale

That's the thing, at 117 acres, it is one HUGE piece of property. For comparison's sake, the OneC1ty campus is roughly 19 acres, and the Capitol View site is about 32. The Bicentennial Capitol Mall is also 19 acres. I'm no math whiz, but according to my calculations, they could fit a park/greenspace twice the size of the Bicentennial Mall, plus a Capitol View-sized development, plus 2.5 OneC1ty-sized developments all within that area. And it would be two and a half miles from the downtown. If it was transformed into a park, I would have no problem with that whatsoever. But in its current state, I think it's completely out of place.

"First look: Developers of $50M apartment deal target epic job growth" Charlotte-based Crescent Communities and Brentwood-based Pearl Street Partners unveiled plans Monday for 239 apartments in Franklin.

"Multiple Nashville fairgrounds buildings targeted for demolition" Mayor Berry is seeking Metro Council's approval to demolish nine buildings on the Fairground property. The demolition is part of a $12 million renovation of the 117-acre site. Metro Council has authorized $12 million in fairgrounds upgrades as well as $3 million for soccer fields, a dog park, and other green space on the site. I'm curious to hear others' thoughts about the Fairgrounds and specifically whether ex-Mayor Dean had the right idea when he proposed turning the site into a mixed-use development. In my non-professional opinion, renovation of the grounds is only a stop-gap solution. As development pushes south from downtown, I can't help but think the property will become too valuable to continue serving as a venue for "expo center events, flea markets, and auto racing." http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/davidson /2016/12/12/multiple-nashville-fairgrounds-buildings-targeted-demolition/95334216/

I remember listening to an interview with Karl Dean on Nashville Public Radio several years ago when the plan to build the stadium at the old Sulphur Dell site was initially being discussed. As I'm sure most of you recall, prior to that, most bets were on a new Sounds stadium being built south of Broadway. The justification given by then-Mayor Dean for building the stadium on the north side of the Capitol was that this area offered more potential for development, as compared to the already highly saturated SoBo area. The idea was that the stadium would serve as a catalyst for bars, restaurants, retail, etc. to move into the area, creating something akin to Wrigleyville. I say all this in support of your statement that, as of now, the stadium has been far from successful, especially considering that the main goal in choosing the location was to spark the this particular type of development.

"Land deal heralds breakthrough for Gulch-SoBro bridge" NBJ article about the forthcoming pedestrian bridge. At this moment, the timeline for construction of the the bridge remains unclear. As for the most recent (and incredibly underwhelming) design, which those on the board seem to be acutely aware of, Metro's Department of Public Works has stated that the new look is only "preliminary," and that the department would "begin working to engage the community on the final design of the bridge." http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2016/12/12/land-deal-heralds-breakthrough-for-gulch-sobro.html?ana=twt

"Franklin's The Artessa luxury apartments sold for $57.5 million" Out-of-state money continues to flow into Middle Tennessee. Security Properties, a Seattle-based real estate company, has purchased the 250-unit Artessa luxury apartments in Cool Springs for $57.5 million. This acquisition is the company's third in metro Nashville this year. http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2016/12/10/franklins-artessa-luxury-apartments-sold-575-million/95276846/

"Give me a break! Traffic in Charlotte and DC is a joke..." - Anonymous Beijing Resident

The Tennessean is reporting on the land swap transaction between Cummins Station owner, Zach Liff, and Metro. The deal will allow Metro to proceed with construction of the pedestrian bridge and will allow Liff to redevelop the nearly 3-acre Clement Landport site. http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2016/12/10/cummins-stations-owner-buys-clement-landport-756-million/95256978/