Lexy

Why they focus on DFW is beyond me. There's really nothing about Dallas that excites me. I personally think it's just a matter of time before they show up in Nashville. They are typically slow to expand.

Just typical Nashville. I have zero definitive evidence to prove this will happen, I just know this town well enough to know what gets promised is not what's usually delivered. With that said, I'm cautiously optimistic that the 38-floor version will, in fact, get built.

Thank you. I agree. Point well taken, but that begs the question just who does Davidson County feel they are REALLY competing against? Do they honestly look at WillCo as competition? Or, are they too worried about other metros to really care what happens?

I agree and disagree. As long as it's roof height is 543 feet, I'm fine with it honestly. I understand why he's reduced it's overall scope, but it's still going to stick out like a sore thumb in that location on top of the hill.

I guess you're right. Those companies that could, would much rather be in Franklin and Brentwood instead of downtown.

The weirdness not withstanding, my point being make it a box, but make it something to look at. That's all I'm saying. Who cares at this point how many floors it has.

If it must be a box, atleast give it some nice touches. This is in LA (and before you start, Nashville is always comparing itself to LA). 42 floors and it's called 525 South Spring Street.

Probably.

I guess what I really meant to say is that with their budget, a glass box is a bit disappointing. I would've thought you could get something besides a bottom half that looks like a cold air return for your furnace and a top that looks like a modern day James K. Polk Tower. Perhaps you guys are right. I mean, think about the BofA Tower in Charlotte for example. Try to walk inside it and you'll get pushed right back out. But, it's also a single tenant building for the most part. Anyone that would be a single tenant of a tower here in Nashville is more than happy to park their happy little butts in Williamson County instead of downtown. And from what I've seen, the city of Nashville is okay with that. They don't even have to be tall, but for crying out loud make them easy on the eyes and less like a "Mad Men" film set. I look at some of these and think smoking inside them is okay!

Me either. I have no clue why it's that big of a deal since the area within the loop is considered the CBD. I NEVER thought the city would allow all the highrises being built in West End to happen, but look at it now.

Let's be real here, density and street activation are not what comes to mind when I think of any Texas city. They, like Atlanta and Brentwood, are pretty happy with sprawling neighborhoods of dead-end cul-de-sacs. Oddly enough, Miami is the same thing. It's a ghost town after 6pm. I appreciate infill and all that warm and fuzzy stuff, but we don't have the land to play with like most cities do. I'd like to see a nice piece of architecture built here that really stands out amongst our peers. Peers meaning, Charlotte, Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City, Raleigh (which isn't hard to do), etc. If the NBJ is to be believed, there isn't anywhere near enough office space downtown to meet demand. ON the flip side, I guess Nashville is content with Williamson County being our second downtown with it's grand tree lined boulevards that wind through the countryside so long as the people live here and can sip coffee at a new coffee shop on the ground floor of a fifteen story building. In part because I think these "guidelines" help cap the growth. They are silly in that half of downtown (sobro) is being consumed by 20 story buildings sitting on top of 5 story parking pedestals. There is little out of the box thinking from anyone and frankly, that's scary. There's also the resistance to questioning the status quo here in Nashville. People in this town are very afraid to step on any toes. I applaud the horrific Westin and JW in their out of the box designs (by Nashville standards).

It's not an obsession, but rather a legitimate question as to the real motives. If you want that type of city, then go to DC or Madison where that's the norm. You can have tall buildings (taller than 20+ floors) and wonderful street level activation! It's not a foreign concept.

Interesting takes on this. I, too, don't buy the design within a budget idea. I think that depends on the minds behind the design, but hey...who am I to judge. I hope everyone enjoys their faux 60's "Mad Men" glass boxes 30 years from now just as long as it "activates the street" it sets on. As long as it does that, to hell with the rest of it. Oh, and don't cover up the neon of the L&P Tower too.

I agree.

I'm fine with the height. It's the building I'm not a fan of. You can make 300 feet look nice or look thrown together.

Also, Cincinnati and Columbus are the only two cities in your list, John, that even compare to Nashville on multiple levels. Starting with MSA population. And yes, Cincy recently built a 30+ story tower in downtown. Anyone seen the RSA Tower in Mobile? Tallest in AL!

By the way, the three things in life that are guaranteed are death, taxes, and architecture critics. Chicagoans wrote a book on the buildings they love to hate. I'm sure this James K. Polk look-alike would be in my book of the same subject for Nashville.

with all due respect, I'm not happy with a status quo design in the single hottest real estate market in the country. I'm not just "happy it's growing". I seek a higher idea perhaps, but am I wrong to want something more? Nope! You realize our peer cities have towers under construction (or built) that makes us look silly in many ways, don't you? Oh well...it engages the street so I should be happy. Even if it looks like a joke 30 years from now. Budget constraints not withstanding, it's a highly uninspired design.

Isn't all of the new proposals 300 feet? It's a sea of flat roof lines.

Yawn. I've seen better in the toilet after a long night of drinking. Still...it addresses a vacant lot and I'm okay with that. As for the "postcard" comment by the architects, yeah okay...if you're talking about making a postcard shot of the city of Topeka maybe...not Nashville.

Bond is in the Gulch, correct?

getting CSX to play is key. Long shot, but key.

I'm not too good for a bus, but I have enough common sense to know people hate buses in this town and will not ride them regardless what you call the routes. Expensive or not, more options MUST be discussed and soon.

Mark, all joking aside, I've heard that too. There isn't enough land in Nashville for one (at the right price).

no, they're too busy building one in Memphis to give a crap about actually making money with one in Nashville. I agree 1000%