Davidson West: Bellevue, Bordeaux, Green Hills, MetroCenter, Nations, N Nashville

[AsianintheNations]

7 hours ago, samsonh said:

You think the homes are built poorly. You think the homes are too close together. You do not like the materials. But clearly lots of people think otherwise. Planning is reviewing the bills now, and they will certainly recommend changes. I hope that once those changes are incorporated your tune changes.

Density in neighborhoods like the Nations subsidizes suburban developments throughout the county. Attached are two examples of homes in the Nations, one is one of the nicer older homes in the neighborhood, and one is a relatively new construction project.  The new construction pays roughly twice the property taxes of the older home, it also provides one additional home close to downtown(3 or so miles). 

Agreed. As my username suggests, I live in the Nations in a new-ish home. It's great. My neighbors like their homes as well. Sure, it's not the prettiest house in the world (at least I've added a lot of native plants and trees to replace what was cut down when it was built), but it's perfectly well built and does what I need it to. Also, my utility bills are a fraction of what people in older homes on Nextdoor complain about, probably because of modern insulation, HVAC systems, and other appliances.

I specifically did not want a home in a subdivision with HOA codes of conduct and building or a convoluted, cloistered road network. I think there is value to non-uniformity of houses and permeability of streets. That means that sometimes, truly atrocious 40-foot jet-black cubes will rise up and there's not much I can or will do about it except laugh every time I walk by. As the new owners add more personal touches and landscaping, it sticks out less and less over time.

I've seen memes on social media celebrating "old suburbs" as eco-friendly paradises just because of the giant tree canopy - think Green Hills or Belle Meade - vs. perceived new soulless dystopian housing. That is kind of silly - plenty of "old suburbs" are some of the most car-dependent, sidewalk-less, low-density land uses around, and one majestic oak tree surrounded by herbicide/pesticide-drenched lawns doesn't equate to old growth forest habitat. Also, the older 1940s-1950s houses in the Nations definitely repeated the same 2-3 house plans over and over again, too; arguably there's more diversity of designs in the new houses. It's the renovations and additions over time that have given the old houses individual character, and the best-built ones are the ones that are still standing after 80 years and going strong - some lofted up for flood safety, some with second-story additions, some with marvelous sculpture gardens. I'm not saying we shouldn't renovate and preserve old houses when we can, but there were also a LOT of very dilapidated houses, too, that were just past that point of no return. Some of the new tall skinnies are trash, too, and they'll get fixed or torn down in due time - but the majority are perfectly structurally sound houses and they serve the same purpose as the older houses did when they were new - space for new families to get their start. As the kids and puppies grow up, so will the young shrubs and trees - mine are already pushing 30 feet tall and it's been less than a decade. In the end, I think the "character" of the neighborhood comes from the people living in it, and it's in the chalk scribbles on the concrete, the sports team flags from all over the region, the experimental landscaping in the rain gardens, the front porch furniture and the people sitting in it. The more densely placed houses just let more people be a part of the neighborhood as the population of the city and nation grows.

I sometimes get nostalgic for my childhood home in a small town in the Northeast. My child will, against all odds, probably get nostalgic for this funny-looking home in the Nations. But as an article I read some time ago said, paraphrasing, I'm nostalgic about the people who lived in my childhood house, the things we had in it, the memories we shared. I have no specific affection for that house as a physical structure and when I look at a photo of it now on Zillow, I have no desire to buy it and move back in.

The issue of pricing in the Nations nowadays is a real one, but I think boils down to a lack of options with lower square footage (too much in the 2000-3000 sq ft range and not enough in the 1000-1500 range) and some developments that are really charging a huge premium per square foot for marginal luxury that is hard to justify for ordinary people, but are probably being marketed at the crux of the problem - real estate investors. Freezing the housing stock in place would certainly not help at all; careful growth (helped by a lot of industrial land that can be redeveloped from scratch) that is calibrated to offer varying price points for real people who intend to live here is what's needed.

Edited April 3 by AsianintheNations

[markhollin]

Harmony Heights  (3 & 4 stories, 17 townhomes) update: cladding and brickwork continue.

Looking SW intersection of Clarksville Hwy. and Buena Vista Pike:

Looking south from South Hamilton Rd., 1/3 block SW from Clarksville Hwy:

Looking east from intersection of South Hamilton Rd. and River Drive:

[smeagolsfree]

I am sure a lot of the homes in the Nations are fine, but I went into a number of them that were not. Yes, there was crap that has been built in parts of Nashville.  For the most part that is not the target of this bill. Guys you can throw everything including an Abram's Tank at me on this one and I am standing my ground. If it passes and I am proven wrong, I will apologize.  I do not think it will. You guys know that I am one bullheaded SOB when I am against something, or I do not think something will happen based on the history of Nasville or the developer. It is just like the bad feeling I had on Mayor Berrys transit plan.

[markhollin]

Goodrich Townhomes (3 stories, 26 townhomes) Phase II and III updates.

Looking west from Cliff Drive, 1/3 block NW of Buena Vista Pike:

Looking NW Buena Vista Pike, 1/3 block SW of Cliff Drive:

[markhollin]

1206 Brick Church Pike (4 & 5 stories, 10 townhomes) update: exterior nearly complete.

Looking NW from Brick Church Pike, 1/2 block north of Baptist World Center Drive:

Looking west from Brick Church Pike, 1/3 block south of Fern Ave:

[markhollin]

Some new details on the mixed-use project slated for 3539 Dickerson Pike:

- Will be called Artist Lofts
- Will encompass 36.9 acres
- 430 apartments, 20 townhomes, 65 single family homes/cottages
- Commercial /retail buildings with 22,000 sq. ft. of space
- 20 acres of conserved green space/woods
- Participating on the project will be David Baker Architects, Manuel Zeitlin Architects, Genesis Engineering, Barge Civil Associates and Hawkins Partners (landscape architecture)
- The Metro Council on second reading approved a specific plan rezoning earlier this week. A third and final reading is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16.

More behind the Nashville Post paywall here:

https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/development/details-emerge-for-project-eyed-for-dickerson-pike-site/article_eb93c9da-f37f-11ee-b306-f352a0c975df.html
 

This screen shot from Smeagolsfree's excellent development map shows the site highlighted in blue at the center of the frame:

[markhollin]

Orchard Hills (4 stories, 250 units) update: several of the structures topped-out.

Looking NE from Clarksville Pike, 1/4 block north of Ashland City Hwy:

Looking SE from Clarksville Pike, 1/4 block north of Ashland City Hwy:

[markhollin]

Baptist World Center Townhomes (3 stories,  14 units) update: nearly complete.

Looking north from intersection of Baptist World Center Drive and Vashti St:

Looking east from Baptist World Center Drive, 1/8 block west of Vashti St:

[BnaBreaker]

It's almost like some developers are allergic to making their building face the street.  Those above seem to be situated every which way BUT towards the street.  Bizarre!

[markhollin]

Ascent Apts. (3 stories, 240 units) update.

Several angles from within site off of Brick Church Pike, just south of I-24:

 

[markhollin]

517 West Trinity Townhomes (3 stories, 17 units) update: complete.

Looking SW from Proximity Townhomes off Old Matthews Rd., north of West Trinity Lane:

[markhollin]

Raven Vacation Rental Homes (3 stories, 40 units) Phase Two update: siding up and windows installed.

Looking SW from Baptist World Center Drive, just west of Brick Church Pike:

[PillowTalk4]

With all the development that is taking place in the Brick Church Pike, Trinity Lane, West Trinity Lane areas over to Clarksville Pike, just how much development includes new grocery stores and big box stores like Target, Home Depot, Lowes, etc.?  That area was pretty much void of all the typical retail you'd find in a suburban area.  I grew up in the Kings Lane/Eatons Creek Road area and it took decades for even Kroger's to open a grocery on Clarksville Pike.  If we wanted t go to a big box store we'd have to go to White Bridge Road, Madison and Rivergate.  I'm just wondering if that is area is being developed beyond residential.

[markhollin]

Summit View (4 stories, 98 units) update: grading continues; some retaining walls up.

Looking NW from Summit Ave, 1/3 block west of Cliff Drive:

Looking west from intersection of Summit Ave. and Cliff Drive:

Looking north from Summit Ave, 1/3 block west of Cliff Drive:

[markhollin]

King's Inn renovation update.

Looking NW from Avondale Circle, 1/2 block east of Hampton St:

Looking east from Hampton St. 1/2 block north of Avondale Circle:

[markhollin]

City Bluffs (3 & 4 stories, 58 townhomes, ground level retail on corner) update: 3rd phase complete; 4th phase groundwork beingstarted.

Looking SE from Buena Vista Pike, just NE of Cliff Drive:

Looking north from Cliff Drive, 1/2 block SE of Buena Visa Pike:

[markhollin]

Hampton Corner (3 stories, 37 homes) Phase I update.

Looking west from Brick Church Pike, 1/2 block north of Avondale Circle:

Looking NE from intersection of Hampton St. and North Avondale Circle:

[markhollin]

336 Ewing (3 stories? 190 units) update.

Looking south from Ewing Drive, 1/3 block east of Ewing Lane:

[Archibum]

On 4/14/2024 at 8:10 AM, markhollin said:

Hampton Corner (3 stories, 37 homes) Phase I update.

Looking west from Brick Church Pike, 1/2 block north of Avondale Circle:

Looking NE from intersection of Hampton St. and North Avondale Circle:

Lord have mercy...

[markhollin]

Prince's is now officially ready to start their new location at 2609 Jefferson St.  It will be a 2 story, 5,470 sq. ft. structure.  Plans are for it to open in early 2025.

More at NBJ here:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2024/04/15/restaurant-roundup-local-burger-joint-expands-acro.html
 

This screen shot fro Smeagolsfree's excellent development map shows the site highlighted in blue at the center of the frame:

[markhollin]

Brick Church Pike and Dennis St. retail structure update:

Looking NE from intersection of Brick Church Pike and Dennis St:
 

[markhollin]

Subaru of Nashville update: open.

Looking SW from Brick Church Pike, 1/2 block north of Artic Ave:

[markhollin]

A luxury golfing company backed by Justin Timberlake has purchased hundreds of acres of land eight miles northwest of downtown Nashville and plans to open an 18-hole course later this year, according to the company's website.

The latest land deal in a string of acquisitions by The Farm Nashville, an LLC affiliated with 8AM Golf, was finalized Tuesday, according to property deeds filed with Metro Nashville. The Farm Nashville paid $7.5 million for approximately 112 acres in the deal. This latest purchase brings the company's total to about 475 acres in the Whites Creek neighborhood of Nashville. In 2022, they bought 363 acres for $22.5 million.

The property is located north of Briley Parkway along Knight Drive. The most recently acquired land has an address of 420 Green Lane.

The company is building an 18-hole private course on 363 acres of land. It will be called Bounty Club and have a "highly curated" membership profile. Justin Timberlake, who is co-developing the project, is listed as a partner at 8AM Golf on the company's website.

8AM Golf is the owner of several golf-related companies including Golf.com, Golf magazine and golf course design firm Nicklaus Companies.

Golf course designer King-Collins will design the Bounty Club course.

More at The Tennessean here:

https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2024/04/17/luxury-golfing-company-backed-by-justin-timberlake-purchases-acres-north-of-nashville/73343397007/


And at NBJ here:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2024/04/17/justin-timberlake-8am-golf-course-bounty-club.html

This screen shot from Smeagolsfree's excellent development map shows the site highlighted in blue at the center of the frame:

[MLBrumby]

That's huge. Can't get past paywall. Are houses planned? How many? And what is the significance of Fontanel Mansion? 

[donNdonelson2]

40 minutes ago, MLBrumby said:

That's huge. Can't get past paywall. Are houses planned? How many? And what is the significance of Fontanel Mansion? 

It’s a very large, contemporary style log home built by Barbara Mandrell.