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

[Chris Lee]

1 hour ago, Vrtigo said:

Don't forget there's a FedEx Office smack in the middle of Lower Broad as well... I don't think a tastefully done Walgreens will be as out of place as any of you think.

I think I read somewhere that's the actual building that Walgreens is looking to take over.

[CenterHill]

2 hours ago, Andrew_3289 said:

a Walgreens on lower Broadway would be a gold mine with all the tourists stopping in and getting the essentials for the weekend. 

I agree 100%.     I disagree with Butch Spyridon that a Walgreens does not fit.     Where is it written that every building in a stretch of 5 blocks must be used as a honky tonk or boot shop?    

[BnaBreaker]

1 hour ago, PaulChinetti said:

Actually using a structure instead of tearing it down and making it like everything else! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT!!

So much architecture has been homogenized and reduced to the lowest common denominator, I love when the local flare is kept and it's just not another generic building.

I totally agree.  The irony with Walgreen's generic design is that they are attempting to mimic the traditional 'main street corner store' look, but usually insist on having a large parking lot between the sidewalk and the entrance of the 'corner store,' which completely negates the purpose of that design.

[rookzie]

1 minute ago, titanhog said:

I'm just talking about that old bank.  Too bad there's not another business using it where the awesome architectural features couldn't be featured even more...like an upscale restaurant...museum...art gallery.

An art gallery or institute, or even mezzanine mixed-use with food court would be the "bomb" for that old Noel State Bank Bldg.  I guess that, in consideration of its site, it's somewhat off the mainstream of central activity, and Walgreen's probably got a hold of it before other investors or lessors did, or possibly they were the fortunate ones to acquire the use of the old bank to suit their projected needs.  Wicker Park is a former primarily working-class district in the near northwest side, and which has been undergoing a state of transition in the redev of blighted, older structures, along with minimal razing and infill, in the same manner done to a few much smaller areas in Nashville ─ areas that didn't become all but leveled, that is.  The Historic Noel State Bank building is but one of many structures which have undergone adaptive re-use in that Chicago neighborhood.

[markhollin]

21c Hotel announces that it will be opening May 14th, and the name of their upscale restaurant will be Gray & Dudley after the hardware and metal fabrication company that once filled the space.

http://www.tennessean.com/story/life/2017/02/21/21c-hotel-chooses-historic-restaurant-name/98195654/

[Titans10]

2 hours ago, BnaBreaker said:

I totally agree.  The irony with Walgreen's generic design is that they are attempting to mimic the traditional 'main street corner store' look, but usually insist on having a large parking lot between the sidewalk and the entrance of the 'corner store,' which completely negates the purpose of that design.

That design is like the one they built on the corner of Frazier and Market in North Chattanooga, you have this awesome row of shops and restaurants built up to the road and boom, a Walgreens with a massive parking lot facing the road, it makes me mad almost everytime I drive by it. 

[MLBrumby]

I thought that was the one in the photo. Yep... I miss the Town and Country that used to be there. It wasn't the greatest food, but the whole atmosphere was classic mid-20th century... booths, car canopy, huge neon sign on the roof.  That was a f'ing crime. And that was after the Jacksonian demolition.  Pardon me if I'm not supportive about Walgreens being allowed anywhere where there are fine old buildings.

[BnaBreaker]

2 hours ago, Titans10 said:

That design is like the one they built on the corner of Frazier and Market in North Chattanooga, you have this awesome row of shops and restaurants built up to the road and boom, a Walgreens with a massive parking lot facing the road, it makes me mad almost everytime I drive by it. 

Oh man, that one drive me crazy too.  Walgreens should be ashamed of plopping that generic garbage down in the middle of that beautiful neighborhood like that.

[markhollin]

The Diner will have it's grand opening this Friday.  I decided early on to withhold my judgement until it was finished...but I have to say, I like it.  Fits very nicely on that corner, and the faux brick finish actually works once all the trim work and window installations have been completed.  Will try to get some interior shots this weekend.  

This feature from the Tennessean has some more detail including a video tour of each floor:

http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2017/02/21/first-look-247-diner-nashville-opens-friday/98217534/

Looking SE from near corner of 3rd Avenue South and Demonbreun Street:  

The bar on the second floor:

[smeagolsfree]

All I can say is that it is about time this opens. Seems as if this has been under construction for 5 years. I know that is not the case, but when multiple high-rises go up in the less time you have to wonder about the construction company they use.

 

Looks as if there will be the same type of delay for the old Trail West site. It didn't take them long to get the building down, but it is taking forever to get it to street level.

A bunch of ding dongs doing the construction, not to mention the ding dongs that are doing the Moxy Hotel in the Richard's and Richard' building. They have been in there for a minimum of three years and they are no where near done.

[bhibbs]

I really think The Diner ended up being a handsome structure 

[mundiejc]

Last night, a project that my father and I have been working on for 8 months finally made it through Third reading. We're moving on civil and architecture now and hopefully will be breaking ground soon. This is a cottage court, tentatively named Lacy Court, at the corner of Lacy and 23rd Ave N. Its currently a giant block of concrete, so we're excited about some development on a blighted parcel that is revitalizing, without displacing, as well as mitigating a pretty serious stormwater concern. I'm especially excited since its 200 yards from my house.

Centric is doing our plans. These attached renderings aren't final, but they are pretty close to the design of the homes. The placement is correct though as this is the site plan from the approved SP.

 

 

Lacy Court.pdf

[markhollin]

Late summer opening planned for The Olmstead (6-7 stories, 328 units)

http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/real-estate/2017/02/22/summer-opening-eyed-328-unit-olmsted-nashville/98255490/

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2017/02/22/first-look-high-profile-investment-giant-backing.html

[AUNash]

As beautiful as those were (and there were also some nice ones on the west side by Deaderick, too), the ones that stood on the east and south sides of the Public Square were even more beautiful. Second Empire beauties that looked like they were transplanted from Paris on the east, and an Italianate on the south that looked like it was dropped from Venice (at least in the case of the latter, it was not a victim of urban renewal, but of fire).

West side

East side

South side

 

It's interesting. I used to live in Montgomery, AL and in Birmingham. Nashville has far more going on now than Montgomery or Birmingham. But I have wondered since I moved here about Nashville's historic structures -- or lack thereof. For a city of our age, I have always thought that nashville was missing buildings in the core that were a link to past eras, or at least to the eras represented by these buildings. Montgomery is a river city or a similar age. Selma is too. So is Mobile . And they have more of the historic structures that give you a sense of their age than Nashville does. Don't interpret this as a knock on Nashville. I love this city and love living here. But I've been surprised we don't have more examples still around of the city that we used to be. Others do.

[titanhog]

^^You're right.  There really isn't enough of Nashville's past amazing structures to give a true sense of a 200+ year old city...and that's a shame.  And we continue to knock down Antebellum structures to put up condos and hotels.  Shameful, shameful.

[MLBrumby]

Ah yes... Urban Renewal! The wholesale obliteration of blocks of historic buildings, all done just to bring the suburbs to inner cities. Parking... parking... parking!  Unfortunately for the cities that grew the fastest after WW2, they got it the worst. Also, keep in mind that lots of the larger cities, especially in The South, were actually embarrassed by a courthouse square, derided as "small town". So attempts were made to turn those (quaint as in Nashville's case) squares into (wide and windswept) plazas. 

Edited February 23, 2017 by MLBrumby

[markhollin]

Buena Vista Townhomes (3 stories, 9 units) update. 

Looking SE from intersection of Scovel Str. and 11th Ave. North:

 

Looking north from intersection of Rev. Doctor Enoch Jones Blvd. and 11th Ave. North:

[titanhog]

Let me ask you guys this about the MCC:  On the area I've circled in pink...what is contained within that area?  Is that area for offices?  Or is that part of the actual convention space?  Just wondering because some of that area would be great for future retail once the south side of the MCC becomes more popular...and would also be an area that could be used for expansion one day if it's not already used as convention space.

[TheRaglander]

1 minute ago, titanhog said:

Let me ask you guys this about the MCC:  On the area I've circled in pink...what is contained within that area?  Is that area for offices?  Or is that part of the actual convention space?  Just wondering because some of that area would be great for future retail once the south side of the MCC becomes more popular...and would also be an area that could be used for expansion one day if it's not already used as convention space.

Much of that are offices

[titanhog]

7 minutes ago, TheRaglander said:

Much of that are offices

That's good.  That leaves some room for future changes, if needed.  They could also build a short tower for offices over a portion of the end next to the roundabout (from 8th to 7th)...and then have retail from 7th to 5th (with some more retail in the tower).  Then...if they ever needed the space in the future for expansion, they wouldn't renew the retail leases and then build on.

Edited February 23, 2017 by titanhog

[TheRaglander]

Just now, titanhog said:

That's good.  That leaves some room for future changes, if needed.

I hope so.  There is a slight elevation challenge in the middle section.  Ground level in that area is quite a bit below the KVB elevation.  They would have to do something creative there.

[bhibbs]

its also the area where trucks load and unload, all of their compactors are on that second level at the top of your circle.
the ground floor may be able to be changed on the far right side, but, the elevation ramp for our trucks starts on the bottom left side, then goes to the second level.

[fieldmarshaldj]

11 hours ago, AUNash said:

It's interesting. I used to live in Montgomery, AL and in Birmingham. Nashville has far more going on now than Montgomery or Birmingham. But I have wondered since I moved here about Nashville's historic structures -- or lack thereof. For a city of our age, I have always thought that nashville was missing buildings in the core that were a link to past eras, or at least to the eras represented by these buildings. Montgomery is a river city or a similar age. Selma is too. So is Mobile . And they have more of the historic structures that give you a sense of their age than Nashville does. Don't interpret this as a knock on Nashville. I love this city and love living here. But I've been surprised we don't have more examples still around of the city that we used to be. Others do.

As you know with respect to Birmingham, since it was only founded in the 1870s, it never had much in the way of those glorious 19th century structures as other cities like Mobile and Montgomery (and what ones they did would likely be replaced during its spectacular growth period towards the middle of the 20th century when it had double Nashville's old city population). The downside for cities with excellent growth is that they were more than likely to demolish the old for the new in short order. With ones of more modest growth or stagnation (such as Selma, which has lost 1/3rd of its population from its peak in the 1960, but worse than that, was once the 4th largest city in AL for the 1910 census, now the 29th today), that actually helped to save countless old buildings. If Selma was a booming city of 200,000, there's a chance a lot of its buildings wouldn't be there today. Montgomery, though, went through a bit of a slumbering phase, though it managed to preserve a decent amount. Mobile, too.

Why Nashville lost a good chunk of its historic buildings is because it stayed focused on a relatively small area in the CBD (above Broadway to Charlotte or so and from 1st to about 8th-10th) and kept replacing older buildings for the new rather than spreading out. Even those buildings in the aforementioned photos replaced even earlier Federalist-style businesses and homes and a famous hotel called the "Nashville Inn" where President Jackson frequented (and I believe had a duel at) on the East Side of the public square. The square itself was the epicenter of the CBD in the 19th century before it spread out west a bit on Church. Those fancier buildings lasted close to a century around the square (the ones in the photos above), but got a bit scruffy and run-down by mid-century and were not considered "desirable" by the 1950s when "modern" and "urban renewal" were the key words for cities.

Had some of the city leaders had their way, they wanted to demolish virtually everything of historic value clear down 2nd to Broadway and replace them with new and modern buildings with plazas and short high-rises. As it was, they did clear cut everything for 2 square blocks from Union to Deaderick and 1st-3rd, the east side, and the west side which went for a skyscraper and the north side fell last in 1974 for the City Jail (now under demolition). One of the most egregious losses was the demolition of Polk Place, intended by President Polk to last for perpetuity as a museum, and he had himself buried on the grounds to ensure that. At the turn of the 20th century, squabbling descendants fighting over the estate had it sold, the President and Mrs. Polk dug up and reinterred on an obscure spot on Capitol Hill and the home demolished for an apartment building (which was actually a nice bit of early 20th century architecture). Polk Flats was, in turn, demolished a half-century later for an urban motor lodge, which has stood longer than either of its Polk predecessors.

Church Street, which once was lined with equally beautiful buildings from the 19th century when it succeeded the Public Square as the CBD, mostly fell one by one over time, with only a couple still standing (one being the modest St. Cloud Corner, which formerly was part of a department store). All the theaters were demolished, the stunning Watkins Institute building, Hotel Tulane, all by the 1950s-80s.

In an ideal urban environment with an eye towards preserving its oldest areas, the early "Federalist" part around the courthouse should've stayed and the newer parts fanning out as it grew, which would've given us a downtown perhaps three times its present size, with the skyscrapers surrounding the inner historic districts (and we didn't start building real skyscrapers until 1956/57, as any photos of our city before then will attest, we were very short, with just a few buildings soaring above 100 feet). Alas, that was not to be, and the same for most other cities. As much as we've lost in Nashville, probably no city has lost more architectural treasures than New York City, all in the name of progress and modernity.

[markhollin]

Gulch pedestrian bridge continues to move forward with a planning meeting last night.  No designs have been finalized yet, although it appears that it will, indeed by a variation the arch design a la Gateway/KVB Bridge.  Completion has been set for 2019.

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2017/02/23/nashville-eyes-2019-completion-gulch-sobro-pedestrian-bridge/98302648/

[Nashtitans]

5 hours ago, markhollin said:

Gulch pedestrian bridge continues to move forward with a planning meeting last night.  No designs have been finalized yet, although it appears that it will, indeed by a variation the arch design a la Gateway/KVB Bridge.  Completion has been set for 2019.

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2017/02/23/nashville-eyes-2019-completion-gulch-sobro-pedestrian-bridge/98302648/

Why does this city hate non-cookie cutter designs? What was wrong with the original design? I promise Nashville gets the short end of the stick when it comes to design everytime. You see our peer cities getting these amazing designs and we just get the scraps. It's crazy

Edited February 24, 2017 by Nashtitans