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

[Nash_12South]

I can’t imagine anyone buying a 100 year old building without doing due diligence as to its stability, structural integrity. A lot of folks buy buildings like this mainly for the land and know  full well that at some point the building will have to come down. They quietly wait for the historic building to become unsalvageable. This may not be the case here, but I’m skeptical.

[nashvylle]

So what happens after demolition? I assume the site is zoned for a similar type building, but I also imagine the owner isn’t required to build anything... right? 

[smeagolsfree]

A little history here as the flood was in the 20's when the Gupton Family owned it. They held onto the building without doing anything to it for 70 years and then sold to the current owners and they probably band-aided it for a number of years as the property value and rents were not high enough until recently to justify any thing being done to it.

I remember walking past this building in the early late 90s after the bridge was reopened and the top floors were open to the elements and to the pigeons that were just flying in and out as they pleased. At some point after that the current owner at least boarded up the upper floors to keep the rain and snow out and I think that is when they replaced the windows probably with the blessing of Historic otherwise they would not have been able to replace them.

[markhollin]

Nightlife 615 Movies in the Park at Bicentennial Mall amphitheater:
 

[donNdonelson2]

That’s a great spot for outdoor movies. Attendance looks reasonably good-I wonder how well the event is publicized-I was unaware.

[CenterHill]

This property sits within the Broadway Historic District overlay.      Demolition of structures within the district is not permissible unless the owner obtains an exception.     Under the BHD guidelines: 

1. Demolition is not appropriate if a building or a major portion of a building contributes to the architectural or historical significance or character of the district.

2. Demolition is appropriate if a building or a major portion of a building does not contribute to the historical or architectural character and importance of the district.

3. Demolition is appropriate if a building or a major portion of a building has irretrievably lost its architectural and historical integrity and importance, and its removal will result in a more historically appropriate visual effect on the district.

4. Demolition is appropriate if the denial of the demolition will result in an economic hardship on the applicant as determined by the MHZC in accordance with section 17.120.190, as amended, of the historic zoning ordinance.

I expect the owner is taking the position that restoration would be an economic hardship.     Of course, old brick buildings can be stabilized and repaired, but at a cost.   The owner is probably making the case that the restored building would not generate sufficient rents to cover his investment in it, so better to tear it down and build something else.    I'm not sure I would take that conclusion without some analysis.   Some of the Lower Broad honkytonks occupying similar sized footprints generate enormous cash flow.       But, I realize this owner does not operate honkytonks and probably has something else in mind.   

As part of the Broadway Historic District, new construction for this particular parcel would be limited to 7 stories and would need to conform to the design guidelines.    

Edited August 14, 2019 by CenterHill

[PaulChinetti]

I have a friend who worked on Acme when it was renovated and it was gutted from basement to roof. All the floors removed and replaced, so giant renovations like that can happen but I imagine like you said that would be quite the expense. 

[nashvylle]

47 minutes ago, CenterHill said:

This property sits within the Broadway Historic District overlay.      Demolition of structures within the district is not permissible unless the owner obtains an exception.     Under the BHD guidelines: 

1. Demolition is not appropriate if a building or a major portion of a building contributes to the architectural or historical significance or character of the district.

2. Demolition is appropriate if a building or a major portion of a building does not contribute to the historical or architectural character and importance of the district.

3. Demolition is appropriate if a building or a major portion of a building has irretrievably lost its architectural and historical integrity and importance, and its removal will result in a more historically appropriate visual effect on the district.

4. Demolition is appropriate if the denial of the demolition will result in an economic hardship on the applicant as determined by the MHZC in accordance with section 17.120.190, as amended, of the historic zoning ordinance.

I expect the owner is taking the position that restoration would be an economic hardship.     Of course, old brick buildings can be stabilized and repaired, but at a cost.   The owner is probably making the case that the restored building would not generate sufficient rents to cover his investment in it, so better to tear it down and build something else.    I'm not sure I would take that conclusion without some analysis.   Some of the Lower Broad honkytonks occupying similar sized footprints generate enormous cash flow.       But, I realize this owner does not operate honkytonks and probably has something else in mind.   

As part of the Broadway Historic District, new construction for this particular parcel would be limited to 7 stories and would need to conform to the design guidelines.    

thanks. I'm just afraid it's going to be demo'd and a surface parking lot will remain for the time being. 

[MidTenn1]

I like the way it sits almost under the bridge and has that New York 'Bowery' look. That would be a good name for a place to have a meal and a drink.

[PruneTracy]

I'm sure I'm in the minority but if it were torn down and replaced with a seven-story building (especially one that took up the parking lot next door as well) it would be a net positive. Remember anything that goes here still has to conform to the design guidelines.

[CenterHill]

58 minutes ago, nashvylle said:

thanks. I'm just afraid it's going to be demo'd and a surface parking lot will remain for the time being. 

Worst case scenario, I agree 

[NashWellington11]

14 minutes ago, PruneTracy said:

I'm sure I'm in the minority but if it were torn down and replaced with a seven-story building (especially one that took up the parking lot next door as well) it would be a net positive. Remember anything that goes here still has to conform to the design guidelines.

At a  minimum I would hope they make them keep the front facade. Even if that is the wall that is structurally unsound, it can be stabilized and integrated into the new building. They can even move the facade over a bit to one side or the other to maximize the building they are putting up. They have done a lot of this in DC in many of the areas with old historic row houses and old warehouses much like the Trail West building.

Here's one recent DC example at 655 New York Ave. The historic buildings were dispersed throughout the block. On some they saved the whole buildings but on others only the facade was salvageable. They picked up and moved a few of them to group them together in certain parts of the block. 

Before:

 During:

 

After:

 

[MLBrumby]

From the Tennessean: Ascension St. Thomas & Acadia are teaming up in a JV to build/manage a new behavioral hospital at 300 Great Circle Drive.  https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2018/11/08/nashville-getting-new-saint-thomas-acadia-mental-health-hospital/1935191002/

76 beds

$32M

Approved by THSDA for construction/operation 

[MLBrumby]

Wasn't something like that planned for the first Swedling hotel proposed for the previous Trails End building and 'historians' screamed bloody murder? That building was demolished later for the Moxy hotel (IIRC). 

[PaulChinetti]

7 minutes ago, MLBrumby said:

Wasn't something like that planned for the first Swedling hotel proposed for the previous Trails End building and 'historians' screamed bloody murder? That building was demolished later for the Moxy hotel (IIRC). 

I thought Moxy was built on top of the existing building?

[Nash_12South]

I think most of the old Trails West building was torn down for Kid Rocks new space. Only one section on Broadway was renovated for the Moxy. (look at google street view circa 2007)

Edited August 14, 2019 by Nash_12South

[CenterHill]

Yes. Steve Smith tore down the historic Trail West building in the dead of night and replaced it with what is now the Kid Rock bar.      Moxy was a reuse of the Richards record storage building behind it.  

[markhollin]

Pins Mechanical (22,000 sq. ft. game venue and bar) in North Gulch update. Work continues on interior.  Painting exterior brick white and black.

Looking NE from intersection of Grundy St. and 11th Ave. North:
 

[CenterHill]

^^ I have no idea, but watching the Pins conversion, which has been going on for some time now, the contractor seems to be having issues.     First I saw what looked like reinforcement of the original roof, then the roof was removed completely, then for a while there was scaffolding up for what looked like a new roof structure, but in that photo above, the roof is clearly gone again.      Just wondering if this has turned out to be a more difficult job than they anticipated going in.    

[rjgo]

1 hour ago, CenterHill said:

^^ I have no idea, but watching the Pins conversion, which has been going on for some time now, the contractor seems to be having issues.     First I saw what looked like reinforcement of the original roof, then the roof was removed completely, then for a while there was scaffolding up for what looked like a new roof structure, but in that photo above, the roof is clearly gone again.      Just wondering if this has turned out to be a more difficult job than they anticipated going in.    

They took down the old roof completely and installed a new roof. The section in the photo without roof is designed without roof as seen in the original renderings. It will be a courtyard. The entire building is also black now as of a few days ago.

[CenterHill]

Just now, rjgo said:

They took down the old roof completely and installed a new roof. The section in the photo without roof is designed without roof as seen in the original renderings. It will be a courtyard. The entire building is also black now as of a few days ago.

Ah.   Thanks for the clarification 

[smeagolsfree]

This is going to be a great addition to this section of the Gulch and will add a lot of activation where right now there is very little other than the Chauhan Restaurants and 12th & Porter.

Once the Asurion and the Edition hotel next to this project are completed this will further extend the action toward the N Gulch.

[markhollin]

Accent Metro Center (two 4 story buildings, 282 units) update.  Starting 2nd level.

Looking SW from Great Circle Rd., 1/2 block south of Mainstream Dr:

Looking NW from Great Circle Rd., 1/2 block north of Rosa L. Parks Blvd:

[markhollin]

Townhomes at 9th at Dominican (2 stories, 12 units?) update. 

Looking SE from intersection of 9th Ave. North and Dominican Dr:

Looking SW from Dominican Dr., 1/2 block east of 9th Ave. North:

[markhollin]

1101 McGavock (1 story addition) update.  Nearing completion.

Looking NW from intersection of 11th Ave. North and McGavock St: