East Bank – I-24 to the Cumberland/I-24 Overpass up to Jefferson – 338 Acres, Nissan Stadium, "Imagine East Bank"

[Rick Dalton]

If you look at the Seaport (Fallon), the buildings aren't tall but it's well designed and thoughtful. That will be moreso a model for this rather than trying to create Manhattan

[Bos2Nash]

29 minutes ago, Rick Dalton said:

If you look at the Seaport (Fallon), the buildings aren't tall but it's well designed and thoughtful. That will be moreso a model for this rather than trying to create Manhattan

Exactly. Seaport was a cluster for awhile, but it has really come out well and is VERY active. Seaport (specifically Fan Pier) also had an airport limiting heights. Luckily the East Bank has more freedom in this category (height) because the airport is that much further away. 

To give everyone an idea, every new building in Seaport hit the max height ceiling due to it being pretty low for the location. You can see the proximity of Seaport to one of Logan's runway. Fan Pier is the blue outlined area of Seaport

[donNdonelson2]

5 hours ago, Luvemtall said:

I’m respectful of your opinion, and some aspects are required understandably. I’m just throwing my two cents out there, and as I mentioned I know it will draw criticism. I definitely am not a urban planner or engineer of any sort, just a person who loves the idea of a dense,tall urban landscape and feel that large parks and gardens should be left to suburban areas . And unfortunately unlimited height has a different meaning here in Nashville, unlimited to the limit of 750 feet. 

So would you prefer New York City with no Central Park?

[Luvemtall]

That’s not a fair comparison, NYC has both. And I’m not saying that parks and green spaces aren’t necessary anywhere in Nashville, I’m talking about the central core which the East Bank will be a part of. I love Centennial park as I do many others, that’s not what I’m referring too.

[smeagolsfree]

At least I get the debate going.

[Flatrock]

More on TPAC (East Bank) from News Channel 5 this morning:

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/state-building-commission-expected-to-approve-200-million-in-grants-for-new-tpac-thursday-morning

[Flatrock]

On 9/30/2023 at 9:04 AM, markhollin said:

Drift Hotel (6 & 7 stories, 110 rooms, renovation of former Stadium Inn) update.

I still can't believe this building wasn't demolished and the site blessed by multiple priests before starting over. No doubt they know better than me, but there's no way I'd let anyone I know visiting Nashville - stay there. Renovation or not. 

[smeagolsfree]

Yep, lot of bad ju ju there not to mention the cockroaches were eating the concrete.

[markhollin]

Negotiations between Metro and Fallon start this week.

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/davidson/2023/10/31/nashville-east-bank-development-negotiations-begin-new-titans-stadium-update/71359729007/?utm_source=tennessean-dailybriefing-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailybriefing-greeting&utm_term=Content List - Stacking - optimized&utm_content=pnas-nashville-nletter65

[Argo]

On 9/12/2023 at 2:17 PM, markhollin said:

A document Fallon submitted to Metro notes the phase one component could offer up to 60 percent of the future residences as affordable. The first building could be fully affordable housing (380 units) with 30,000 square feet of retail. A mid-2027 delivery is envisioned.

Subsequent additions during the first phase could include two hotels and two residential buildings.
 

With the way things are with the economy, I am now beginning to understand why they are using the words "could" and "envision".

[markhollin]

Drift Hotel (6 stories, 114 rooms) is the conversion of the former Stadium Inn, and will open in early 2024. 

The boutique property will offer multiroom suites, a ground-level pool with cabanas and three food and beverage concepts, including Nashville-based cafe Good Citizen Coffee Co.

More at NBJ here:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2023/12/01/deal-dash-vanderbilt-tiger-woods-popstroke.html
 

This is what the view will be looking west from the pool deck with RMR's  Station East beyond the property:

[markhollin]

Update article in Nashville Scene on the first steps for East Bank construction process, including a couple new images:

https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/citylimits/east-bank-development-nashville/article_bdf2a736-8e0c-11ee-bf7a-df405cd86831.html

[andywildman]

Maaaan if we're not building residential or hotel above a future TPAC, we're wasting valuable space that could serve either to generate tax revenue (for that costly East Bank infrastructure) or badly needed affordable housing.

[Bos2Nash]

21 minutes ago, andywildman said:

Maaaan if we're not building residential or hotel above a future TPAC, we're wasting valuable space that could serve either to generate tax revenue (for that costly East Bank infrastructure) or badly needed affordable housing.

While I agree in theory, that makes things exponentially more expensive and inherently un-affordable. As we have learned from the Polk Building, structurally building above a theater space like this would require a robust structural system. Something that many developers would not be willing to take on (if any). 

[MLBrumby]

2 hours ago, Bos2Nash said:

While I agree in theory, that makes things exponentially more expensive and inherently un-affordable. As we have learned from the Polk Building, structurally building above a theater space like this would require a robust structural system. Something that many developers would not be willing to take on (if any). 

Yes. That's one of the main purposes for having the whole 33 acre campus to accommodate those additional uses without having to build above the various auditoriums of the new TPAC facility. Everything I've seen (all publicly disclosed) shows a desire to build a signature dedicated structure overlooking the river. With it backing up to the river, I hope they anticipate all ingress/egress needs for peak usage and concurrent with big events at the Nissan Dome. 

[markhollin]

Metro is beginning the search for a contractor to lead the development of a key pillar of the future East Bank redevelopment, the north-south boulevard envisioned as a new connection between different parts of the city and a hub of activity and mobility within the district itself.

Metro's procurement department opened a request for quotations earlier this week, with a deadline of Jan. 26 for contractors to submit bids.

The city is looking for an engineering firm or project team to provide surveying and engineering services for the proposed boulevard, the planning for which must precede much of the private- and public-sector development expected to come to the area. The selected firm will be responsible for working on plans for roadway and bridge design, transit amenities, complete street design, stormwater, pedestrian infrastructure and signals, among other elements of the proposed thoroughfare.

More behind the Nashville Post paywall here:

https://www.nashvillepost.com/politics/metro/metro-begins-search-for-east-bank-boulevard-engineer/article_4e36c86e-9f78-11ee-8b6c-f7c23af19c9d.html

[markhollin]

Metro is now taking bids from companies wanting to focus on the signature piece of infrastructure that will serve as the "spine" of the city's sweeping East Bank revitalization vision.

The new bid centers on an estimated 3-mile-long boulevard running through the heart of the East Bank, from Oracle Corp.'s planned office campus south to the other side of the Korean Veterans Boulevard bridge. The route is based on widening existing roads and also building new stretches of road where none exist today. It's envisioned as the central artery of an East Bank dotted with mixed-use development and the new $2.1 billion domed stadium for the Tennessee Titans — ferrying rapid buses in their own lanes as well as bicyclists, pedestrians and vehicles.

Metro is seeking an engineering consultant that could help design roads, bridges, pedestrian spaces, transit stops and utilities, according to bid documents. The work also will entail preparing documents for federal environmental studies and basic construction plans, as well as "acquisition services" for buying the right-of-way needed to create the boulevard.

The boulevard could be as much as 140 feet wide, roughly comparable to the width of West End Avenue by Centennial Park.

This summer, Metro Council authorized the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure to spend $46 million (half Metro funds and half state funds) buying land for a central piece of the boulevard between Spring and Woodland streets. It's unclear if those purchases have happened yet.

Bids are due Jan. 26. Bid documents do not specify a value for the contract. About 25 engineering and consulting companies participated in an informational session earlier this month, according to Metro records.

More at NBJ here:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2024/01/08/east-bank-metro-rfq-boulevard-engineering.html
 

[Bos2Nash]

As we have heard too, the Boulevard will terminate (for now) at KVB. Anything to the right (south) of the blue line is "future". 

I guess they could design/engineer the bridge because that connects to 5th and not the alignment that would cut through PSC, but I don't think that is a "now" concern.

[Archibum]

It's encouraging that vehicles was listed last in that list of road uses. I really hope this spine is well designed and can serve as a model for what other streets in the city can  become. Not many opportunities like this where you have a clean slate to do things the right way.

[Bos2Nash]

1 hour ago, Archibum said:

It's encouraging that vehicles was listed last in that list of road uses. I really hope this spine is well designed and can serve as a model for what other streets in the city can  become. Not many opportunities like this where you have a clean slate to do things the right way.

This is so so true. The Boulevard will be very important collector to move all motor vehicles through the East Bank, but it is very important we strive for an equal ROW along it. Personally, I think the Boulevard will be important enough to have the East Bank as two vehicles lanes + dedicated bus + bike + pedestrian + protected median. Unfortunately, I don't think 110' ROW will be able to contain all that, which is why I am excited for any public input sessions on the Boulevard itself. I've asked a couple folks who would be in the know about said sessions, but the process isn't far enough along yet. I fear that the protected median is going to get wiped out, and that is a very disturbing thing to me.

[nashville born]

45 minutes ago, Bos2Nash said:

This is so so true. The Boulevard will be very important collector to move all motor vehicles through the East Bank, but it is very important we strive for an equal ROW along it. Personally, I think the Boulevard will be important enough to have the East Bank as two vehicles lanes + dedicated bus + bike + pedestrian + protected median. Unfortunately, I don't think 110' ROW will be able to contain all that, which is why I am excited for any public input sessions on the Boulevard itself. I've asked a couple folks who would be in the know about said sessions, but the process isn't far enough along yet. I fear that the protected median is going to get wiped out, and that is a very disturbing thing to me.

Who knows, maybe they'll surprise us and put a street car down the middle of the spine...

[Bos2Nash]

32 minutes ago, nashville born said:

Who knows, maybe they'll surprise us and put a street car down the middle of the spine...

Right off the bat, I wouldn't even say that in an effort to manage expectations haha. I think the dedicated bus lanes will be imperative in reserving that dedicated transit space for future conversation to something like a street car/light rail (if that ever becomes viable here). But I would say it isn't out of the question for future.

The one issue I have with a "street car" type approach is how well that converts to an actual light rail type system in the future. Maybe @rookziecould provide some insight to that one. But I would think the rail setup is slightly different for a street car which means a rather large second investment going from street car to light rail. If that is actually the case, I would say let's pursue dedicated bus and then make the rail investment when we have a larger system plan to tie rail together. 

[nashville born]

1 hour ago, Bos2Nash said:

Right off the bat, I wouldn't even say that in an effort to manage expectations haha. I think the dedicated bus lanes will be imperative in reserving that dedicated transit space for future conversation to something like a street car/light rail (if that ever becomes viable here). But I would say it isn't out of the question for future.

The one issue I have with a "street car" type approach is how well that converts to an actual light rail type system in the future. Maybe @rookziecould provide some insight to that one. But I would think the rail setup is slightly different for a street car which means a rather large second investment going from street car to light rail. If that is actually the case, I would say let's pursue dedicated bus and then make the rail investment when we have a larger system plan to tie rail together. 

Agreed 100%.   I'm just hopeful for something that symbolizes a step forward toward rail/mass transit.

[markhollin]

This month, Metro Council is on pace to cement an agreement for the city and Tennessee Titans to jointly finance a sewer pumping station, the first piece of the new and enhanced infrastructure that will be required to tee up the range of buildings expected to rise in the years ahead on what's today a largely industrial or undeveloped swath of land, across the river from downtown.

If approved, the $32.5 million station would serve a 250-acre area including the new stadium, which is forecasted to account for 20% of the facility's 10 million gallon daily capacity.

That footprint also includes the Metro-owned properties that Boston developer The Fallon Co. won the rights to redevelop adjacent to the new stadium, as well as at least one other major proposal from another Boston developer: RMR Group, owner of the 17-acre site where the TA Travel Center truck stop used to operate. Also located within the perimeter is a longtime scrap-metal recycling site owned by Carl Icahn that is viewed as a future prospect for redevelopment.

The existing sewer system is sufficient for present-day needs, "but not for the substantially increased demand expected with redevelopment," reads legislation before Metro Council. The station will be expandable to handle another 5 million daily gallons if needed, a 50% increase from its initial capacity.

A public hearing on the bill is set for Jan. 16.

The Titans' ownership will cover 20% of the project cost, paying the first $6.5 million of expenses. Metro, through bonds issued by Metro Water Services, will cover the estimated $26 million balance.

Property owners wanting to connect into the new sewer system will pay a special fee, allowing Metro to recoup most or all of its expense, Mendes said. The Titans are tasked with building the facility, which Metro will own when it's done. The proposal sets a July 2026 deadline.

The sewer pumping station will be built on part of Nissan Stadium's Parking Lot F, owned by Metro and adjacent to an electrical substation along Woodland Street.

More at NBJ here:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2024/01/11/east-bank-infrastructure-metro-sewer-pump-stadium.html
 

[markhollin]

Courtesy of Frontiero Sphere: