North Gulch Gateway, (Tennessean site) Phase II: Gulch Central (41 story residential/hotel, 28 story office, 6 story mixed-use); Phase I: Asurion HQ (10 & 11 stories)

[nashvylle]

Nashville Yards would definitely look incomplete without these developments going on across the street. Once all complete (Asurion, former Tennessean site, numerous boutique hotels, and Capitol View) the entire area will look like  a new downtown. 

[markhollin]

Tennessean demo update. About 90% razed.

Looking west from Broadway Viaduct where it crosses over CSX tracks:

Looking NE from intersection of Broadway and 12th Ave:

[Bos2Nash]

I cannot wait for the development on this site and how it will improve the urban-ness of this stretch of broadway. Not having this massive, solid, impenetrable wall will be nice

[smeagolsfree]

20 minutes ago, Bos2Nash said:

I cannot wait for the development on this site and how it will improve the urban-ness of this stretch of broadway. Not having this massive, solid, impenetrable wall will be nice

Have you heard anything??????

[MLBrumby]

53 minutes ago, smeagolsfree said:

Have you heard anything??????

Why? What have you heard? 

[Bos2Nash]

1 hour ago, smeagolsfree said:

Have you heard anything??????

I have heard nothing. My statement was half hope, half anticipation for what the design will be. Sorry if my statement was misleading lol.

If anything I would be asking you if you have heard things....

 

[MLBrumby]

We can usually rely on Smeags' ear to the ground. Which is why I think he's bluffing by asking what you've heard. I'll bet he knows. 

Speaking of large projects... get over to the Memphis forum and get a load of the $1.1 billion proposal for the Pinch District. Four towers... apx 30 stories each... and NOT boxes.

Edited November 13, 2019 by MLBrumby

[Vrtigo]

I don't ordinarily post construction camera photos because I think doing so is kinda lame, but this from one of the Asurion campus cams was too good to leave in obscurity:

[smeagolsfree]

3 hours ago, MLBrumby said:

We can usually rely on Smeags' ear to the ground. Which is why I think he's bluffing by asking what you've heard. I'll bet he knows

Only thing I have heard is 2 buildings in the 30 story range. 

[titanhog]

1 hour ago, Vrtigo said:

I don't ordinarily post construction camera photos because I think doing so is kinda lame,

At least I know how you feel about me now. 

[chris holman]

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2019/11/15/exclusive-asurion-lays-off-hundreds-of-corporate.html?iana=hpmvp_nsh_news_headline

Exclusive: Asurion lays off hundreds of employees

Asurion LLC , Nashville’s largest privately-owned company, laid off hundreds of employees Thursday, in a move the company said will ensure Asurion is “positioned to capitalize on opportunities in the market.”

According to a company spokesperson, the layoffs impacted approximately 1.5% of Asurion’s 19,000-employee global workforce — which would represent about 285 people.

The layoffs touched all levels of corporate staff positions, according to the company, which declined to disclose what percentage of the eliminated jobs were based in Nashville. The spokesperson said Asurion does not have additional job cuts planned for the near future.

In an emailed statement Thursday to the Business Journal, the company said it is offering assistance to those impacted by the layoff.

“[Thursday], Asurion notified employees of changes in its operations that included the elimination of a limited number of positions. This shift supports the company’s growing business and ensures we are positioned to capitalize on opportunities in the market. Impacted employees are being offered severance, continuation of health benefits and outplacement services.”

Asurion primarily sells insurance and warranties for electronic devices, such as cellphones, under the brands of carriers such as AT&T and Sprint. The company reported $8.5 billion of revenue in 2018, ranking Asurion No. 1 on the NBJ's List of largest privately held businesses in the region. The company is also one of the city’s largest employers, with 4,600 local workers.

The layoffs come as Asurion is making a $288 million investment in Nashville, while receiving a $4.4 million state grant toward construction of its new headquarters in the Gulch. Asurion broke ground on the 552,800-square-foot, two-building project in March.

As part of that deal, Asurion has committed to creating 400 new jobs in the city with an average wage of $47 per hour over the next five years, according to an incentive package with the state.

The layoffs do not impact Asurion’s plans to move into its new headquarters by early 2022, according to the company, or its commitment to creating 400 new jobs. In fact, Asurion is hiring now, spokesperson Nicole Miller said, and laid-off employees are encouraged to apply for open positions.

"As a high-growth company, we continually evaluate our operations across the company to determine how to most effectively and efficiently serve our partners and meet the needs of our customers. The changes we’ve made today will help us continue our 25-year history of growth and providing helpful services to customers into the next decade and beyond," Miller said.

[titanhog]

So...someone help me understand why a company lays people off while still hiring?  

[nashvylle]

1 minute ago, titanhog said:

So...someone help me understand why a company lays people off while still hiring?  

One department becomes obsolete while another becomes more of a need. 

[Nash_12South]

7 hours ago, titanhog said:

So...someone help me understand why a company lays people off while still hiring?  

I’m extremely cynical over these layoffs. They eliminate jobs and salaries now so they can replace them later.... meeting their requirements without actually creating new jobs.....

[markhollin]

As the article states, the layoff works out to  1.5% of Asurion's total workforce worldwide.  They have not indicated where these layoffs are occurring, and they might be fairly well spread around the globe.  Until more is made known, folks should not jump to conclusions about how this effects Nashville.  

[markhollin]

Tennessean demo update.  About 5% to left.

Looking west from Broadway Viaduct where it crosses over 11th Ave:

 

Looking NW from Broadway Viaduct where it crosses over 11th Ave:




Looking north from intersection of Broadway and 12th Ave:

Looking SE from intersection of 12th Ave. North and Porter St:

[Craiger]

On 11/17/2019 at 5:38 AM, markhollin said:

As the article states, the layoff works out to  1.5% of Asurion's total workforce worldwide.  They have not indicated where these layoffs are occurring, and they might be fairly well spread around the globe.  Until more is made known, folks should not jump to conclusions about how this effects Nashville.  

That number is rather deceiving since the vast majority of their workforce is low wage call center folks. The article stated these layoffs were from corporate staff. Based on their new HQ size, I would assume they have around 2-3k corporate employees? So this is closer to 10% of high wage positions? As someone else said above, this really feels like a way to “earn” the state benefits while barely increasing head count. 

Edited November 18, 2019 by Craiger

[Enashjon]

On 11/16/2019 at 9:19 AM, chris holman said:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2019/11/15/exclusive-asurion-lays-off-hundreds-of-corporate.html?iana=hpmvp_nsh_news_headline

Exclusive: Asurion lays off hundreds of employees

Asurion LLC , Nashville’s largest privately-owned company, laid off hundreds of employees Thursday, in a move the company said will ensure Asurion is “positioned to capitalize on opportunities in the market.”

According to a company spokesperson, the layoffs impacted approximately 1.5% of Asurion’s 19,000-employee global workforce — which would represent about 285 people.

The layoffs touched all levels of corporate staff positions, according to the company, which declined to disclose what percentage of the eliminated jobs were based in Nashville. The spokesperson said Asurion does not have additional job cuts planned for the near future.

In an emailed statement Thursday to the Business Journal, the company said it is offering assistance to those impacted by the layoff.

“[Thursday], Asurion notified employees of changes in its operations that included the elimination of a limited number of positions. This shift supports the company’s growing business and ensures we are positioned to capitalize on opportunities in the market. Impacted employees are being offered severance, continuation of health benefits and outplacement services.”

Asurion primarily sells insurance and warranties for electronic devices, such as cellphones, under the brands of carriers such as AT&T and Sprint. The company reported $8.5 billion of revenue in 2018, ranking Asurion No. 1 on the NBJ's List of largest privately held businesses in the region. The company is also one of the city’s largest employers, with 4,600 local workers.

The layoffs come as Asurion is making a $288 million investment in Nashville, while receiving a $4.4 million state grant toward construction of its new headquarters in the Gulch. Asurion broke ground on the 552,800-square-foot, two-building project in March.

As part of that deal, Asurion has committed to creating 400 new jobs in the city with an average wage of $47 per hour over the next five years, according to an incentive package with the state.

The layoffs do not impact Asurion’s plans to move into its new headquarters by early 2022, according to the company, or its commitment to creating 400 new jobs. In fact, Asurion is hiring now, spokesperson Nicole Miller said, and laid-off employees are encouraged to apply for open positions.

"As a high-growth company, we continually evaluate our operations across the company to determine how to most effectively and efficiently serve our partners and meet the needs of our customers. The changes we’ve made today will help us continue our 25-year history of growth and providing helpful services to customers into the next decade and beyond," Miller said.

Asurion does this about every two years.  I got caught up in it in 2013.  They layoff a department, outsource it, then rehire the department when they realize the outsourcing is not working.   It cannot possibly be a good business practice.  It has to be based on how they "book" the payroll/benefits.

 

[markhollin]

Asurion HQ (10 & 11 stories, 550,000 sq. ft.) update:  Now at 3rd level of underground garage.

Looking north from Broadway Viaduct, where it crosses over 11th Ave:

[markhollin]

Tennessean demo update.  About 95% complete.

Looking west from Broadway Viaduct where it crosses over 11th Ave:
 

Looking north from intersection of Broadway and 12th Ave:

 

Looking south from intersection of 12th Ave. North and Porter St:

[titanhog]

^^That last shot looks like a photo from a war.

[markhollin]

Asurion (10 and 11 stories, 550,000 sq. ft.) update.  Up to street level on underground garage on west (11th Ave.) side, up to railroad level on east side.

Looking south from Church Street Viaduct where it crosses over 11th Ave. North:

Looking east from Church Street Viaduct where it crosses over 11th Ave. North:

Looking west from Church Street Viaduct where it crosses over 10th Ave. North:

[Bos2Nash]

On 11/16/2019 at 2:23 PM, titanhog said:

So...someone help me understand why a company lays people off while still hiring?  

On 11/17/2019 at 5:38 AM, markhollin said:

As the article states, the layoff works out to  1.5% of Asurion's total workforce worldwide.  They have not indicated where these layoffs are occurring, and they might be fairly well spread around the globe.  Until more is made known, folks should not jump to conclusions about how this effects Nashville.  

On 11/18/2019 at 7:08 AM, Craiger said:

That number is rather deceiving since the vast majority of their workforce is low wage call center folks. The article stated these layoffs were from corporate staff. Based on their new HQ size, I would assume they have around 2-3k corporate employees? So this is closer to 10% of high wage positions? As someone else said above, this really feels like a way to “earn” the state benefits while barely increasing head count. 

I have a friend who works for Ausrion mentioned layoffs were most likely coming about a week or two before this article broke. What they told me was with the recent merger of Sprint and T-Mobile, Sprint appears to be leaving Ausrion for their competitors as T-Mobile has a lot of remaining corporate people staying on board after the merge and they want to stay where they are for these services. I think they mentioned something about Verizon too, but I am not sure. Link these whispers together though and the layoffs make sense as the company tries consolidate certain aspects.

 

[markhollin]

Tennessean demo update.  2 short walls still standing at Broadway and 12th Ave. North. Small portion still left at SW corner of Porter and 12th Ave. North. All should be down this coming week.

Looking west from Broadway Viaduct where it crosses over 11th Ave:

Looking north from intersection of 12th AVe. and Broadway:

[Bos2Nash]

The footprint of this structure is really quite impressive! Progress on the garage and ground floor elements. Also, the setback from the road gives me hope for some really nice sidewalks (and Greenway space?)