Harrison Lofts scaled down height wise

[smeagolsfree]

William posted an article in the City Paper this morning about the Harrison Lofts being retooled. They are going with several wood constructed buildings instead of brick and steel due to rising cost. I suppose the Katrina is starting to hurt construction around the country due to rising cost of materials.

I don't think this is the only problem this project has though. In addition to slow sales, last Sunday morning I drove by the site and there was a homeless encampment on the loading dock of the building with trash and cardboard everywhere. The railroad tracks are only a 100 yards away and these are very busy traffic and noise wise. Granted there are condos being built right next tot the tracks by Craighead Development, but this area is going to be a tough sell for a while. Not to mention that site has another homeless encampment on it. These men on the homeless sites are not the ones that get help at the Rescue Mission, these are ones who have serious drug and alcohol problems that will not get help and choose to leave on private property.

I don't know what needs to be done, but the problems that plague this area will continue to hurt the redevelopment chances for north the downtown area. I don't think it will take off until the state builds the new Archives and Library and the New State Museum. Plus Metro will need to build to School of the Arts and Jefferson Street will need to get a few more quality developments.

http://nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?se...s&news_id=46703

[FutureArchitect]

I hope the developer is able to sell the property to someone with deeper pockets. Since that area is underdeveloped, the first major development should set the standard for what follows.

[barakat]

This project is cursed or something. The first plan was awful. The second plan I was OK with, but this third one I don't like considering what it was supposed to be before. Maybe the area is destined to be smaller scale than I had hoped. It's just sitting there waiting for someone with a vision. With so much available land east of Bicentennial Mall, I would like to see a developer step up to the plate and do something at the scale of 5th&Main, across the river (5andm.com). Something massive and mixed would reduce the possibility of it being a 'hard sell' as stated above. Compared to SoBro, there may be relatively more contiguoulsy available land in this area (it needs a cool name though, like NoJaRo! hahahaha).

I live nearby and always hear the trains pass through at all times of day and night, and I actually like the sound. The view is nice too.

[it's just dave]

A 5th and Main style development would probably work over there. As I drive though the area I can't help but think that visual connectivity with Germantown might be a good way to utilize the land with a heavy emphasis on street level retail and services. I don't remember ever being really crazy about Harrison Lofts anyway. It seemed a bit out of scale. As Future Architect pointed out, whatever is built in the initial stages may possibly set the tone and standard for the area. As far as the trains go, I don't think I would mind. Even at my house, I hear train whistles and I find the sounds somewhat comforting and romantic (not in a love sense, lol). The sounds become a part of the environment, and any urban dweller certainly couldn't expect, nor desire, the quiet nature of the outer 'burbs.

[Hankster]

A 5th and Main style development would probably work over there. As I drive though the area I can't help but think that visual connectivity with Germantown might be a good way to utilize the land with a heavy emphasis on street level retail and services. I don't remember ever being really crazy about Harrison Lofts anyway. It seemed a bit out of scale. As Future Architect pointed out, whatever is built in the initial stages may possibly set the tone and standard for the area. As far as the trains go, I don't think I would mind. Even at my house, I hear train whistles and I find the sounds somewhat comforting and romantic (not in a love sense, lol). The sounds become a part of the environment, and any urban dweller certainly couldn't expect, nor desire, the quiet nature of the outer 'burbs.

I live near train tracks here in chattanooga as well. It's amazing to hear that you find the sounds somewhat comforting and romantic. That's exactly the same feeling I have about the trains. The tracks that go near my house are the main lines between Chattanooga and Atlanta, so I get to hear the comforting sounds often.

As for this project, I think getting the first project off the ground is the most important. It's going to take a while, I think, before this area takes off, but if the first project is done right and sets the right tone for the area, it has almost unlimited potential. Actually, I think a developer with real vision and guts could put together a mega style development in the area that would be an awesome addition for Nashville and would add even more momentum to the move towards downtown living in Nashville.