The Dave Luna Urban Planet Forum Meet-Up (online, too), Sat. June 1st, 10 AM to noon; Copper Branch patio at Downtown Library at 6th Ave. North and Church St.

[markhollin]

We had 12 in attendance (two had to leave early before the pic) at today's Meet-Up.  sorry about anyone who may have tried to get online---there were technical issues related to the new set-up.  Hopefully they will be remedied  before our next gathering   Thanks, as always, to Ron (smeagolsfree) and Brian (predsboy18) for arriving early to reserve our space. 

Our next Nashville Urban Planet Meet-Up will be Sat. Feb. 3rd, 10 AM to Noon at the Copper Branch in the Downtown Library.
 

[markhollin]

Our next in-person Meet-Up will be this Saturday, Feb. 3rd, from 10 AM to noon Central Time at The Copper Branch in the NE corner of the Downtown Library Building (at SW corner of 6th Ave. North and Church St.).   

Predsboy18 (Brian) will be arriving early to get tables and chairs set up. 

We should have things set up for folks to participate online via Zoom as well, that will be administered by LA_TN (Bob). If you would like to join remotely, please send me your name and e-mail address via private message by Friday evening, Feb. 2nd, and I'll get you the particulars for logging on.   We will presume that if you took part any previous virtual meet-ups, that you will be interested again this month...so no need to send your info again (we've  kept it from May of 2020 onward and will include you automatically for this upcoming meeting). Everyone on that list will be getting an e-mail this week with log-in info for remote access.

A full agenda of discussion items will be posted on this thread in a few days.    : )

[markhollin]

NASHVILLE URBAN PLANET MEET-UP AGENDA FOR THIS SATURDAY, FEB 3rd, 2024

Here's an overview of what can be covered at the Dave Luna Urban Planet Meet-Up this Saturday,  Feb. 3rd, from 10 AM to noon at our regular location at The Copper Branch inside the Downtown Library (on the SW corner of 6th Ave. North and Church St.).  Smeagolsfree (Ron) and Brian (PredsBoy18) will arrive early to help get tables set up.  Bos2Nash and Bob (LA-TN) as our AV techs to get the proceedings  captured for anyone who wishes to attend via Microsoft Teams.  Please PM me by Friday evening at the latest if you would like to get the link to join us remotely. 

INITIAL BUSINESS:

• Meet any new folks in attendance.
   
• Get reports from anyone who traveled to other cities in the past month for quick overviews of what they experienced.
   
• Cranes up:  Madison Century Farms (2nd of 2); Modera SoBro (3rd of 3)
  
  Cranes down:  Prime (1); Gulch Union Pullman Tower (1); Vanderbilt Tower East Dorms (1 of 2); Chartwell at Marathon (1)
  
  Total cranes currently up in Davidson County: 38      YTD: 38
   
• Topped out: Pinnacle Tower (35); AEG Residential Commerce One (35); AEG Residential Commerce Two (34); The Pitch (4); Rosedale Townhomes (3); Oxen Free Townhomes (3); Ashwood 12 South (3); 701 40thAve. North (3); 4100 Indiana Ave., Phase I (3); Walter Davis Townhomes (3); Charlotte & Marcia Townhomes (3)
  
  AGENDA:
   
• St. Regis Hotel will be 39 stories (around 500’), with 177 rooms, 111 condos, two restaurants, a bar, full service spa, two amenity decks, and internal parking on the lot just east of JW Marriott on Demonbreun St. Turnberry will be the developer. Morris Adjmi Architects out of NYC will be uncharge of design. "It's much more classical than what we did with the JW," Turnberry CEO Jackie Soffer said of the architecture, which has not yet been previewed publicly. "It's a building that feels modern but is respectful of classic design.”
   
• Metro has a tentative agreement with TPAC, which has long been rumored to be in search of a new home on the East Bank, to relocate to a riverfront parcel on the southern side of the IDA. TPAC’s parcel will be excluded from the agreement with Fallon, as it will be negotiated directly between Metro and TPAC. The building’s design will be subject to approval by the Metro Planning Department. As a part of the agreement, TPAC will also invest in some of the surrounding infrastructure, including the re-landing of the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, which will be structurally attached to TPAC and will extend beyond the space to deposit pedestrians almost directly next to the stadium.
   
• More definition is forming around the proposed initial residential portion of Fallon's first phase of the East Bank development:
  
  - A total of 1,550 residential units
  - 855 market-rate units
  - 600 affordable housing units split between two buildings that are 100% affordable housing
  - 95 affordable housing units in market-rate buildings
  - A minimum of five residential buildings
  
  Within two years of executing either the Master Development Agreement or the required rezoning, Fallon is expected to start construction on 300 residential units and one other building. Within six years, developers are expected to start a total of 700 residential units, and within 10 years that number will grow to 1,250. Additionally, Fallon has already agreed to have those affordable units locked in as affordable for the entirety of their 99-year ground lease, a massive win for affordable housing advocates.
  
  Also, a $64 million, 2,000 capacity parking garage that Metro will be responsible for constructing, accounting for about half of Metro’s infrastructure financial responsibilities in the IDA.
  
  A brand new sewer pump building costing $32.5 million is part of the plan, with the Titans covering 20% of that.  The rest is Metro's responsibility. 
  
  In regards to Zoning: The zoning code for the East Bank will have to change. Of course zoning also offers Metro an opportunity to limit the ways the East Bank could be used, preventing the dreaded “Lower Broadway II” that many Nashvillians are worried about. Metro’s intention is to expand the downtown zoning code to the East Bank. The downtown code allows for strict control over how buildings are used and designed. The Metro Planning Department is proposing very specific land use requirements which Metro Planning Manager Joni Williams said will encourage “a mixed-use urban neighborhood.” Those conditions would include the prohibition of industrial uses, strict parking limits, the prohibition of short-term rentals and restrictions on the number and proximity of bars.
  
  The timeline for this initial phase looks to be 6 years.  Parcels A & B (to the north of this initial IDA, and to the north of the new stadium), could take well more than a decade.
  
  Bob Mendes says a master development agreement with Fallon — a contract that would include details such as a timeline, what phases go first, a description of responsibilities, land usage, documents related to future lease agreements, and of course a price tag — should hit the Metro Council floor by early March. The administration’s hope is that it could then pass in April, kicking off the actual development process. From there, the development will essentially emerge outwards from the stadium, beginning on the southern side, and working its way towards the river over time, providing a mixture of residential, retail and hotel usage.
   
• After 5+ years of hibernation, it appears the Hampton Inn/TruHotel dual brand at 602 9th Ave. South in The Gulch may finally be moving forward, but with 50% more size.  A new permit application to Metro now shows the plan as 14 stories, 300 rooms, a 145 capacity garage, and 2,300 sq. ft. of retail as Phase I.  There is an undefined Phase II on the northern end of the the property. All that is supplied is a diagram, with no rendering.  Originally the dual brand was 8 stories, 214 rooms, and a 164 capacity garage.  The original 8 story plan was approved in 2018. The architect has changed from Trotter De Foe to Atlanta-based Elevate, and Kimley-Horne is now overseeing engineering.
   
• Nashville Downtown Partnership has released its 2023 Annual Report. Some highlights:
  
  Downtown is home to 17,630 residents, up from 16,302 the previous year.
  
  There are currently 4,400 units under construction and 14,530 planned units.
  
  The largest cohort of downtown residents is Baby Boomers at 35%, followed by Generation Z at 31%, and Millennials at 27%.
  
  62% of residents identify walkability as their primary reason for living downtown.
  
  There are ~78,000 workers employed downtown.
  
  The downtown office vacancy rate is currently at 11.5%.
  
  There are 12,074 hotel rooms, with 1,030 more under construction, and 4,524 in planning stages. 
  
  Grand Hyatt was ranked #1 Top Ten Meeting Hotel in America. Renaissance Hotel was ranked #3.
  
  Nashville ranked #1 Market to Watch for unprecedented third year in a row by Urban Land Institute. 
  
  6.4 million people visited Fifth + Broadway for dining, shopping, and events.
  
  250,000 people gathered in Nashville for the 2023 Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th event.
  
  Nashville Sounds led minor league baseball in attendance again with 556,000 during the 2023 season. 
  
  NDP hosted over 1,100 free programs with 16,000+ participants in Church Street Park.
  
  95 new retail businesses opened/announced this past year.
  
  Retail takes up 3.9 million sq. ft. of space downtown at a 2.6% vacancy rate. 
  
  There are 124 shopping options; 354 dining options, 163 night life venues downtown. They are 71% locally owned. 
  
  Downtown takes up 0.4% of Davidson County land area, but generates 12% of property tax and 19% of retail tax. 
  
  Downtown has had $8.6 billion in public/private investments in last 5 years.
  
  Downtown has $16 billion in construction planned in next 5 years.
   
• 1401 Church’s North Tower (26 floors/300'/325 residential units, 14,000 sq. ft. of retail) at the corner of Church St. and 14th Ave. North will be the first to get underway in June, after a delay where work was supposed to start on the complex last fall. 
   
• Gulch Central (41 story/350 residential units/350 room hotel, 28 story/ 750,000 sq. ft. office tower, and 6 story retail building) has officially been delayed by economic pressures from inflation and the tight credit market. Highwoods Properties is is waiting patiently for the capital markets to stabilize before finalizing anchor tenants and completing construction plans. A few new renderings have been offered.
   
• Looks like The Listening Room will be relocating to 801 Ewing St.  Chris Blair )owner of Listening room) has purchased the 20,920 sq. ft. warehouse (circa 198s) on .6 acre from Mike Borum for $9.45 million. Listening Room is currently at 618 4th Ave. South, where they lease.
   
• Tony Giarratana is planning a residential development of unknown floors/units on the .88 acre site at 209 22nd Ave. North in the Elliston Place neighborhood. He hopes to close on the purchase of the land by February, and begin construction within a year of that.  The current owner of the site had loosely planned on a 7 story hotel there 4 years ago, but was realistically land-banking.
   
• Giarratana is also bringing The Gold Rush Bar/Restaurant back to the Rock Block Flats development, after I closed suddenly 4 years ago. He bought the trademark from the former owners of the joint that had been in existed e for 44 years.  It was known for its Mexican food and pool tables.
   
• The Nashville Kats Arena Football League team will have its home opener at Municipal Auditorium on April 27th.  Their website is now up.
   
• Lebanon could see a 545 acre Project Champion athletic training facility south of I-40 at Callis Lane and Callis Rd.  The project's proposed use would include high-performance athletic training, a wellness center and integrated destination resort, general retail and commercial development as well as a mix of associated residential development. Single-family homes, townhomes, apartments and dorms may also be part of the project under a specific plan zoning being requested for the property behind the Wilson Farms apartments.
  
  NASHVILLE REMAINS HOT:
   
• Nashville is #7 Top 2024 Destination, as well as number 6 as a food destination in U.S. according to TripAdvisor.
   
• Tennessee ranks #10 for the best states to start a business in 2024, according to a new ranking from WalletHub.
   
• Tennessee is ranked #6 in the nation on The Best Places to Start a Business list put together by Simplyfy LLC. the state ranks high in several key factors, including job creation and educated worker migration.  
   
• The 1.5 mile 12th Avenue South project has landed the No. 12 spot on PeopleForBikes’ ranking of the “Best New US Bike Lanes of 2023.
   
• Airport set a new December record with 1,846,727 passengers. Grand total for 2023 was  22,877,671 passengers, which is a new annual record.
  
  Hope you can join us for informative, lively, and fun conversaation thisSaturday morning!  : )

[markhollin]

We had 14 in attendance (two had  to leave early before the pic) and two more online for this month's Meet-Up.    Thanks, as always, to Ron (smeagolsfree) and Brian (predsboy18) for arriving early to reserve our space.; and to Bob (LA-TN) and Craig (Bos2Nash) for tech support.

Our next Nashville Urban Planet Meet-Up will be Sat. March 2nd, 10 AM to Noon at the Copper Branch in the Downtown Library.
 

[markhollin]

Our next in-person Meet-Up will be this Saturday, March 2nd, from 10 AM to noon Central Time at The Copper Branch in the NE corner of the Downtown Library Building (at SW corner of 6th Ave. North and Church St.).   

Ron (smeagolsfree) and Predsboy18 (Brian) will be arriving early to get tables and chairs set up. 

We should have things set up for folks to participate online via Zoom as well, that will be administered by LA_TN (Bob). If you would like to join remotely, please send me your name and e-mail address via private message by Friday evening, March 1st, and I'll get you the particulars for logging on.   We will presume that if you took part any previous virtual meet-ups, that you will be interested again this month...so no need to send your info again (we've  kept it from May of 2020 onward and will include you automatically for this upcoming meeting). Everyone on that list will be getting an e-mail this week with log-in info for remote access.

A full agenda of discussion items will be posted on this thread in a few days.    : )

•  

[smeagolsfree]

I actually am still not driving yet so it is all still Presboy. I have to rely on a ride to get me there.

[markhollin]

NASHVILLE URBAN PLANET MEET-UP AGENDA, MAR. 2nd, 2024

Here's an overview of what can be covered at the Dave Luna Urban Planet Meet-Up this Saturday,  March 2nd, from 10 AM to noon at our regular location at The Copper Branch inside the Downtown Library (on the SW corner of 6th Ave. North and Church St.).  Brian (PredsBoy18) will arrive early to help get tables set up.  Bos2Nash and Bob (LA-TN) will serve as our AV techs to get the proceedings  captured for anyone who wishes to attend via Microsoft Teams.  Please PM me by Friday evening at the latest if you would like to get the link to join us remotely. 

INITIAL BUSINESS:

• Meet any new folks in attendance.
   
• Get reports from anyone who traveled to other cities in the past month for quick overviews of what they experienced.
   
• Cranes up: Tempo Hotel Midtown (1); Modera SoBro (4th of 4); Society (2nd of 2); Category 10/Wildhorse Saloon (1)
  
  Cranes down: Modera Germantown/Riverview (2 of 2)
  
  Total cranes currently up in Davidson County:   41;    YTD: 42
   

• Topped out: Hillsboro Town Centre (22 stories); 1805 Church (16); Hyatt Caption (12); Westerly House (6); Fern & Elmhurst Townhomes (3);  6124 Robertson (3); Stateside Park Townhomes (3); Ewing Townhomes (3); Hart Lane Townhomes (3); Scovel & 11th Townhomes (3)
  
  
  AGENDA ITEMS THAT MAY BE COVERED:
   
• 1501 Broadway will now be called MidCity.  A new submission to Metro offers more insight into site access, phasing, and overall circulation.  The project will roll out in phases, with the first being a garage podium along 14th Ave. South that will feature retail elements and infrastructure. Apparently two office towers of 30 and 26 stories will eventually be built on top of this podium, as well as a 35 story residential/hotel combo.  Phase  II will have 4 towers of 14, 28, 30, and 33 stories according to initial renderings, and will primarily be residential.  Gensler is now listed as the architect. Landscape engineer will be CGN. Traffic engineer is KCI.  New renderings diagrams available.
   
• Paseo South Gulch Tower Two (30 stories) appears to be getting ready to launch. 139 condos; 180 room hotel; 7,976 sq. ft. of retail; 339 capacity garage (5 levels underground); 7th Ave. South will be updated as a two way street with new sidewalks/landscaping and full access into the site; project is slated for the 4/11/2024 Metro Planning Commission Meeting.  New renderings available.
   
• More details and renderings for the first tower (22 stories, 333 units, 10,000 sq. ft. of ground level retail, and five level garage) of Demonbreun Hill at 118 16th Ave. South, which will wrap around the Midtown TailGate Brewery. The L shaped-building will take up .59 acre of the the 3.4 total acres that Hall Emery Developers own on at the site. The plan has been approved by the MDHA Design Review Committee. The tower is expected to break ground in the third quarter of this year for completion in early 2027.
   
• It looks like the 11 story, 116 room hotel at 333 Union may be underway again soon after being stalled since 2021, but now as a Holiday Inn Express instead of a Radisson Red Hotel.  A new permit has been applied for in regards to water and sewer capacity. Manek is still the developer; SV Design still the architect; Kimley-Horn oversees engineering. 
   
• Mayor Freddie O'Connell is proposing that the East Bank have its own governing authority.  Hence, he is proposing the East Bank Development Authority to Metro Council and the State. The authority would have the "powers necessary to oversee and encourage prompt and orderly public and private development of the East Bank," O'Connell's office wrote to Metro Council members. At its heart, the proposal speaks to the sheer length of time — likely one to two decades — it's expected to take to fully realize Metro's sweeping reimagined version of what today is a largely industrial area with a number of sizable parking lots. That timeline will far outlast O'Connell's time in office, even if he's re-elected.
  
  O'Connell's office detailed certain pieces of the plan, including:
• The authority would "coordinate the orderly installation of infrastructure within the [authority's] boundaries."
• The authority would not have zoning powers or eminent domain powers.
• It also wouldn't be able to borrow money without Metro Council approval.
• The Metropolitan Sports Authority would still have oversight of the future $2.1 billion Tennessee Titans stadium.
• The East Bank authority would have 10 members, likely chosen by a mix of Metro and state officials. Those involved in shaping the plan are still negotiating who receives how many appointments, said O'Connell spokesman Alex Apple.
  
  
• Mayor O’Connell announced that his administration has finished negotiations with Boston-based The Fallon Co. The talks have culminated in an agreement that sets the framework for the company’s 30-acre development plans. Details weren't immediately available; O’Connell also announced a formal memorandum of understanding with the Tennessee Performing Arts Center — striking a deal to relocate the venue into a glitzy new building on the East Bank, adjacent to Fallon’s development and bordering the pedestrian bridge that spans the Cumberland River. Both breakthroughs happened within four months of when O’Connell’s administration began tackling them in earnest. That pace signals the new mayor is eager to get moving on what will be a many-years-long timeline of planning and building. Fallon Co. will pay to lease the land from Metro. The length of that lease triggers a law which places the land on the tax rolls, assessing property taxes that Fallon will owe. The land generates no property tax revenue today.
  
  The first two buildings Fallon plans to develop are two hotels immediately south of the new stadium and a building of 300 affordable housing units. The legislation with Fallon requires a series of three votes at Metro Council, which typically is a six-week process. Council is set to have its first reading of the bill at its March 7 meeting.
  
  The state has allotted TPAC $200 million so far to fund its relocation from a state-owned downtown office building, with a pledge to commit another $300 million in the state's 2024-25 budget, not yet finalized. TPAC has to raise 20% matching funds to access the state aid. On Jan. 22, Metro and TPAC reached a tentative agreement for a site at the base of the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, on what is today a parking lot between the bridge and the existing stadium. Metro would provide the site for free, though TPAC has agreed to fund some share of new roads and an extension of the pedestrian bridge deeper into the East Bank. TPAC also isn't occupying all of that particular parcel, leaving room for Fallon to build another building and allowing Metro to make some money off of that property. The legislation between Metro and TPAC is a resolution, which requires just one affirmative vote to adopt.
   
• The rebuilt Ernest Tubb Record Shop will not actually have a retail element.  Will have a bar/music venue on its existing 3 floors (circa 1905) and will add a rooftop bar.
   
• The .31 acre lot at 416 4th Ave. South (just south of Martin's BBQ) is being offered for sale at $9 million, which works out to about $29 million per acre (reasonable for that neighborhood). Via an LLC, individuals affiliated with Nashville-based Fresh Hospitality own the property, having paid $2.2 million for it in August 2015. Fiesta Mexicana restaurant operated there for years, later to become Little Mexico Bar & Grille.  It closed several years ago. The property is distinctive in that it has access via both Fourth Avenue and Almond Street.
   
• 2121 Crestmoor Rd. (6 stories, 90 units, 3,500 sq. ft. of retail) finally seems to be moving forward after several years of delay.  Developers Material Ventures and Stiles Corp. are seeking water and sewer capacity info from Metro. Smith Gee Studio is  still the architect.  No rendering has yet to be released. There is currently a 2 story office structure on the plot.
   
• 110 Gizzard will be 6 & 7 stories, with 599 units and internal garage being proposed by Guerrier Development. Paradym Studio is the architect. It is on several acres NW of the intersection of East Trinity Lane and Dickerson Pike.
   
• Northview Housing (4 & 5 stories, 245 units will be an affordable  senior living development to be built by Born Again Church and Core at 858 West Trinity Lane, which is on the west side of the church's 5 acre complex. Chad Jones of STG Design will be the architect. 
   
• 605 Stewarts Ferry Pike will be a 22.31 acre mixed-use development featuring  commercial building and multi-family buildings (unknown size and amount of units).  Most of the acreage is undeveloped, but there was once a church on the property. Oldacre McDonald, the folks behind Century Farms, will be the developers.   Word is that this will be similar to The Percy, a mixed-use project located across Stewarts Ferry Pike.
   
• The Transportation Modernization Board unanimously voted at its first meeting Monday afternoon to include choice lanes for Interstate 24 between Nashville and Murfreesboro in the next Department of Transportation improvement plan. TMA, passed during last year’s state legislative session, formed the board for the purpose of approving the recommended TDOT-designated choice lanes — or so-called  “user-fee facilities.”The choice lane projects would add new lanes to the areas recommended and would not convert existing lanes. Drivers would pay a toll to access the added lanes. In December, TDOT unveiled its 10-year plan, which noted its prioritization of the Nashville-Murfreesboro project and said the state could seek bids from private companies for the project as soon as late 2024. At the board meeting on Monday, TDOT said it could launch a procurement process in 2025 and plans to finish environmental and design work this year, along with further traffic and revenue studies for the project.
  
  These are new lanes. They are optional and they are designed, built, financed, operated and maintained by a private partner,” Ledford said. “As a frame of reference, TDOT’s annual budget for projects and programs is about $1.2 billion annually, and one of these urban congestion projects could easily eat up our entire budget for projects and programs.” TDOT has said other potential future locations include I-65 between Nashville and Spring Hill, as well as locations in Chattanooga and Knoxville.
   
• Music City Baseball has hired Mortenson, one of the nation’s largest real estate development and construction companies, to conduct a site and market analysis for multiple ballpark locations in the local metro area.
  
  Mortenson has assisted with the successful delivery of numerous sports complexes and entertainment districts nationwide, including GEODIS Park in Nashville, Truist Park, Target Field, FedEx Forum, Allegiant Stadium, and U.S. Bank Stadium. They are also working closely with the A’s on their new ballpark in Las Vegas and the project for Big League Utah in Salt Lake City.
  
  Mortenson will lead the effort and provide market analysis and data, site development assessments, cost estimates, schedules, and phasing plans respective to at least five sites, including three in Davidson County, one in Williamson County, and one in Rutherford County. Music City Baseball plans to share the results of the study with Major League Baseball along with state and local leaders. These results will provide the necessary data to determine opportunities and obstacles for each of the sites in the study. It also provides a vision of a world-class entertainment venue that can host a variety of events.
  
  “I think it's important for everybody who reads our reports and hears us talk, to know that we're not making finite decisions,” Mehls said. “We're creating ideas and options to see the big picture and the potential of Nashville for a major league team. The intent is to help get everyone in the community on the same page. If Major League Baseball is going to expand, let's have them expand here and let's have it not just be for the baseball community, but let's immerse this destination with music, building off the heartbeat of Music City.”
  
  Mortenson is also coordinating with some of the nation’s top consultants in sports and real estate development including Populous, CSL, Moody Nolan, and Barge Design.
  
  
  NASHVILLE REMAINS HOT:
   
• Portland's Shoals Technology, a manufacturer of electrical and solar energy equipment, is going to build a new 638,000 sq. ft. plant that will employ an additional 550 people.  Total cost is $80 million.
   
• Aba Restaurant will be a Mediterranean style eatery in the former warehouse at 435 Houston St., next to Jackalope Brewery. It is slated to open in the 2nd half of 2025 and will employ at least 100 people.
   
• Spring Hill’s Armada Nutrition will invest $5 million to expand their plant and add 50 new jobs.
   
• Music City ranks No. 6 on the latest Best-Performing Cities Index from The Milken Institute, a global nonprofit think tank.  The report highlights the city’s competitive wage growth, employment opportunities and high-tech GDP growth, as well as its strong tourism industry.
   
• Nashville jumped up one spot to #4 in top target markets for commercial real estate in the U.S. according to CBRE's U.S. Investor Intentions Survey. “The culture of Nashville is very attractive right now. There's always been a lot of energy to the city. When investors physically come and visit the city, they feel the energy as they're walking around downtown and visiting various parts of the of the market,” says Morgan Hillenmeyer, senior vice president at CBRE Nashville. “They like the culture, the potential for growth, and it's also not a huge market yet. As the overall economy improves, investors feel that Nashville will recover faster than other markets.”
   
• Nashville ranked #4 on list of American Cities Building the Most New Housing Density for 2023 by Reddit with 4.71 multi-family units planned per 1000 inhabitants in metro area.
   
• Brooklyn Bowl is awarded Top Central U.S. Club/Theater in Billboard's 2024 Top Music Venues list.
   
• Locust Restaurant at 2305 12th Ave. South has been chosen on of USA Today's "Best Restaurants of the Year, 2024." There were 47 eateries across the nation included in the list.
   
• Metro Nashville Public Schools has far outpaced most of its peers nationwide when it comes to post-pandemic academic recovery, according to a newly released scorecard from Harvard and Stanford universities. Out of the top 100 districts nationwide, the district ranked third for math growth from 2022 to 2023 and sixth in reading growth in that same time period. It was also one of two large urban districts that earned a place in the top 10 list for math and reading growth.
   
• Brentwood was ranked the #1 suburb in which to retire in the U.S. according to home enthusiast brand, This Old House.  Other area towns that placed high on the list: Franklin at 5th place (97.4/100); Hendersonville at 27th place (92/100); Spring Hill at 29th place (91.8/100); and Mount Juliet at 32nd place (91/100).
  
  Hope you can join us this. Saturday morning for fun, lively, and informative discussion on all the development news in and around Music City!   : )

[markhollin]

We had 16 in attendance (two had  to leave early before the pic) and a a few more online for this month's Meet-Up.    It was great to have long-time contributor, MidTenn1 (Pete), visiting from Chattanooga. Thanks, as always, to Ron (smeagolsfree) and Brian (predsboy18) for arriving early to reserve our space.; and to Bob (LA-TN) and Craig (Bos2Nash) for tech support.

Our next Nashville Urban Planet Meet-Up will be Sat. April 6th, 10 AM to Noon at the Copper Branch in the Downtown Library.
 

[markhollin]

Our next in-person Meet-Up will be this Saturday, April 6th, from 10 AM to noon Central Time at The Copper Branch in the NE corner of the Downtown Library Building (at SW corner of 6th Ave. North and Church St.).   

Ron (smeagolsfree) and Predsboy18 (Brian) will be arriving early to get tables and chairs set up. 

We should have things set up for folks to participate online via Zoom as well, that will be administered by LA_TN (Bob). If you would like to join remotely, please send me your name and e-mail address via private message by Friday evening, April 5th, and I'll get you the particulars for logging on.   We will presume that if you took part any previous virtual meet-ups, that you will be interested again this month...so no need to send your info again (we've  kept it from May of 2020 onward and will include you automatically for this upcoming meeting). Everyone on that list will be getting an e-mail this week with log-in info for remote access.

A full agenda of discussion items will be posted on this thread in a few days.    : )

[smeagolsfree]

I plan on being there early as usual as I can drive now.

[markhollin]

NASHVILLE URBAN PLANET MEET-UP AGENDA, APRL 6th, 2024

Here's an overview of what can be covered at the Dave Luna Urban Planet Meet-Up this Saturday,  April 6th, from 10 AM to noon at our regular location at The Copper Branch inside the Downtown Library (on the SW corner of 6th Ave. North and Church St.).  Brian (PredsBoy18) will arrive early to help get tables set up.  Bos2Nash and Bob (LA-TN) will serve as our AV techs to get the proceedings  captured for anyone who wishes to attend via Microsoft Teams.  Please PM me by Friday evening at the latest if you would like to get the link to join us remotely. 

INITIAL BUSINESS:

• Meet any new folks in attendance.
   
• Get reports from anyone who traveled to other cities in the past month for quick overviews of what they experienced.
• Cranes up: none
  
  Cranes down: Vanderbilt Tower East Dorms (2nd of 2); Nashville Yards AEG Residential Towers (2 of 2); Nashville Zoo Garage (1); Modera Germantown Riverview (1); 407 4th Ave. North Bar (1)
  
  Total cranes currently up in Davidson County: 35    YTD: 42
   
• Topped out: Peabody Union (27 stories); Vanderbilt Univ. LINK Hospital (15); Modera SoBro Phase I (7); Peabody Union Office Building (6); 3133 Long Blvd. (4); Orchard Hills Apts. (4); Edgehill & Cole Alley (3); 3207 Long Blvd. Townhomes (3); 847 West Trinity (3); Goodrich Townhomes Phase II (3)
  
  
  AGENDA:
   
• Initial draft of Mayor O’Connell’s Mass Transit Plan shows four new dedicated bus rapid transit lines on Dickerson Pike, Nolensville Pike, Gallatin Avenue and Murfreesboro Pike. The Gallatin artery would run through Madison to the edge of Davidson County. Planned transit on Murfreesboro Pike includes extensions to the airport and down Bell Road.
   
• New renderings for the Reed District have come out.  It appears that the tall boy in the SE corner is 38 stories, most likely office space. We have heard that this will be in the 500' range. The next 3 heading westward along Broadway are 29, 24 (both in the 300' range), and 19 stories (probably 210' range), most likely each residential/hotel combo. On the  portion along the north side of Grundy St. heading westward, there is a 15 story (perhaps 200' office?), and then 26 and 28 story towers (each in the 300' range, residential/hotel?). The final new structure along Hayes St. is an 8 story office building at about 120’. It also appears that the existing two story masonry structures along Church and 16th Ave. North will have some skylights installed, as well as some open-air courtyards carved out featuring some greenery.  And, of course, there is the new park/plaza that will be to the west of the 8 story office building, and the new 15th Ave.North connector between Broadway and Hayes St. 
   
• A deal to redevelop the first 30 acres of Nashville's East Bank advanced, with a few changes, on Tuesday toward what could be a final vote later this month.Here are the specs as they stand now on various parcels:
  
  Parcel C
  - Hotels. A maximum of three hotels are permitted within Metro's initial 30 acres, with the exception of a potential hotel located on Parcel B to the left of the new Nissan Stadium.
  - Open-air plaza. The plaza space adjoining the new stadium will be built, furnished and maintained by the Titans.
  - Parking. Metro could build a city-financed parking garage for Titans use on this parcel.
  
  Parcel B
  - Hotel. Hotel development on Parcel B will not count toward the 3-hotel limit for the 30-acre initial development zone (if all residential building milestones are met).
  - Parking. The Titans will develop parking on land to the left of the stadium and will receive all revenue from this parking. Metro will have the option to build structured parking on the parcel at Metro's cost.
  
  Parcel G
  - Affordable Housing. A 300-unit income-restricted building would be part of the first phase of construction, estimated to begin in 2026.  Affordability levels are locked in for the duration of the 99-year ground lease. The building must also include space for a day care center.
  - Office space. Fallon would have 10 years to find a market-rate office tenant for Parcel G (or another piece of Metro-owned property). If no tenant can be found, the space could be developed for other uses, including a hotel that would not be counted toward the hotel limit.
  
  Parcel E
  - TPAC. A new Tennessee Performing Arts Center will be the main feature of Parcel E. TPAC will cover the cost of utilities not already being installed as part of Metro's agreements with the Titans or Fallon, storm water management and improvements to Waterside Drive and Victory Avenue.
  - Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge extension. TPAC and Fallon will shoulder most of the cost of extending and redesigning the East Bank landing of the bridge to "enhance pedestrian and bicycle access."  A pedestrian and bicycle path called "Cumberland Walk" would stretch from Shelby Avenue and Interstate Drive to the Cumberland River.
  - Another unspecified structure. Fallon would have room to develop another structure near the East Bank Boulevard.
  
  Parcels D and F
  -Hotels and housing. Fallon may build hotels and housing on these parcels. The agreement would require Fallon to build a total 1,550 units (including 695 income-restricted units) across five residential buildings on the 30-acre development. That includes two fully affordable housing developments, one of which would be located on Parcel G and another on Parcel A. Market rate residential buildings would include 95 income-restricted units.
  
  Parcel A
  - East Bank Transit Hub. A hub for WeGo bus transit and multimodal options (think scooters and bicycles) is envisioned for Parcel A, which sits on what will be a new East Bank Boulevard.
  - Affordable housing. Fallon would build 300 income-restricted units atop the transit hub.
   
• The addition being planned for the Best Western Hotel (5 stories, 103 rooms, circa 1971) at 1407 Division St. will now be 12 stories/140' with an unannounced number of rooms.  It will be built on the 1.27 acre surface lot just to the east of the existing structure. The team is seeking a modification to the urban design overlay in place at the site so as to land the additional height. An April 25 planning commission appearance is slated.
   
• A Marriott brand 8 story/119’, 265 room hotel with 8,000 sq. ft. of restaurant/retail space, and a 160 capacity garage is being planned for 1.41 acres at 741 South 5th St. (just west of Envision Cayce).  There is currently a nondescript, non-historic 1 floor brick industrial structure on site.
   
• Talbot's Corner will be a massive mixed-use project featuring numerous structures between 6 and 15 stories on 61.4 acres at 130 and 145 West Trinity Lane, near the I-24/65 freeway.   It will be built in 3 phases over a 15 year period. Jenkins Property is seeking a specific plan rezoning for the site. Much is raw land used for truck storage. The properties are located on either side of W. Trinity Lane, with some of the site fronting I-65.
   
• Westbourne Townhomes will be a 3 & 4 story set of 19 townhomes at 3207 West End Circle in West Park to. be developed by Mainland Companies.   
   
• The final phase of the Silo Bend by Southeast Ventures residential development has been revealed for the 8.1 acres along the Cumberland River.  Zone 3will be made up of 3 buildings (5 stories) and 320 units. Zone 5 will be a series of 13 one and two story office/commercial buildings.
   
• Crescent Communities is planning a 78 acre mixed-use development at 633 West Green Lane (at the NW corner of the intersection of Whites Creek Pike and Briley Parkway) that will feature 324 units (combination of apartments, single-family residences and townhomes). Rezoning to accommodate both the residential and retail components has been finalized. However, final site plan approval is needed from the Metro Planning Department staff. 
   
• 411 West Trinity Lane will be 3 & 4 stories combination of townhomes and apartments (108 units) to be developed by Benchmark Realty.
   
• The Nashville Zoo has a new Leopard Forest exhibit opening that will be part of a long-term plan of an immersion exhibit where our guests feel they are on a true African safari. The exhibit will encompass forty acres which is larger than most zoos in their entirety.  Also, the new parking garage is now open that will expand capacity to 2,800 cars. Renderings available.
   
•  Bloomberg Philanthropies has selected Nashville as one of 25 U.S. cities to participate in a three-year initiative designed to garner federal funding targeting sustainability issues impacting communities of color. The Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities (BASC) initiative will allow the Mayor’s Office and Bloomberg’s local innovation team to work on climate mitigation with frequently underfunded communities. In addition to Nashville, Chattanooga and Memphis were selected to participate in the initiative. Other Southeastern cities tapped include Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Jackson (Miss.), Montgomery (Ala.), Raleigh and Savannah (Ga.), among others.  With more than $400 billion in federal funding available to local governments through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, BASC aims to help cities access the funding.
   
• Ten of Oracle Corp.'s top executives, and one of Nashville's best-known doctors, headline the software giant's health care summit in Midtown this month. Oracle is billing the event as "a day of collaboration and vision" where attendees will "hear from leaders in the health care industry about how better insights can dramatically evolve the way health is managed by patients, providers, and payers, and why data-driven technology can unlock a new future.” The April 23 event at the Conrad Nashville hotel underlines the company's deep dive into health care following its $28 billion purchase of health-tech company Cerner Corp. The event also highlights Nashville's presence in health care, its signature industry and one widely expected focus of the office campus Oracle has pledged to build on the East Bank. Oracle represents the largest economic development deal in city and state history, targeting 8,500 jobs by 2031 and a $1.35 billion investment.
   
• Sumner County:  Gallatin. Boyle Investment Company announced in a release Monday the proposed development would transform two city-owned blocks into a live/work node featuring a major hotel brand, residential units, open green spaces, retail and restaurant space, and a new City Hall building.A third-party impact study estimates that the development could generate more than $40 million in property tax revenue over 20 years, “substantial” local sales tax revenue and a $261 million economic impact during the construction phase alone. The project is expected to create more than 300 permanent jobs.  If the plan materializes, a new City Hall building would be constructed to the immediate west of the current facility, according to the conceptual plan image. The police and fire department buildings seemingly would be razed, with the departments to relocate. City leaders, the Gallatin Economic Development Agency and Boyle anticipate the study to take up to 12 months to complete. 
  
  
  NASHVILLE REMAINS HOT:
   
• The Nashville metro had the lowest unemployment rate in the nation in February at 2.2% according to preliminary data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The last time Nashville was rated best was 2018.
   
• Lebanon will see Bridgetown Natural Foods out of Portland, Oregon opening a $78.3 million manufacturing and distribution center that will create 219 new jobs.
   
• Rutherford and Wilson Counties: Schneider Electric is funneling $85 million into its existing manufacturing operation in Smyrna and opening a 500,000-square-foot plant in Mt. Juliet, that will create 455 cumulative new jobs.
   
• Parathon, a health care payment technology company, will be relocating its HQ to Nashville in 2025 from Florida and Illinois, bringing 100 jobs here.  No word on the location yet.
   
• According to the Chamber of Commerce, Nashville area has added 110,000 new jobs since the the recovery from the pandemic, placing it 3rd in the nation behind Austin and Dallas.
   
• DPR Construction has 30 offices across the country, and says that there is more movement in Nashville than anywhere else.
   
• Thirteen Nashville-area companies ranked among the 200 fastest-growing firms in the Southeast according to The Inc. 5000 Regionals.  Overall, the Nashville companies accounted for 360% median growth and 963 added jobs. Two were in the Top Ten: #3 Spartan Fitness Holdings, 1,707% revenue; # 4 COACT Agency, 1,655%.
   
• Nashville places #3 the latest Downtown Vitality Index from The Business Journals, which analyzed a variety of metrics affecting downtown activity across more than 40 major metros to determine which central business districts are best positioned for success.
   
• Nolensville's population has grown 21% since 2020, according to a special census that was launched in October that got 97% household participation.  It has grown from 13,000 to 15,000.
   
• Southern Living Magazine rates Nashville the 3rd Best Restaurant City in the region for 2024;  The Pink Hermit (inside Hermitage Hotel) is chosen as Best New Restaurant in Tennessee; and Peg Leg Poker chosen Best Barbecue in Tennessee for 2nd straight year.
   
• Home sales in Nashville were up again in February. Closings increased 3% over February 2023, following a jump in January after nearly two years of steady declines. There were 2,247 closings in Greater Nashville last month, up from 2,186 in February 2023. Single-family home sales increased by 0.5%, with 1,751 sold in February. Condos sales jumped more than 13%, with 362 sold compared to 319 in the same period last year. At the end of February, there were 2,566 sales pending, down from 2,705 this time last year. The median price for a single-family home in February was $478,870, up from $450,000 in February 2023. Condos sold for a median price of $339,990, up 2.4% compared to last year.
   
• The airport set a new February record with 1,586,401 passengers, up 5.7% from lat year’s record.  So far in the FY 2024, the airport passenger count is up 7.8%.
   
• Music City kicked off 2024 as the 24th most competitive rental market in the U.S., according to a report by RentCafe. The occupancy rate in the city is 93.4%, according to the report, with a lease renewal rate at nearly 60%.
   
• According to Seniorly website, Tennessee is the #3 Best State for Seniors to Retire on a Budget.
   
• Clarksville comes in at No. 4 for cities with the most millennial buyers, with a 67.3% share of buyers in that age bracket.  The National Association of Realtors 'report points to affordability and job opportunities as reasons the top cities are attractive to millennials.
   
• Franklin is rated #2 on Southern Living's "Best Cities on the Rise" list for 2024.
   
• First Horizon Park was voted the 10th best minor-league baseball stadium by a panel of industry experts, editors and readers as part of USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards.
• Of the Top 22 tourist attractions Nashville, 17 of them had an increase in attendance in 2023 over 2022. The overall growth was  up 273,233 (5,384,653 up from 5,111,420) for a 5.3% increase last year. 
  
  Hope you can join us this Saturday morning for fun, lively, and informative discussion on all the development news in and around Music City!   : )

[donNdonelson2]

Just a “housekeeping” note on this thread. Only now have I noticed that the header for this thread says the meets are at Copper Kettle instead of Copper Branch.

[markhollin]

We had 11 in attendance and a few more online for this month's Meet-Up.   Thanks, as always, to Ron (smeagolsfree) and Brian (predsboy18) for arriving early to reserve our space, and to Bob (LA-TN) and Craig (Bos2Nash) for tech support.

Our next Nashville Urban Planet Meet-Up will be Sat. May 4th, 10 AM to Noon at the Copper Branch in the Downtown Library.

[markhollin]

Our next in-person Meet-Up will be this Saturday, May 3rd, from 10 AM to noon Central Time at The Copper Branch in the NE corner of the Downtown Library Building (at SW corner of 6th Ave. North and Church St.).   

Ron (smeagolsfree) and Predsboy18 (Brian) will be arriving early to get tables and chairs set up. 

We should have things set up for folks to participate online via Microsoft Teams as well, that will be administered by LA_TN (Bob) and Bos2Nash (Craig). If you would like to join remotely, please send me your name and e-mail address via private message by Friday evening, May 3rd, and I'll get you the particulars for logging on.   We will presume that if you took part any previous virtual meet-ups, that you will be interested again this month...so no need to send your info again (we've  kept it from May of 2020 onward and will include you automatically for this upcoming meeting). Everyone on that list will be getting an e-mail this week with log-in info for remote access.

A full agenda of discussion items will be posted on this thread in a few days.    : )

[markhollin]

NASHVILLE URBAN PLANET MEET-UP AGENDA, MAY 4th, 2024

Here's an overview of what can be covered at the Dave Luna Urban Planet Meet-Up this Saturday,  May 4th, from 10 AM to noon at our regular location at The Copper Branch inside the Downtown Library (on the SW corner of 6th Ave. North and Church St.).  Brian (PredsBoy18) will arrive early to help get tables set up.  Bos2Nash will serve as our AV tech to get the proceedings  captured for anyone who wishes to attend via Microsoft Teams.  Please PM me by Friday evening at the latest if you would like to get the link to join us remotely. 

INITIAL BUSINESS:

• Meet any new folks in attendance.
   
• Get reports from anyone who traveled to other cities in the past month for quick overviews of what they experienced.
   
• Cranes up: none
  
  Cranes down: Ashwood 12 South (2 of 2); Vanderbilt Univ. Power Plant (1)
  
  Total cranes currently up in Davidson County: 32    YTD: 42
   

• Topped out: 5 City Place at OneC1TY (15 stories); Elliston Place Holiday Inn (8); Third Ave. South Self Storage (6); AEG Pinnacle Venue (4); Trimble Townhomes (3); Five Points Townhomes (3); The Haysboro (3); Walter Davis & 39th Townhomes (3); 6124 Robertson Townhomes (3) Walter David & Tigerbelle Townhomes (3)
  
  
  AGENDA:
   
• Mayor Freddie O'Connell's vision for better transit in Nashville includes purchasing land for housing or other community benefits near some of the dozen new transit centers proposed in the "Choose How You Move" plan. Beyond creating "mobility hubs" with amenities for bus users, pedestrians, cyclists and others, the transit centers would open up possibilities for Metro to secure about 26 acres of adjacent land and partner with developers to provide housing or other community spaces with easy access to the bus system. That's a scenario favored by federal housing grants, as housing and transit are typically a household's largest expenses.
  
  "Choose How You Move" includes $130 million to construct 12 new transit centers of varying sizes, including centers in the following areas: SoBro, East Bank, Antioch, West Nashville, Madison, Nolensville, Donelson, TSU, Skyline, Vanderbilt Center, Bellevue, and Airport Station upgrades.
  
  In most cases, specific locations have yet to be selected, though public land is available for centers envisioned on the East Bank, South Broadway and at the Southeast Community Center in Antioch. The transit improvement program estimates $33.6 million could be used for 10 additional land acquisitions to support "transit-connected community needs such as thoughtfully designed affordable housing.” The plan would seek to purchase land near the following transit centers: SoBro, East Bank, Antioch, West Nashville, TSU, Skyline, Madison, Donelson, Nolensville, and Bellevue.
   
• The co-founder/Chairman of Oracle, Larry Ellison,  says that Nashville will eventually become the world HQ for the whole operation. “It’s the center of our future” Larry Ellison said at a conference of health leaders in April. "It's the center of the industry we're most concerned about, which is the health care industry.”
   
• A mixed-use project of approximately 40 stories, or two 25 story towers, featuring 739 residential units, 18,350 sq. ft. of commercial space, and an internal garage is seemingly being eyed for the downtown Nashville home of Greyhound Bus Station. The main address of the three-parcel approximately 1.7-acre site is 709 Rep. John Lewis Way (Fifth Avenue South), with the property partly fronting Lafayette Street. The two other parcels — located to the immediate east of the bus station on Lewis Way (and on the other side of an alley) — offer a small surface parking lot and a lot for bus storage. No word yet on the developer. It could offer 207 studio apartments, 369 one-bedroom units, 148 two-bedroom apartments and 15 three-bedroom units. TwentyLake Holdings LLC owns the property, having paid $14.55 million for it in late 2022.
   
• An 11 story/110', 273 unit residential tower and 8 story/105', 181 room hotel with shared 440 capacity internal garage, and combined 9,954 sq. ft. of ground level retail is being proposed for the two vacant lots (2.95 acres) at 450/460 James Robertson Parkway.   Renderings available.
   
• The Reed District’s Hines team went before the Metro Board of Zoning Appeals to seek a special exception related to height and setback regulations this week. The project will eventually feature eight towers ranging from 37 to 8 stories in height.
   
• 1401 Church news: Groundbreaking is still planned for this summer on Tower One (the NW corner of the lot, or the SW corner of 14th Ave. North and Church). By reminder it is 26 stories with 325 units, 14,000 sq. ft. of ground level retail, and an internal garage.
  
  “We see an opportunity to get in the ground now based on the projects that have started in the last year,” David McCutcheon, vice president of IPB Properties, told the Business Journal. “If we deliver this project in 2027, there’s going to be a situation where the market is going to need housing. There’s not going to be a lot of new developments coming online, so the timing is right for us."
  
  You’re probably seeing a lot of these projects moving forward because, while interest rates are probably not going to drop for a while, you can kind of see an end to the inflation bubble that we were living through,” McCutcheon said. “The city has been very much key in all of us getting together and developing together. I think the Midtown opportunity is a unique case just given the size of the amount of development that is going to come to that area. It’s the next evolution to connect downtown — it’s a much needed core that needs connection.”
   
• Demonbruen Hill Phase I (22 stories/264’, 333 units) has filed for a shell permit for the $150 million project.  A late 3rd quarter ground breaking is planned.  
   
• Rutledge Hill Culinary District is filling up. A restaurant by a Michelin-rated chef and a cocktail lounge, The Meadowlark, will open in a 4,456-square-foot space at 627 Second Ave. South. The historical property was built in 1886 as The James Geddes Engine Co. No. 6 fire station.
  The already-confirmed Hello Darlin’ Cocktail Lounge will open in 2,402 square feet of space in the 1890s Victorian-style home at 40 Middleton Street.  And Mr. J’s, by Jason Flores, will open this spring in the former Hermitage Cafe space at 45 Hermitage Ave. The final project will include three towers ranging from 37 to 17 stories. 
   
• The 1 story, 13,470 sq. ft. industrial structure built in 1928 at 720 Ewing Ave. (.6 acre) has been added into the Byran Fort and Taylor Preston properties t hat surround the T intersection of Middleton St. and Ewing Ave. in Pietown.  They paid $6.64 million for this section, and plan on converting the structures.  Once finished, the building could accommodate retail and food/beverage businesses. Fort and Preston have now invested  $37 million on all of these combined properties in the  last few years.
   
• Belmont University's Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business will expand its Music Row presence with a two phase project at 38 Music Square East: 1) They will renovate the former Buddy Lee Attractions/Capitol Records Building w/ 17,000 additional sq. ft. of songwriting rooms, listening spaces, live sound classrooms and student lounges. Work is already underway.  2) A 7 story, 75,000 sq. ft. structure will be added in the back of the site (eastern side) that will house a 150-person performance venue, networking space, coffee shop, content capture rooms and underground parking.   It will start construction about 2 years from now.  Renderings available.
   
• The 924 will be a 6 story mixed-use structure featuring 55 residential units and some commercial aspects on the .6 acre tract at 924 Vine St., just east of Adventure Science Center.  The existing non-historic one story warehouse on the site will be razed.  
   
• After a 7+ year pause, Broadmoor is moving forward via Rethink Community developers.  The 48 acre site on the SW corner of the intersection of Ellington Parkway and Broadmoor Drive will feature an unspecified mix of hundreds of single family homes, multifamily units,  several restaurants, a brewery, child care center, community park, and greenway.  Rethink bought the empty land in 2016, and plan to break ground in mid-2025. 
   
• Conceptual plans for the proposed mixed-used development at the vacant Macy's building at Rivergate Mall have been released. The project would demolish the existing 3-story store and redevelop the property and parking lot into a mixed-use community. The project consists of 17,000 sq. ft. of retail or restaurant space, a 120 room, 4-story hotel, and up to 340 residential units, including a pool courtyard and a central gathering space. The project is expected to break ground in 2025 and be completed in 2026/2027. This plan only pertains to the Macy's building and the surrounding parking lot that they own.
   
• Rock Nashville will be a 515,000 sq. ft. entertainment/rehearsal/production campus at 3200 White Creek Pike and Briley Parkway, across from the UPS Fulfillment Center. The 82 acre campus will have sound stages up to 95 ft. tall, creative offices, and production facilities of various sizes to accommodate the varying production specifications for live shows. Construction is already underway. 
  
  
  NASHVILLE REMAINS HOT:
   
• Nashville comes in a #9 on Top 25 Most Dynamic Metros of 2023 by HeartlandForward.
   
• Nashville ranks #3 in nation in expected hotel supply growth, according to CoStar Group.
   
• Chief Executive Magazine ranks Tennessee #3 state in the nation in which to operate a business.
   
• The Nashville metro ranks as the 4th least risky. area to start a small business in the U.S. according to Forbes Advisor. 
   
• For the 8th straight year, Rutherford County is the fastest growing county in the state with 6,419 new residents. 
   
• Nashville ranks 2nd in nation for Toal new housing units growth (5%) since 2020 according to LendingTree website.  Austin #1 at 6%.
   
• Airport sets a new March record for passengers at 2,043,143, 6% higher than last year.
   
• Niche has released a new study on the Top Ten Places to Live in Tennessee.  Nashville area landed 7 of the choices, including 4 neighborhoods in central area of own: 1) Nolensville A+  2) Brentwood  A+  4) Downtown Nashville A+ 5) Franklin A+  6) Sulphur Dell/North Capital Nashville A+  7) Music Row Nashville A+  9) Watkins Park Nashville A.
   
• Assembly Food Hall in 5th & Broadway complex is rated #1 Food Hall in America by EnjoyTravel.com.
   
• According to Trip Advisor's 2024 Traveler' Choice Awards (picks are among the top 1% based on a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions over a 12-month period)....Joseph Hotel is ranked #19 in Top 25 Five Star Hotels in the U.S; 1 Hotel ranked #18 in the luxury category; JW Marriott #25
   
• Nashville ranked 2nd Most Walkable City For Tourists in U.S. according to Preply website.
  
  Hope you can join us this Saturday morning for fun, lively, and informative discussion on all the development news in and around Music City!   : )

[markhollin]

We had 11 in attendance and a several more online for this month's Meet-Up, including a visit from former regular-turned Chattanoogan Pete (MidTenn).   Thanks, as always, to Ron (smeagolsfree) and Brian (predsboy18) for arriving early to reserve our space, and to Craig (Bos2Nash) for tech support.

Our next Nashville Urban Planet Meet-Up will be Sat. June 1st, 10 AM to Noon at the Copper Branch in the Downtown Library.