The minutes from our March 7, 2024 Council Meeting can be found here.
BOWLING AVENUE SIDEWALK UPDATE
Still on schedule for August 2024 completion target!
The Bowling Avenue sidewalk is a fully funded project and is still on target to meet its completion date of August 2024. There have been several constituents and other users reaching out with concerns and misinformation. You can always reach out via email to find out the latest or check the NDOT sidewalk tracker for updates (zoom into district 24 and click on the orange line along Bowling Avenue for the latest): https://mpw.nashville.gov/walknbike/
There will need to be road maintenance on Bowling and we are working with NDOT to ensure that is also addressed.
TRAFFIC CALMING FOR ELMINGTON AVE
NEAR WEST END MIDDLE SCHOOL
For those on Elmington Avenue and nearby please join a virtual meeting on April 15th at 5:30 PM CT to learn more about the traffic calming solutions.
Here's how you join the meeting:
Meeting number (access code): 2481 667 4595 Meeting password: iUamEpEp278
Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only) +1-720-650-7664,,24816674595## United States Toll (Denver) +1-202-860-2110,,24816674595## United States Toll (Washington D.C.)
Join by phone +1-720-650-7664 United States Toll (Denver) +1-202-860-2110 United States Toll (Washington D.C.) Global call-in numbers
Join from a video system or application Dial 24816674595@nashville.webex.com You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.
UPDATE ON STORMWATER SYSTEM REPLACEMENT
Nashville Metro Water Services are in the final stages of construction of a stormwater improvement project in the Richland-West End neighborhood. An aging stormwater system is being replaced with new infrastructure.
The research phase of our community-driven visioning process of IMAGINE NASHVILLE is complete, and the results are in! We now have a much deeper understanding of what Nashvillians both dream about and fear losing.
Check out the top takeaways or dive deeper into what we learned, especially when it comes to our shared values and core beliefs about important topics such as thriving neighborhoods, attainable housing, mobility & transit, opportunity through education & training, and managing growth.
Choose How You Move: Transportation Improvement Program planning underway, drawing on more than 66,000 responses from Nashvillians
Two external advisory groups of transportation and mobility experts and community leaders from across the city have been formed to evaluate and inform Choose How You Move. The two committees have spent time so far exploring how to improve transportation efficiency on some of the city’s busiest corridors like Murfreesboro Pike, Dickerson Pike, Gallatin Pike, Nolensville Pike, and others. The committees discussed a wide range of opportunities and impacts from technology needs along the corridors to land use and affordable housing opportunities around transit centers. The meetings can be viewed here.
As Mayor O’Connell said in his press conference announcing his intention to put a transportation improvement program on the November ballot, he and his administration are targeting an end of March or early April unveiling of a plan including the projects and anticipated funding available from revenue sources to support its implementation.
After that unveiling, Mayor O’Connell will launch an educational effort that emphasizes the continuation of community engagement via both public meetings around the city and an online survey that will allow Nashvillians to learn about and engage with the plan.
On February 27 at the invitation of Vice Mayor Angie Henderson and Planning & Zoning Chair Jennifer Gamble, Metro Planning’s Housing Division conducted an Affordable Housing “201” Educational Session for Council Members in the David Scobey Council Chamber at the Historic Courthouse & City Hall. Metro’s Housing Division Director Angela Hubbard and her team provided Council with an update on housing affordability in Nashville, various projects, programs, and initiatives underway and planned, and an update on efforts to continue progress in meeting the goals laid out in the 2021 Affordable Housing Task Force.
This dashboard is an incredibly valuable tool to understand the current climate of affordable housing in Nashville and Davidson Co.
WeGo is implementing fixed-route service changes specifically related to the anticipated opening of the new Dr. Ernest Rip Patton, Jr. North Nashville Transit Center (NNTC) to be effective March 31, 2024. This includes a new crosstown route, bay changes at the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central, and routing and scheduling adjustments.
Mayor Freddie O'Connell's administration filed two pieces of legislation related to the initial development of Metro-owned East Bank land that ensure neighborhoods featuring a mix of affordability are developed with all Nashvillians in mind and brings a beloved cultural asset into the heart of the new East Bank Community.
The two pieces of legislation are:
Ordinance authorizing Metro and The Fallon Company to develop the first 30 acres of Metro-owned East Bank land.
Resolution approving a non-binding memorandum of understanding (TPAC MOU) related to the location of a new Tennessee Performing Arts Center to Metro-owned land on the East Bank.
The legislation delivers on the recommendations of the Imagine East Bank Vision Plan, a two-year study with robust community engagement (1700+ survey responses + 50 public meetings) that assessed what Nashvillians want built in the area. Those priorities – safe, simple multimodal connections, an equitable and affordable East Bank, respect for the river, and neighborhoods for Nashvillians – were unanimously adopted by the Metro Planning Commission in October 2022.
Ordinance for the Initial Development of Metro-Owned Land
The Ordinance would allow Metro and The Fallon Company to enter into a development agreement and 99-year ground leases for approximately 30 acres of Metro-owned, East Bank land.
The centerpiece of the Development Agreement is the required delivery of 1,550 housing units with a robust mix of affordability requirements. The Development Agreement includes these milestones:
Within two years – deliver 300, 100% affordable residential units, together with constructed and reserved space for a children's day care;
Within six years – deliver 400 additional residential units, with 10% being affordable;
Within nine years – deliver 550 additional residential units, with 10% being affordable;
Once James Robertson is lowered to grade – deliver an additional 300, 100% affordable residential units, to be jointly developed with an East Bank mobility hub.
The Development Agreement requires residential affordability to remain in place for the 99-year duration of the leases, ensuring that the East Bank remains an affordable neighborhood for Nashvillians - an unprecedented first for affordability leases in Nashville's history.
The Development Agreement and the TPAC MOU also outline that:
The Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge will be extended and redesigned to enhance pedestrian and bicycle access through the East Bank. The majority of the costs of the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge will be covered by Fallon and TPAC.
The commencement of construction of the East Bank Boulevard – with the portion from Victory Way to Shelby being funded by Fallon.
The construction of the Cumberland Walk by TPAC and Fallon – a pedestrian and bicycle friendly path from Shelby and Interstate Drive to the Cumberland River.
The legislation accomplishes several important goals outlined by the Mayor's Office:
Initiates the development of the Metro-owned East Bank land in a manner consistent with the goals of the Imagine East Bank Vision Plan with special emphasis on creating neighborhoods that prioritize housing, affordable housing, resiliency, and mobility.
Facilitates the relocation of a longstanding Nashville cultural mainstay, TPAC, to the East Bank, which is also recommended in Imagine East Bank.
Extends the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in a manner that will more safely and effectively provide pedestrian and bicycle access between Downtown and East Nashville.
Leverages private funds to support the installation of infrastructure and the extension of the Pedestrian Bridge, a portion of the East Bank Boulevard and the Cumberland Walk.
"This is the first piece of legislation in what is going to be a decades-long, transformational project for Nashville," said Metro Chief Development Officer Bob Mendes. "I am grateful to The Fallon Company for recognizing the importance of our goals in achieving a walkable, bikeable neighborhood that's for locals at every economic level."
TPAC to Have a Home on the East Bank
Metro has filed a resolution to approve a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Metro and TPAC to bring a beloved, longstanding cultural asset to the East Bank.
The MOU notes the following:
Metro would ground lease a portion of Metro-owned East Bank land to TPAC for 35 years, plus extensions.
TPAC would be responsible for accessing the state and private funds necessary to design and construct a new, world-class performing arts facility.
TPAC would be responsible for funding the construction of a significant portion of the redesigned and extended Pedestrian Bridge, as well as surrounding roads and utilities. TPAC will be responsible for ensuring that a temporary pedestrian bridge provides uninterrupted pedestrian and bicycle access between the East Bank and downtown.
Process and Next Steps
Both pieces of legislation will be on the Metro Council's March 7 agenda, with the development ordinance being on First Reading and the TPAC resolution only requiring one reading.
All information related to Metro’s purchasing process is available in one, central location at purchasing.nashville.gov. Click the top link to learn about doing business with Metro or visit TinyURL.com/WorkWithMetro directly.
Save the Date and Join us for the Conference for Neighborhoods on Saturday, March 23, 2024
Did you know that you can support the Metro Government Employee Emergency Support (MEGEES) Fund? The Fund provides short-term, emergency financial support to employees of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County who are facing financial hardship as a result of certain unforeseen and unpreventable circumstances.
The Community Foundation reviews all requests, applies the fund criteria, and manages disbursement of funds with care and concern and fiscal responsibility.
NDOT is running at a 1 week delay on the regular brush collection schedule. Brush crews are running 6 days a week/10 hours per day to catch up. NDOT is currently in brush area 4. Please continue to place your brush out on your scheduled collection day and crews will collect it as soon as possible.
GADD ON THE GO
1st Quarter District 24 Community Meeting the last week of February: Thank you for attending! Thank you to the McCabe Community Center for hosting and Metro Water Services for your presentation on the new water tank development on 38th Avenue. Other important updates were given, as well as those of other speakers. Thank you to you all.
I appreciate the time with Director Diane Lance, Deputy Director of Programs Becky Bullard, Deputy Director of Development LaToya Townsend and the amazing support dog team! Take time and learn more about the holistic and inclusive services of this jewel in #Nashville to take care of those experiencing interpersonal and domestic violence.
The mission of the Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County Office of Family Safety is to increase victim safety and offender accountability by providing vital crisis intervention services to victims of interpersonal violence while maintaining the emotional wellness of service providers. This Mission is accomplished in our court and community based Family Safety Centers through client advocacy, training, outreach, and multi-disciplinary teams and Family Safety Center collaboration.
