Dear Neighbors,

 

I hope you and your loved ones had a joyful holiday season—whether you celebrated Hanukkah, Christmas, or simply enjoyed time with those you cherish—and that your 2025 is off to a great start! As we kick off a new year, I wanted to take a moment to share some personal news and updates regarding my availability. 

 

In December, my spouse underwent a life-saving lung transplant after a two-year journey to this milestone. As his chief caregiver, I am supporting him through a busy schedule of doctor appointments and medication management as his body adapts to his new lung.

 

Due to his suppressed immune system, I will be less visible at public events for the next few months and wear a mask when attending council and committee meetings. While I remain fully committed to serving our community, response times to non-urgent matters may be slightly delayed during this period.

 

I sincerely appreciate the support and understanding shown by so many, including friends, family, the vice mayor, my fellow council members, and the incredible care team at Vanderbilt. 

 

Stay safe and warm! 

 

Brenda Gadd  

Councilmember, District 24

The first snowstorm of the season has arrived, and here are several updates to keep in mind: 

 

Roadways. NDOT has pre-treated roads over the past 48 hours and will begin clearing snow as conditions allow. The city has 19 new snowplows (40 total) and more on the way. View NDOT's Primary and Secondary Snow Removal Routes. to see priorities.

 

Waste Services. Due to the weather, trash and recycling services are suspended today, and Metro convenience centers will be closed Friday and Saturday. Normal hours are expected to resume Tuesday, January 14.

 

Unhoused Neighbors. The Office of Homeless Services (OHS) has extended its overflow shelter hours to 4:00 PM–10:00 AM daily through Sunday, Jan. 12. Daytime shelter is available at Nashville Rescue Mission and Room In The Inn until 3:00 PM.

The Kroger store at 4560 Harding Pike in Belle Meade Plaza will permanently close on Jan. 17, 2025. This decision stems from the 2023 sale of the shopping center, necessitating the store’s relocation. While this news is disappointing, Kroger has assured me of their commitment to serving our community and their intention to secure a new location nearby.

 

One option that has been discussed is 4301 Harding Pike (the former Belle Meade Theater building). Any redevelopment would require a new Specific Plan (SP) filing. 

 

I have heard loud and clear from many of you that preserving the iconic sign and façade of the old theater and addressing traffic and congestion in this area are top priorities. I will continue to advocate for these important community concerns.

Construction is underway at the Bowling and Whitland intersection to create a safer, more efficient configuration. The project includes changes to slow traffic onto Whitland Avenue from Bowling and improve pedestrian safety. Completion is expected by the end of January, though paving will continue into the spring, with an estimated full project completion date of April 2025. You can track the progress and view detailed updates through the interactive map here. 

 

Stormwater system improvements are slated to begin construction this week and should be completed by Feb. 3. The road will not need to be fully closed; however, it will be reduced to one lane during daytime hours only. Lane closures began in late November and are expected to last approximately 15 days.

 

While I do not support the current rezoning application, I could support a Specific Plan (SP) if it addresses neighbor concerns regarding height, density, design and other factors. As of now, the property owner has not filed an SP.

 

A proposed amendment to the SP at 405 40th Avenue North, known as The Reeve, would allow long-term leaseholders (12-month leases) to participate in homesharing with Orion Haus, with a limit of 25% of leaseholders using the homeshare option at any given time. The owners have presented at two community meetings on this proposal, but an amendment to its SP has not yet been filed. 

The Christmas Tree Recycling Drop-Off Program runs until Feb. 14 at the locations below. 

 Council meetings are generally held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month. Agendas are posted by the preceding Monday on the Legislative Information Center. Watch live at stream.nashville.gov or on the Metro Nashville Network channel.