Dear Neighbors,

 

I hope this message finds you well. For those who celebrated, I hope you had a joyful and peaceful Eid al-Fitr over the weekend. April is Arab American Heritage Month--a time to honor the contributions of this community to our shared history and culture. 

 

I am writing to share important updates regarding Nashville's housing and infrastructure planning. But, before I share the report, I want to thank all the neighbors and neighborhood leaders in District 24 I worked with over the past two months to protect the historic commission and the historic zoning commission and its staff's work. I was overjoyed to see you hold signs like "houses over honky tonks." It was disheartening to see a bill introduced that would have eliminated 14 civil service positions, but because we spoke up, a substitute bill was passed, preserving the Metro Historical Commission and department. Your participation ensured these vital positions remain. The Metro Historic Zoning Commission will still exist but will move under the Metro Planning Department. It was shocking to see downtown honky tonks and their lobbyists prioritized over our neighborhoods, using state legislation as a scare tactic for change. Thank you to everyone who dedicated their time.

 

The Metro Nashville Planning Department has released its Initial Findings and Preliminary Recommendations Report as part of the Housing and Infrastructure Study. This report examines barriers to housing supply and affordability, particularly for low-income families and communities of color, and challenges in delivering infrastructure. You can read the executive summary here. 

 

Last year, the Metro Council passed RS2024-288, directing the Planning Department to explore strategies for improving housing affordability. While NashvilleNext aimed to balance urban growth with preservation, the city has exceeded its 2015 growth projections, with our housing supply failing to keep pace. Rising costs have pushed many residents—especially younger, middle-income buyers—out of Davidson County, with nearly half of Metro's workforce now living elsewhere.

 

The report recommends a unified housing strategy, which we are still waiting to be presented. It estimates that Nashville will require 90,000 new housing units over the next decade, with 56% of those units intended for sale. Research indicates that implementing smaller-scale, middle housing could decrease home prices by up to $344,000 and reduce rents by $300 to $600 per month, making housing more affordable. We must keep in mind that achieving this balance is crucial; we need to focus on building and maintaining affordable housing units while ensuring that neighborhoods have a voice in the process.

 

Infrastructure planning is also underway, in coordination with Metro Water Services, the Nashville Department of Transportation, and regional partners. The Planning Department is gathering public input on zoning and housing policies, with Office Hours from today through April 14 for community feedback. More details on the Office Hours are located on the website. 

 

Moving forward, zoning updates will be phased in alongside planned city investments, with a focus on walkable, mixed-use corridors. Each proposed change must align with NashvilleNext, be supported by infrastructure, fit neighborhood character, and improve housing options.

 

These findings are fully reported here. You can also follow along, see past presentations, and complete a survey at this website.

 

Brenda Gadd

Councilmember, District 24

Utility work began this Monday with minimal daytime impact. From 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., only one turning lane in front of the property will be closed, with police officers on-site to assist with traffic flow. Since this closure is limited to the turning lane, daytime traffic disruption should be minimal.

 

Any work requiring the closure of a travel lane, as well as utility tie-ins that cross the street, will take place at night, with only one lane closed at a time. Additionally, work in the median and at Kenner Ave will be done exclusively at night to reduce disruption. In Phase 3, one lane will be closed to re-pour the sidewalk on the south side of the street. 

 

Bowling Avenue (West End Avenue to Murphy Road) is among the 25 newly selected NDOT traffic calming projects. The prioritized projects were chosen from over 600 submissions by community members desiring lower traffic speeds and safer street accommodations for non-drivers in their neighborhoods. Learn more about Metro's traffic calming process.

 

The bikeway improvements from Murphy Road to Charlotte Avenues along 46th Avenue are underway. The full plan can be viewed here. There will be delineators, but no crosswalks across 46th Avenue at Dakota. However, there will be bike crossing markings on Dakota, though not on 46th. Crosswalks cannot be installed without sidewalks and ADA-compliant ramps on both sides, as required by federal law. Adding ramps to this project would have significantly increased both the scope and cost.

 

Construction at the Whitland/Bowling intersection is nearly complete, except for asphalt in the parking area and new signs. The project is expected to be complete by April. A neighborhood group is collaborating with a landscape architect to design a landscaping plan for the intersection, emphasizing safety, sustainability, aesthetics, and cost-effectiveness. 

 

Did you know there’s a secret sidewalk connecting Sylvan Park and the Nations under Interstate 40? The Civic Design Center has been championing this project for years. It took a step forward this month, with our Metro Council greenlighting CSX to “prepare and approve final engineering and design plans (for) sidewalk improvements on Alabama Avenue."

As NDOT continues to evolve how it manages the Right of Way, I wanted to share more about the Residential Parking Permit Program.

 

A map of all the residential parking permit areas in our district is attached. If your street already has a program, you can acquire a permit by submitting a Hub Request for a Parking Permit.

 

The details on applying for a parking permit area for your street are detailed within the code here: Chapter 12.42 - PERMIT PARKING PROGRAMS. Here is how it works:

NES is transitioning to a new Customer Information System, and all NES customers will receive a new account number, which will be included on your April bill. Please begin using your new account number right away. However, you can still use your old account number until May 15. Learn more about the changes you can expect from NES here. 

 

As Chair of the Metro Council Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Entertainment Committee, I want to share two updates about library services and support. 

 

The Nashville Public Library’s new Limitless Libraries Bookmobile is now on the road, providing books, technology, and educational programs directly to students at MNPS charter schools through the next school year. Students can check out books using their MNPS student ID numbers, and programming is designed to complement classroom instruction.

 

Additionally, Edley's Bar-B-Que and Pancho & Lefty's Cantina are participating in Library Giving Day by rounding up meal purchases as donations to the Nashville Public Library Foundation. From April 1 through April 7, every meal purchased at any of their 10 locations will have its ticket total rounded up as a Library Giving Day donation.