Quote:
Originally Posted by BnaBreaker
Yeah, i mean, this would basically be like adding the equivalent of a whole other downtown to the city. I love the confidence these developers have in the city, but for a city of Nashvilles size it seems it would be difficult for the city to absorb it all.
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I think the skepticism is warranted by all of us. Especially since we've seen several projects announced that never got off the table. But, let's look at it this way, even in our skepticism, at some point in every major city in this country outside of New York and Chicago, there has always been skepticism when lofty goals and plans are announced. I remember when Atlanta was simply downtown Atlanta and not the sprawling metropolis it is today. I remember when there was no midtown Atlanta, no Buckhead, no Perimeter, none of what you see today. There was plenty of skepticism that a southern city in particular could grow into what Atlanta has become. People in Atlanta had some of the same issues and concerns that people in Nashville and Charlotte have today. But Atlanta continued to move forward for better and for worse depending on one's perspective.
The River North project in Nashville is a lofty vision. But, if there was ever a time for such a vision to have some foundation in Nashville, now is that time. Unlike the period in which Metro Center was announced. That too was a vision with lofty goals that never came to full fruition. But, it somehow still managed to turn into something where there was originally nothing but wasteland.
Nashville North is at least being announced at a time when Nashville is experiencing sustained growth and there is an energy about the city that has never been experienced at least not in my lifetime. Unlike Metro Center, the possibility of Nashville North is at least foreseeable. While I would love to see this development start immediately and continue with continuous sustained growth in a relatively short time frame, this is probably more of a 10, 15 maybe even 20 year or longer project. But everything starts with a vision.
I'm glad that someone finally has the vision of transforming the east bank. I hope that vision will expand all along the east bank from the I-65/24 split to the I-40/24 split. That is a way to expand and grow Nashville without impeding on existing residential neighborhoods. It's a way to create density that is still in the urban core. It is really the most logical next step in growing the urban core of Nashville. And, for those who do not want mid-rise and high rise buildings taking over their neighborhoods here is the solution to preventing that from happening at least in the next 25 years or so. Adding development along the east bank will compliment the growth of SoBro and Midtown as those areas continue to expand. It allows for development east of downtown without overwhelming the residential areas of east Nashville. It'll create a nice transition into downtown specifically from Main Street, Dickerson Road and Ellington Parkway. And, it'll eliminate the vast industrial gap that runs along I-24 that will never serve to enhance the beauty of the city.
Again, I hope this is not a tease project. I hope there is careful thought and real planning going into making River North a reality. Time will tell.