NASHVILLE | Development Showcase

[PillowTalk4]

Tennessean reported on the proposed Disney family hotel project as well...

http://www.tennessean.com/story/mone...obro/97645990/

"Father-and-son duo Barry and Josh Disney, distant relatives of Walt Disney, are leading efforts to build the World One Hotel. If built, it would be downtown Nashville's largest hotel and could include a 2,500-seat 3-D holographic and live theater plus the Science Rocks science center and a rooftop water park."



It appears this is not a Hard Rock project at all. The property the Disney family is looking to build the proposed hotel on was a site targeted for a Hard Rock Hotel. The property is bound by KVB to the north, Hermitage Ave and 1st Ave to the east, 2nd Ave to the west and Peabody St to the south.

I'm assuming the beige colored building is a parking garage.... It really distracts from the tower, which I'm still not sold on. However, if you compare the renderings that they've included there appears to be an architectural ledge element on each floor, which if that's the case could be more for visual night lighting impact. The Aria Hotel in Vegas has a similar feature as well as the new MGM Hotel in Oxen Hill, MD in the National Harbor downstream from Washington, DC. At night the ledges appear like lighted bands wrapped around the building. Nice impact at night. Which could have a nice visual affect as you cross over the KVB Bridge into downtown.

[MidTenn1]

That's right, Pillow Talk 4. It is not a Hard Rock hotel, it is a 'World One Hotel'.

The competition for customers will be tough, but they have included a shiny object which should help lure tourists the two blocks away from There is to be some sort of 4 story, wrap around, Times Squarish video board on the building. I suppose it will promote various activities within the complex, but it smacks of someone's hope of having a Vegas style casino someday.

[Dale]

Folks on UP seem highly skeptical about this.

[ariesjow]

I'm not sure at all about the prospects of the World One proposal for KVB coming to fruition, but I hope these are very preliminary renderings if it's a serious proposal. I'm very much opposed to these heavy-handed, guitar-themed structures. 21st century Nashville needs to move beyond the kitschy "Nashvegas" schtick.

[MidTenn1]

The Asurion Company is looking for 300,000 sf of office space in Nashville.

From the TENNESSEAN..

One of the Nashville area's largest employers is scouting the market for roughly 300,000 square feet of office space, possibly signaling further growth ahead or a desire to consolidate operations now spread across the city.

Asurion spokeswoman Bettie Colombo confirmed the effort, which comes as the global technology support and protection company has 3,600 Nashville area employees and leases that extend to 2021 and beyond.

This news lends hope to the prospect of one of the two downtown proposed, 30+ story office buildings being built sooner or later if chosen by Asurion as a new home. The 5th+Broad Office Building on Commerce Street and the recently proposed Mainland Company office building on KVB at the roundabout are the two likely downtown locations I would surmise.

There is no rendering for the Mainland Building. The 5+ Building was once shown as thus...


The 'Nashville Yards' downtown development (formerly the Lifeway Campus could be another possible location. Or somewhere in the suburbs. Here's hoping for downtown.

[ariesjow]

It looks like 505 will have a bit of a crown and some extra height. A 20-foot window wall was unanimously approved by MDHA and will help clean up the top of the structure. I have my fingers crossed that a nice lighting scheme will be added to the crown as well.

According to the below article, 505 should be topped out by May and the first units should be available in October.

First apartments at Giarratana's 505 tower to be available in October

[MidTenn1]

The 'Diner' will open Friday to provide 6 stories of 24 hour eating options to downtown tourists.



Per the TENNESSEAN...(be sure to check out the video).

"We gonna hold 500 people and change," Smith said about the seating capacity.

Breakfast will be served from late night through early afternoon with meat-and-three offerings and a full lunch and dinner menu also available.

The Diner features an oyster and sushi bar on the sixth floor with private, sit-down dining areas on the third through fifth levels. A bar is on the second level with the first floor set up like a diner or soda shop.

Because....there are two seasons in Nashville....January and Tourist season!!

[MidTenn1]

New renderings for the 26 story, Endeavor development on Broadway between 12th and I-40 (technically in the Gulch district) were released recently.


It was slightly downsized (one floor) due to apartment glut in the Gulch and high construction costs in Nashville. It will have 315 apartments.

Groundbreaking was earlier announced as scheduled for sometime this Spring.

[PillowTalk4]

I won't complain that it's a box... I might get criticized for my opinion... LOL. But as boxes go it'll be a nice addition to that portion of Broadway. It'll certainly expand the skyline westward towards Mid-town. The proposed hotel in that same stretch will give a nice transition from the lower portion of Broadway to I-40.

Looking at the first picture I can't help but imagine what that picture would look like if the WES (sorry to bring that up) had been built. I also hope that eventually the Beaman car lots will be sold to further develop the transition area of downtown and mid-town with office, residential, retail and hotel properties. Quite honestly it would be an ideal location for an inner city mall. Not a gigantic mall but more of an Urban Centre to serve the growing residential population of downtown and mid-town with an Target, Marshall's or TJ Maxx, Walgreens, Best Buy or HH Gregg and some specialty stores.

[futuresooner]

It's a very solid addition and helps further creep the downtown/gulch and midtown skylines closer together.

[LA_TN]

This is the proposal for the block between Demonbreun to McGavock and 12th to 13th. Basically, fronting I-40 at the Demonbreun exit

Nelsen Partners - Nashville Mixed-Use

This 1 million square foot mixed-use development encompasses 2.7 acres at the periphery of downtown Nashville.

- Phase I will include a 290,000 square foot, 20-story office building with retail uses at the ground level and structured parking above- and below-grade.

- Phase II will add a 260,000 square foot, 250-room hotel and a 170,000 square foot, 75-unit condo tower to the site.

- Phase III will add 290,000 square feet of residential in a 25-story, 245-unit tower.

The complex topography, neighboring buildings and adjacent infrastructure all influenced the master planning and architecture of the project, along with Nashville's form-based code

View from the corner of Demonbreun and 12th


View from 12th and McGavock


View from 13th and Demonbreun **Note the proposed 26-story Endeavor project on Broadway (left) and the recently finished 15-story Capstar Bank building (right)






View looking down Demonbreun towards downtown

[ariesjow]

How viable is this proposal? Is the office tower proposed for Waller Landsen?

[Texcitement]

Originally Posted by ariesjow

How viable is this proposal? Is the office tower proposed for Waller Landsen?

Real! Yes!

[PillowTalk4]

Originally Posted by Texcitement

Real! Yes!

This proposed design gives me a south Florida vibe....

"The complex topography, neighboring buildings and adjacent infrastructure all influenced the master planning and architecture of the project, along with Nashville's form-based code."

I wonder if the statement regarding Nashville's form-based code references height restrictions? If so, why not seek a variance? A 45 story building with some open space around the base would be far more appealing than clustering three buildings into the footprint of that block.

I also wonder if this plan will push others who have proposals on the table to move faster in getting their projects approved. Specifically the Buckingham Group which if I recall has a proposal for a 38 story multi-family tower with retail at the base level. The market is getting to be somewhat over saturated and some developers have stated they are in a wait and see mode before moving forward with their plans because the market has gotten a bit soft. While others are moving forward with their proposals I assume to stay ahead.

[Baronakim]

I suspect that the three separate buildings reflect more the reality of real estate acquisition than master planning. The office tower (phase 1) is on two parcels (including the strip club) already acquired and waiting for resolution of the club's relocation. Phase 2 is on 3 parcels (one vacant, one empty lot & a one story occupied building. Phase 3 is on parcels currently occupied in fairly recently remodeled buildings. While a single structure of 45 or more floors would perhaps be more attractive a solution to us as height junkies, the 3 individual (shorter buildings are more marketable and appealing to branding and are individually identifiable as such for tenants such as the Waller law firm.

[Baronakim]

I would argue against the concept that "A 45 story building with some open space around the base would be far more appealing than clustering three buildings into the footprint of that block."
That concept is much more valid for cities with far less open space than Nashville, but I will be specific to Nashville. Firstly, the high rise development
is evolving a wall at the interstate circling the heart of the city, which I believe provides a quite a stunning view for interstate traffic. Secondly, tall buildings already exist or are planned for Nashville, that have significant open space around a central structure. The first, the Tennessee State Office tower (once National Life) by SOM is IMO a dismal failure. The huge plaza has always to me been an urban desert isolated from any of the pedestrian streetscape of the nearby older structures. War Memorial Plaza is a much better urban space. Likewise the new Federal Courthouse looks to be another bad idea about to happen. The building design is obsolete before the groundbreaking and the open space around it seems likely to be to the benefit of the homeless rather than the public as a whole. The open plaza/park over the parking garage across from the Country Music Museum is far, far better as a usable public space.
So, I think that the proposed development probably functions better overall as 3 separate buildings and it is far better a site utilization than one big tower with adjacent 5 story apartment monstrosities next to it. Ther are enough of those already scattered about Nashville. IMO the ones that work best are those in the Germantown area of town, where the individual projects are close enough to be a neighborhood. As to open urban spaces, I think that Nashville has a plethora of it that just needs some sprucing up and planning to be spectacular. From my point of view, open space around a single project needs to be both expansive and purposeful. For an example I suggest the plaza of the Chicago City Hall with its magnificent artworks. Anyway, that's my 2 cents on the subject.

[PillowTalk4]

Originally Posted by Baronakim

I would argue against the concept that "A 45 story building with some open space around the base would be far more appealing than clustering three buildings into the footprint of that block."
That concept is much more valid for cities with far less open space than Nashville, but I will be specific to Nashville. Firstly, the high rise development
is evolving a wall at the interstate circling the heart of the city, which I believe provides a quite a stunning view for interstate traffic. Secondly, tall buildings already exist or are planned for Nashville, that have significant open space around a central structure. The first, the Tennessee State Office tower (once National Life) by SOM is IMO a dismal failure. The huge plaza has always to me been an urban desert isolated from any of the pedestrian streetscape of the nearby older structures. War Memorial Plaza is a much better urban space. Likewise the new Federal Courthouse looks to be another bad idea about to happen. The building design is obsolete before the groundbreaking and the open space around it seems likely to be to the benefit of the homeless rather than the public as a whole. The open plaza/park over the parking garage across from the Country Music Museum is far, far better as a usable public space.
So, I think that the proposed development probably functions better overall as 3 separate buildings and it is far better a site utilization than one big tower with adjacent 5 story apartment monstrosities next to it. Ther are enough of those already scattered about Nashville. IMO the ones that work best are those in the Germantown area of town, where the individual projects are close enough to be a neighborhood. As to open urban spaces, I think that Nashville has a plethora of it that just needs some sprucing up and planning to be spectacular. From my point of view, open space around a single project needs to be both expansive and purposeful. For an example I suggest the plaza of the Chicago City Hall with its magnificent artworks. Anyway, that's my 2 cents on the subject.

I have to agree and disagree. I'm certainly not suggesting a huge amount of open space like a legislative plaza or even what it now around Tennessee Tower. However, unless they built a skinny tower, the base footprint could take up a significant amount of land, especially if you include retail and parking entrances. But I understand your point. I like that the Gulch and to extent Mid-Town is creating a wall along I-40. I just don't want to see that wall be limited to 20 stories as Nashville tends to do. I think a 30, 35, 40, 45 story building would be even more striking close to I-40.

BTW, the plaza around the Tennessee Tower was not part of the original structure for the building. I recall there being two or three other buildings that were on the south side of the tower that were torn down to clear way for what was supposed to be a twin tower to the then American General tower. But that never happened and American General converted the space to the plaza and entry to underground parking.

[Baronakim]

I noticed from my office window that demolition of the old "Alamo" Women's Mission building at 8th & Demonbruen is now underway. Any idea if this is for the new hotels or just for site cleanup?

[Texcitement]

Originally Posted by Baronakim

I noticed from my office window that demolition of the old "Alamo" Women's Mission building at 8th & Demonbruen is now underway. Any idea if this is for the new hotels or just for site cleanup?

The owners are ready with financing for the twin hotels. They want to break ground by the end of Q2.

[LA_TN]

Originally Posted by Baronakim

I noticed from my office window that demolition of the old "Alamo" Women's Mission building at 8th & Demonbruen is now underway. Any idea if this is for the new hotels or just for site cleanup?

That site, from 8th to 7th fronting Demonbreun, is the site for the proposed Embassy Suites/Curio hotels. Plans have not been finalized, but still expecting construction to begin this year (late)