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This photo at left (courtesy of Daniel Mills, an Urban Planet Nashville forum member and a skilled camera man) nicely highlights the density being created in Midtown. I actually like the design (at least well enough) of the new Hilton Home2Suites (which is not visible in the aerial view but is located where at the V point in the lower right corner). Currently the geographic area bordered by West End Avenue on the north, 19th Avenue on the west, Division Street on the south and 17th Avenue on the east boasts nine structures of six floors or more floors (I'm counting the Hotel Indigo and Palmer Plaza parking structures as individual entities). If the Patel hotel project materializes (seemingly a major "if"), that's an even 10 good-size buildings within a very walkable slice of space. For a city of Nashville's size to have such building massing and density outside its central business district is rather impressive. Still (and as the aerial photo shows), there remains some dead space. The V-shape lot at Division and 19th (picture the cinderblock building home to Virginia's Market) and seen in the lower right corner of the photo is crying for redevelopment. Likewise the northwest corner of the area (visualize the buildings housing BP, Arby's, Midtown Cafe and Gigi's Cupcakes) is vastly underutilized. It will be very interesting to see how this relative geographically tight area unfolds during the next five years or so.
What's the status of the vacant lot adjoining the Hotel Hutton on West End? Isn't it slated to be some type of Marriott brand hotel?
ReplyDeleteAny news on the West End Summit? Such a prime spot, vacant land for quite a while now. Alex Palmer & Co. just doesn't seem to have its act together on this and other projects.
It would be interesting to have your commentary on the renovations of the TN State Capitol building. Apparently it's now closed until next January and the Governor's Office has relocated to the top floor of the Tennessee Tower.
I never have understood why Palmer Plaza is not lit up at night. All you see are 2 red dot lights at the top. I think if it were to have some dramatic lighting added, it would add to the midtown "skyline" at night. It's a good looking building, but you sure can't see it at night. Very odd.
ReplyDeleteA-Mous I and II,
ReplyDeletePalmer & Co. continues to work to make WES happen. I think we could see the project one day but in a very different iteration than its most recent. Of note, the company has enjoyed more successes than failures.
I have not followed the Capitol renovation much. It's a six-month effort with the focus on the electrical and plumbing lines.
As to Palmer Plaza's cap being lit, I like that idea. But it would come at a cost. Not sure Palmer & Co. could justify. Most buildings with decorative and/or lit crowns 1. are located in central business districts; 2. rise at least 300 feet tall or 3. have an anchor/naming rights tenant or 4. all three. PPlaza doesn't really fit the mold but it would be cool.
WW
What about the vacant land right next to the Hutton Hotel? Is is still planned as a Marriott brand hotel, or what? Any news on that prime West End space?
ReplyDeleteA husband-wife development team (the Patels) want to build, but it seems the project has reached an indefinite delay.
ReplyDeleteWW
Say what you will about density, I hope Midtown Cafe is able to survive or at least stay in the area. The dining room needs a renovation, but Nashville only has so many institutions like Midtown left.
ReplyDelete