Creating Places: A Citizen Observer's Look at Nashville's Built Environment


Writer's Note: William Williams' interest in the manmade environment dates to 1970, at which point the then-young Williams started a collection of postcards of city skylines. The collection now numbers 1,000-plus cards. Among the writer's specific interests are exterior building design, city district planning, demographics, signage, mixed-use development, mass transit and green/sustainable construction and living. Williams began his Creating Places column with The City Paper in February 2005. The column in its original form was discontinued in September 2008 and reinvented via this blog in November 2008. Creating Places can be found on the home page of the website of The City Paper, at which Williams has worked in various capacities since October 2000.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Creating Places: More tidbits

A few observations as the night concludes and I ponder whether I would be tempted to say, were I to meet him, Jonathan Goldsmith — the actor who plays The Most Interesting Man in the World in the TV commercials — the following: "I often drink beer and when I do, I prefer craft beer instead of mass-produced stuff like Dos Equis."

* The newly painted grain silo at Yazoo looks very cool. Take a look.

 

* Relatedly, and only a few yards from the Yazoo building, the Gulch structure home to Colts Chocolates is getting a mural. Reminds me — at least so far — of the tasteful mural on the side of the 12South building home to The Filling Station. I'm optimistic this will be a fine addition to Overton Street.



Here is a look at the proposed addition to the Centennial Sportsplex. I believe it will be oriented in such a way as to not — like the other buildings within the complex — address a public street. That's disappointing but not necessarily surprising given various factors, including the limited amount of space along 25th and on which any new building could front. Of note, this building looks vastly better than the existing structures on the site. But, so would about 99 percent of the buildings ever constructed in Nashville.



* The parking garage at the 23Hundred at Berry Hill site is quite tall. The developer told me during a recent phone chat that the apartment building could stand 60 feet at its tallest point.

* I've learned from a trusted source that more smallish residential infill is planned for Germantown and Salemtown.



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12 comments:

  1. In regards to the Colts Chocolate signage, this building seems to get tagged by "Panda" every couple of months. I believe they just hit it this past weekend. The view of my condo looks directly at this property/Yazoo. Hopefully they won't ruin this beautiful signage.

    And on that note, has anyone else noticed how much tagging he's been doing on the beautiful brick/industrial buildings around town? To me, it doesn't get much more disrespectful than putting your mark (and a terrible one at that) on someone else's property.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AMous,

      Agree 100 percent. The person doing this simply has no respect for society. It's sad.

      WW

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  2. I hope we start to see Germantown's momentum spill over into Historic Buena Vista soon.

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    Replies
    1. AMous,

      We've seen some rehabs and new construction. But I don't anticipate seeing much multi-unit construction in BVista.

      WW

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  3. William - what's the latest on Tony G's SoBro Tower? Will that project ever get going? Seems like he's turned his energies to hotels now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AMous,

      I continue to hear different things on TG's SoBro tower. Not sure what to think.

      WW

      Delete
  4. I like the current tennis center. It has prairie house-like proportions. That said, I look forward to using the new fitness and tennis facilities.

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    Replies
    1. Tom,

      I was once a member at the Plex and really enjoyed the facility.

      WW

      Delete
  5. " mass-produced stuff like Dos Equis."

    Better yet, "horse-piss stuff...."
    -----------------------------

    As to "tagging" it doesn't help at all that some artsy types and some media will wax eloquently about the "artistic" value of grafitti vandalism.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AMous,

      I've never seen or heard an artsy type or media member praise vandalism. And If I did I would be highly offended. There is no excuse for these taggers. They are committing a crime and are anti-social and deserve to be prosecuted. In contrast, if a business owner hires a person who can create interesting forms and colors with spray paint and has that person do a mural on his business building's wall, I'm cool with that.

      WW

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  6. I think he's probably referring to the Banksy types.

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    Replies
    1. The man does quality work but if it's not authorized, it's vandalism. And I have no patience for it.

      But better Banksy than the junk we get in this town.

      Delete