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A quick post as I tap the toes to Thin Lizzy's groovy live version of "Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed" ...
Earlier today, I drove by Fatherland Flats, Chris McCarty's 48-unit apartment project taking shape in East Nashville. McCarty and his team, once finished, will have spent about $1 million on the multi-building effort (a photo of which is seen below). And though the rehab of what had been called 400 Fatherland (a painfully outdated utilitarian residential complex) will not render the exteriors notably attractive, the new-look FFlats structures should offer an acceptable presence as seen from the street. In addition, the interiors promise to be quite nice.
No doubt, given the original design, McCarty would have needed to flatten the buildings and start afresh had he wanted to deliver an exceptionally handsome building(s). But the former Seattle resident prefers reusing buildings and I commend him for taking that approach in this case.
The rehabbing will be concluded by the end of June with the development 75 percent leased (read more here).
Highly unattractive! Looks like a rehab done on the cheap and it shows.
ReplyDeleteAMous,
ReplyDeleteAre you basing your opinion on both the interior and exterior? I ask because the interiors will look very nice. They have been done on anything but the cheap.
WW
The windows look very cheap. Like a botched rehab of a 60's era apartment building. Maybe inside they are nicer, but not very attractive exteriors.
ReplyDeleteAMous,
DeleteThe complex was likely built in the 1960s or 70s, so the redevelopment team started "in a hole" with their effort. It's not easy to transform such bland design.
WW
This is a big upgrade from the existing condition.
ReplyDeleteFrom the exterior it's ugly. End of story.
ReplyDeleteBuildings with flat roofs are always a maintenance disaster.
ReplyDeleteIn my eye, this project falls FLAT!
ReplyDeleteJust more boxes, but at least they're not gray!
ReplyDeleteThere are plans for a 5-8 story condo building here in the next few years anyway. This is a temporary update until another project can take it's place.
ReplyDeleteLike it or not, budgets are budgets and you can't buy gold for 10 cents a pound. It's an improvement from previous.
ReplyDeleteI think they look nice compared to how they look before.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the press and defense William has provided on this forum. Any rehab of an older structure presents myriad challenges, especially from a design and budget perspective. From the beginning, I viewed the project as a covered land play. Many would have scrapped the buildings. In our case, we spent some money to fix them up and created an amazing community of residents who have been able to live near where they work. From some high profile chefs and hair stylists, to artists, entrepreneurs, teachers, non profit attorneys, and even a Resident- turned Attending at a local hospital. I will gladly sacrifice my design preferences in order to create community. We also wanted to keep our rents in the "workforce housing" range, and we have definitely accomplished that goal. Now, if only MDHA would do their part and help the neighborhood out by fixing up the fire station and the CWA Section 8 apartments they purchased, we'd be on to new heights all around. Even still, thanks to a rising tide in the Nashville market and the graciousness of our wonderful residents (many of whom I am happy to report have been here for 4 years), I will say that this project was a definite home run. Thank you again, William Williams!
ReplyDeleteBest, Chris McCarty
chris@dominionrea.com