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.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Creating Place: Printers Alley update

First, let me apologize for not promptly responding to some questions some of you had in a previous post. I appreciate your patience. Sometimes I am no more on tops of things with this blog site as I am attentive to my ever-expanding waistline. (Whiskey and Indian buffets can be rough on the gut.)

That said, yesterday I noticed some tasteful changes at Printers Alley.

First, somebody hit on genius, thinking to paint the trash receptacles in the alley with old-school country music artists' names as the theme. I saw Johnny Trash, Dolly Carton and Loretta Bin. You would think this might be hokey but the effect is strong. (See the photos below.) Also, the aging parking garage (see below) that fronts Third Avenue and backs up to Hotel Indigo is being given a nice facelift. In addition, the vertical black banner for the Brass Stables has finally been reaffixed to its surface and looks vastly better. Lastly, multi-colored balloons welcome visitors into the alley. The overall effect is quite nice.

There is something about quirky, gritty and/or smallish public spaces — and Printers Alley is a fine example — that I have always found fascinating. Another nice example is Ryman Alley that runs along the back side of some Lower Broadway establishments, including the stellar Robert's Western World.




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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 24, 2013 at 7:13 AM

    I've not thought about Printer's Alley in many years. I recall that this used to be a prime nightclub area in the 1950's especially before Nashville became the first city in TN to pass liquor by the drink. After those days the Alley became less important and less well known.

    BTW William, what is the story with the Southern Land Co. high rise apt/retail project in Green Hills?

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    Replies
    1. William WilliamsJune 26, 2013 at 8:22 AM

      AMous,

      Sorry for the delayed response. I was in Indianapolis the past few days and took a break from the site.

      I'll have some update on Southern Land project soon.

      WW

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJune 24, 2013 at 10:30 PM

    Seeing this post makes me wonder exactly who the establishments in Printers Alley attracts as clients -- locals or tourists, or both?

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    Replies
    1. William WilliamsJune 26, 2013 at 8:23 AM

      AMous,

      Both. Lots of locals hit Sam's Sushi, Fleet Street Pub and Bourbon Street Blues.

      WW

      Delete

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