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.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Creating Places: Hayes Street structure of note

Does anybody know the history of this Midtown building? Located in the 1700 block of Hayes Street, the structure (see below courtesy of Google Maps) sits catty-corner from the West End Summit site. There are multiple features I find attractive, with perhaps the main one being the pronounced eaves. I also like the light gray brick. I assume this was once a residential building. Now it accommodates offices. Any info is appreciated.










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6 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 28, 2013 at 8:24 AM

    All I can add is that I remember this building housed offices as far back as the early 1960's. Hayes Street was always a street with a lot of medical offices and many of those looked like small houses -- some of those still survive. In addition to nearby Vanderbilt and Baptist Hospitals, St. Thomas Hospital was located at 2000 Hayes Street until it moved to Harding Road in the 1970's. I'm sure this building is quite valuable now given its proximity to West End Summit. I also find it a very attractive building and hope it has a much longer life.

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  2. AlMarch 28, 2013 at 8:25 AM

    It is indeed a nifty looking building. I've often driven by it and admired the little courtyard in the middle. Satellite view here: http://goo.gl/maps/rUu4U Also, the balconies are nice.

    Google says there's an architectural firm in the building, Maybe they'd have some info.

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  3. AnonymousMarch 28, 2013 at 11:36 AM

    I commented a few weeks back in the Midtown post. I saw your post and thought I'd call up my grandfather to see if he had any recollection of the building.

    He grew up just a few blocks away, a little farther down Hayes, across from the Lee Apartments. He says the building was indeed an apartment building, and has been there for as long as he can remember. This puts the building at least around 80 years old. His grandmother lived directly across 17th in a house (I just learned that today!), which was later converted into a restaurant. Incidentally, the house was torn down and the lot converted into parking for the lab next door after the 1998 tornado ripped off the roof. I digress: She moved into the apartment building after she sold her house, overlooking 17th so she could see her old home. She lived there until her death. Sometime after that it was converted into offices.

    Cheers!

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    Replies
    1. William WilliamsMarch 28, 2013 at 11:07 PM

      AMous,

      Great story. Some wonderful history. My father (he's 81 now) grew up in North Nashville and has all kind of interesting perspective on "old urban Nashville."

      Thanks for sharing,

      WW

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  4. Doctor WuApril 8, 2013 at 7:45 AM

    I carried the Tennessean and the Banner in this structure when I was a kid back in the 50's. As best as I can remember, it was a red brick apartment house. I moved from the area in the late 50s and don't know what happened to it afterward.

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