The 2019 Music Issue Is On the Way!
Just a quick reminder that The East Nashvillian’s annual Music Issue is coming up in September, and you can still get an ad in this keepsake issue that brings the stories of Music City to life! Check out last year’s Music Issue and contact sales@theeasnashvillian.com asap to get your ad in the 2019 edition!
Metro Council Passes New Regulations for Airbnbs
At their Tuesday night meeting, the Metro Council passed on third reading new regulations for short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs, in many residential neighborhoods. The bill sets a deadline of Jan. 1, 2022 for issuing permits to non-residents property owners. After that date, short-term rental permits in residential multi-family zoning districts (RM Zones) will only be available to property owners that reside at that address.
The bill was prompted by the growing trend of outside investment firms buying property in residential areas to exploit as short-term rentals aimed at tourists, bachelor parties, and other groups. Such non-resident owner short-term rental units have led to a record number of complaints from nearby residents, along with reducing the amount of affordable housing in Nashville neighborhoods.
The full text of the bill is available on the Metro Council website. Complaints concerning short-term rentals in your neighborhood can be reported to Metro Codes by calling 435-STR-HELP (435-787-4357). Immediate concerns, such as noise complaints, should be reported to the Metro police department’s non-emergency number 615-862-8600.
Red Oaks Flat Groundbreaking at Envision Cayce
On Tuesday, Aug. 20, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for Red Oak Flats, the fifth new residential construction and fourth mixed-income development of the Envision Cayce project. Mayor David Briley, District 6 council person Brett Withers, representatives from the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA), the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several other elected officials were on hand for the ceremony.
The ongoing Envision Cayce project seeks to build over 2,000 new rental units in order to create a mixed-use, mixed-income community in East Nashville. The four-story Red Oak Flats will include 102 apartments, with 45 set aside for current Cayce Place residents and the other 57 units divided between subsidized PBRA (project-based rental assistance) housing, low cost “workforce” housing, and market-rate units. Red Oaks Flats will be along South Seventh Street and will also feature covered parking, a computer room, a large courtyard, and a playground. Each apartment also includes an outdoor space such as a balcony or porch, and several mature, trees will remain onsite to add to the appeal of the neighborhood.
Red Oak Flats is expected to be completed in early 2021. MDHA plans to break ground on the next two residential construction developments on Envision Cayce in summer 2020.
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Early Voting Start Today
Early voting in the 2019 Metropolitan run-off election begins today, Friday, Aug. 23, and runs through Saturday, Sept. 7, with the general election on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019. The ballot includes the office of Mayor, four seats for Council-at-Large, East Side District 7 council seat, and seats in several other council districts.
A complete, sample ballot is available at the Davidson County Election Commission website, along with a schedule of times and locations for early voting. Less than 24 percent of registered voters participated in the Aug. 1, 2019 general election. Don’t miss this opportunity to have your say in determining Nashville’s future.
Quick Bits
- From the department of “You’ve got to be @#$%ing kidding me” comes news of East Side real estate prices. Nashville Post reports that an East Nashville warehouse property located at 515 Foster St. recently sold for $6 million, more than four times the $1.35 million the same 7.1-acre site sold for in November 2014. Meanwhile, the Inglewood Auto Wash, a 0.33-acre property at 4018 Gallatin Pike was recently listed for $899,000, more than five times the $171,000 the property sold for in March 2015.
- The first East Nashville Night Flea is tonight at 400 Davidson St. The event’s Facebook page promises local vendors, food from a variety of local food trucks, and a scenic view of the Nashville skyline. Hours are 5-9 p.m. with free admission and parking.
- Grimey’s New and Preloved Music (1060 E. Trinity Lane) will be holding a listening party for country music legend and wild times survivor Tanya Tucker on Friday from 6-7 p.m. Produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings, While I’m Livin’ is Tucker’s first album of all-new music in 17 years. Grimey’s will also be serving up free pizza and cold beer (for those 21+ w/ valid ID) and holding a giveaway for signed copies of the new album on vinyl and CD and other goodies.
- Need a big dose of pure, undiluted RAWK? The underground rock ‘n’ roll and garage punk festival Sweet by Sweet Time 2: Sweet Time’s Revenge! takes over The 5 Spot Friday and Saturday with more than 20 bands on tap, including an all-ages bill on Saturday afternoon. As Sweet Time Booking head honcho, Ryan Sweeney, told The East Nashvillian, “I wanted to prove that you could book a killer rock ‘n’ roll show in Nashville and people would show up.” For the complete schedule, ticket prices, and more visit the festival’s Facebook event page.
- A rezoning proposal that could affect Nashville’s “Rock Block” (the row of businesses along Elliston Place between 21st and 24th Avenues South) was withdrawn by the sponsor of the bill, District 21 councilmember Ed Kindall, at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Metro council. Kindall took the action after protests from citizens in his district and others. As reported in last week’s newsletter, opponents to the proposal expressed concerns over it altering the character of the area, leading to the demise of many long-established businesses. In comments accompanying his withdrawal proposal, Kindall noted that the historic Louise Douglas Apartments could still be demolished under existing zoning regulations — a similar situation to the row of business on McGavock and Riverside, former home to Fond Object, that were demolished earlier this year despite the defeat of a rezoning and redevelopment proposal.
