California Ave Project Proposal Update
For Nations Residents and Businesses
There’s been a lot of talk about a proposed project on📍5901 California Ave in the Nations. I want to ensure neighbors are receive information on the matter.
Below is a comprehensive timeline and in-depth summary of the property and recent proposals:
Background:
In February 2023, my predecessor, Councilmember Mary Carolyn Roberts, approved an SP for this industrial site. The SP allows the industrial site to be redeveloped into mixed use. The original SP included:
300 apartment units
51,000 sqft of commercial space
It’s been over three years since that SP was approved and not a single developer has been able to make the math work. One developer has expressed a desire to amend the SP and finally redevelop this industrial site.
Amendment Proposal:
Wood Partners wants to remove the requirement to reuse the original metal industrial building and commercial component from the SP.
The developer’s representative says the original industrial building is unusable due to damage caused by vandals, who stripped the structure of all copper, electrical wiring and ruined most of the mechanical systems.
As for the commercial component, the developer claims it’s not financially feasible, indicating lenders will not loan developers funds for the current SP because they don’t see the commercial component as viable. They cite the location and lack of commercial demand.
Location: California is not a heavily trafficked street.
Lack of Commercial Demand: The Nation’s has a large amount of unleased commercial space (approx. 100,000sf of existing vacant commercial).
1st Community Meeting:
I asked the developer’s representative to share the redevelopment idea and rationale with the community. He did. On Monday, January 5th he met with the Nation’s Neighborhood Association’s Planning and Zoning Committee. No one at the community meeting opposed the plan.
However, after David Baird, who serves as Co-Chair of the Nations Neighborhood Association’s Planning and Zoning Committee emailed out the meeting notes, several individuals expressed concern.
They were upset about the removal of retail space. I share their disappointment. I live on New York Ave (one street over) and would have loved to see 50,000 sqft of retail space. We all want new neighborhood businesses.
2nd Community Meeting:
So I asked the developer’s representative to come to a second community meeting to speak again about his proposal. On Monday, February 9th, he did. After the meeting, he asked the neighborhood to give Wood Partners time to come up with a compromise. They did.
Compromise Proposal:
Their proposed compromise designates more than 5,000 square feet of the site for future commercial space. This area is separate from the apartments and would be prepped with utilities and ready for construction once a tenant is secured. Until then, the developer has committed to opening a food truck court and picnic area similar to the Lost and Found Food Truck Park in East Nashville.
Important Note: Wood Partners proposed compromise includes no additional apartment units from the original SP.
Upcoming Community Meeting:
Upon my request, Wood Partners (the developer) is coming back to the neighborhood for a third community meeting to present the proposed compromise. Below are the meeting details:
🗓️Monday, April 6th
⏰6:00 PM
📍Building Ideas
‼️This meeting is for Nations residents and business owners only.
If the neighborhood does not support the proposed amendment/rezoning, Wood Partners will not be drawing up another site proposal. The site will be sold to somebody else.
According to the current owners of the property, if sold, the site would likely stay industrial because the purchaser would have to build the exact SP as originally approved or continue using it as industrial. In the 3 years this property has been marketed, there hasn’t been a buyer who could make the current SP work structurally or financially.
Here are the options we have in our hands:
✅Support the SP Amendment/Rezoning: The site will be redeveloped into apartments and have a food truck park until/if an interested commercial tenant comes along.
❌Oppose the SP Amendment/Rezoning: The developer will sell the site to someone who will likely continue using it as an industrial use.
The arguments to support:
Support & Attract Businesses: New neighbors help support our current neighborhood businesses and attract new ones. Businesses are powered by people aka customers and move into areas with more people.
Improve Community Safety: This industrial building has become a haven for vandals and homeless individuals. Redeveloping the industrial site with the proposed plan would help address community safety concerns.
The arguments to oppose:
Prefer Industrial: Some have said they would prefer an industrial business there over apartments/food trucks. People who prefer industrial sites/businesses should oppose this plan.
I encourage all Nations residents and business owners to come to this community meeting to learn more about the proposed plan and form their own opinions.
🗓️Monday, April 6th
⏰6:30 PM
📍Building Ideas
‼️This meeting is for Nations residents and business owners only.