Advocacy Tracker

One of the core pillars of the Preservation Society of Nashville's work is advocacy. We truly believe that broad-scale, impactful, and lasting preservation change will happen in City Hall and in board rooms sitting across from developers and property owners. Follow our key advocacy work through this tracker page. Know of a property that should be on our radar? Email us at hello@preservenashville.com for us to investigate further.

Belle Meade Theatre

9/5/24: As of September 5th, the development team is still working through NDOT changes and considerations to traffic impacts. PSN continues to follow up with the development team and council member regularly.

PSN has recently requested the structural engineering report for the historic marquee and spire, a current site plan with building elevations and floor plans, and a site survey. The last publicly available versions of these were dated September 2023. Once these materials are received, PSN will review against its original preservation recommendations, which can be viewed at the Learn More button below.

Learn More

Colemere Manor

7/23/24: As of July 23rd, PSN has learned that MNAA has begun the Section 106 review process, as outlined by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. That process seeks to accommodate historic preservation concerns through consultation among the agency official (Tennessee Historical Commission) and other parties with an interest in the effects of the undertaking on the historic property. The goal is to identify ways to avoid, minimize or mitigate any adverse effects on the historic property. PSN has also been made aware that there are interested parties willing to support a move of the historic structure. Such a venture would require nearby land to relocate, thoughtful planning and preparation.

PSN has reached out to interested councilmembers and MNAA directly offering our expertise and resources, and we continue to be open to any preservation-minded role that PSN can play for this important historic resource. We will keep you updated of any new information as it arises.

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Engine Company No. 13 Firehouse

9/9/24: Over the last four months, PSN has taken exhaustive steps to save this historic building. Those steps include:

Research: In mid-May as soon as PSN learned of the demo permit being issued, the organization began historic research through Newspapers.com and other online sources to best convey the historical significance of the building.
Property Owner Communications:
- First Communication: on May 14th, PSN communicated the researched historical significance of the building to the property owners and offered to meet with them to find a creative solution to integrated the building into their proposed development.
- Second Communication: On June 14th, PSN communicated again with the property owners, offering resources to photograph and document the building.
Awareness, Advocacy, and Education: For the last four months, PSN has advocated for the preservation of the property through all its public channels and platforms. Using social media, email, and meetings, PSN made sure its supporters were aware of the threat and how they could support the advocacy efforts to preserve the building.
Council Member Communications: At several points over the last few months, PSN communicated with the council member expressing the building's historical significance and offering to support any preservation-minded ideas or conversations with the property owner.
Community Meeting Support: On August 8th, PSN attended and spoke at a community meeting organized by the council member.

Unfortunately, in historic preservation work, you can't save every building, and in this instance, it appears the property owner was determined to demolish the site regardless of the resources available to support a different outcome. As preservationists, it's difficult to accept this fate after so much effort and overall community sentiment to save the resource was abundantly apparent. Let's use this loss to motivate us to continue our important efforts to influence preservation-minded outcomes across our city.

201-205 Broadway Infill

9/9/24: PSN is happy to report that prior to the 8/21 Historic Zoning Commission meeting, the developer had amended their submission, specifically addressing the height variance they were originally seeking.

Metro staff recommended approval with conditions in order to fully comply with the Broadway Historic Preservation Zoning Overlay design guidelines for new construction. The motion for approval with conditions passed unanimously. Learn more about this development here.

We consider this a win for preservation, helping to manage development and prevent new height precedents in the Broadway corridor.

Photo Credit: News Channel 5 - Sky 5

Photo Credit: Living New Deal

Walter Stokes School

9/9/24: Despite PSN's best efforts to meet with the council member regarding the future of the school, no meeting has been secured.

Based on our research, below is what we know about the property status:

A demolition permit was pulled in June 2024 by a contractor working on the project.
The school was surveyed by Metro Historical Commission staff and was designated a historic resource and National Register eligible (NRE).
Based on its NRE status, Historical Commission staff placed a 90-day hold on the demolition permit. In the time since the hold, Metro staff have discussed options for rehab and reuse of the building with Metro Schools and the council member, as well as documented architecturally significant aspects of the building. Unfortunately, during this documentation, staff discovered a number of changes to the building, including loss of original historic windows and many of the historic doors. The demo hold just expired on 9/8/24.
Metro staff have attempted to reach out to neighborhood contacts who had been active in local historic preservation efforts. Unfortunately, those contacts did not respond. In addition, Metro Schools and the council member held a community meeting in August to discuss the property. Their assessment was there was little concern from the community about the building being demolished. However, there was expressed desire to continue to use the property as a school.
Ultimately, Metro Schools will decide if the building will be demolished and/or how the building will be used. PSN will keep you updated on the fate of the building as their plans unfold.

Metro Schools owns a few other historic school buildings. PSN will work to educate Metro Schools on the importance and opportunity to landmark and protect these other structures.

Prospective Elliston Place Rock Block Historic Preservation Overlay

9/10/24: Ridgefield Properties has filed for a Historic Preservation Zoning Overlay to include most of the buildings on the southeast side of the Elliston Place Rock Block. The Rock Block was known for its fashion, food, entertainment, and music-related stores, which together created a bohemian atmosphere that enriched and supported Nashville’s rock and alternative music scene. The potential historic preservation zoning overlay for the Elliston Place Rock Block has received a positive recommendation and adoption of design guidelines from the Metro Historic Zoning Commission (MHZC) and a positive recommendation from the Planning Commission. If given final approval from Metro Council next month, the Rock Block will be the 10th historic preservation zoning overlay in the city.

PSN supports this overlay and will send a letter of support to Metro Council for next month's meeting.

Photo Credit: Tracy and Duane Marstellar

Prospective Douglas Corner Historic Preservation Overlay

6/14/24: On May 20th, the Metro Historic Zoning staff hosted a virtual community meeting with a few building owners in this area. The staff has been actively trying to make contact directly with property owners who did not attend the meeting. As more information becomes available regarding this potential overlay, PSN will keep you updated.