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.
01
Metro Historic Restructuring
3/20/25: On March 18, the Metro Nashville Council voted 24-11 in favor of bill BL2025-742 aiming to restructure Nashville's historic preservation staff in an effort to streamline decision-making, enhance coordination, and align historic preservation efforts with broader urban planning strategies. The passage of the bill also halted larger sweeping state legislation threatening to hinder historical oversight.
PSN views this as a critical opportunity to forge a comprehensive approach to historic preservation in Nashville. As we move forward, its within our mission to advocate for implementing preservation-based solutions. This includes allocating resources for expediting changes, supporting staff through these organizational shifts, providing tools for preservation efforts, and championing responsible development.
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02
Metro Housing & Infrastructure Study
3/13/25: The Housing & Infrastructure Study was generated from Metro Council Resolution 2024-288, which requests several Metro departments create a comprehensive report of recommended policy and regulatory changes that would increase, where appropriate, permitted housing types and density in the city supported by existing and planned infrastructure.
The goal of the study would be to inform recommendations that will bridge the gap between the housing needs in our city and the amount of housing that our current zoning and legislation could create or allow.
There were several community meeting in March. Watch one of the meetings here: WATCH MEETING >>
The next steps are:
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Initial Findings Report (End of March 2025)
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Metropolitan Council Joint Planning and Zoning Committee - Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting (March 24, 2025)
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Continued Community Engagement (April-May 2025)
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Recommendations Report to Metro Council (June 2025)
PSN is highly engaged in this process, monitoring potential implications or impacts to Nashville's historic resources. Stay tuned to our e-newsletter for updates and how you can engage with this public process!
Please also visit Metro's Housing & Infrastructure website to view numerous resources, past meeting videos, and more!
03
Prospective Marlin Meadows Neighborhood Conservation Overlay
3/13/25: Councilmember Hancock filed legislation for a neighborhood conservation zoning overlay for Marlin Meadows. The Metro Historic Zoning Commission has recommended approval, and the bill is proposed to be on the Planning Commission’s April 24 agenda. At this time, boundaries include: School Pass, Allen Pass, Canton Pass, portions of Coggin Pass, Nix Pass River Pass, Peeler Trail, Rivercrest, Jasperson Dr, Center Street and portions of Neels Bend Rd and Berwick Trail. Madison’s proximity to Nashville, easy access to a new highway, and prime location near the Cumberland River made it a highly attractive spot to buy a home in the years following WWII. The Marlin Meadows neighborhood is significant for its reflection of these development patterns, as well as its excellent collection of historic homes representing popular mid-century architectural styles and materials.
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04
Prospective Green Hills East Neighborhood Conservation Overlay
1/14/25: The first subdivision in the Green Hills area is exploring the possibility of a neighborhood conservation overlay. Councilmember Jeff Preptit is hosting a community meeting on January 28, 2025 at 5:30PM at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee office (3421 Belmont Blvd.) to discuss the possibility of a neighborhood conservation zoning overlay. The neighborhood has already hosted a series of six smaller meetings. Current boundaries include Green Hills Dr., Bonner Ave., Eden Ave., N. and S. Observatory Drives, Observatory Court, and Burton Ave. This district is the namesake for the larger Green Hills area and is significant for its representation of the national initiative to promote home ownership and educate about modern materials and construction practices, beginning in the late 1920s.
05
Walter Stokes School
1/14/25: In October 2024, PSN met with the councilmember of the district. Our understanding is that Metro Schools and Metro Nashville Government are reevaluating the plans for this site.
PSN will keep you updated on the fate of the building as more information is available.
Based on our research, below is what we know about the property status:
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A demolition permit was pulled in June 2024 by a contractor working on the project.
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The school was surveyed by Metro Historical Commission staff and was designated a historic resource and National Register eligible (NRE).
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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.
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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.
Photo Credit: Living New Deal
06
Colemere Manor
1/14/25: Following months of advocacy to save the building, in November 2024, PSN met with Councilmember Russ Bradford to learn more about a recent initiative to preserve the structure. Over the last several months, CM Bradford and other area community members have formed the official "Historic Colemere Preservation Society" in hopes of working with the property owner, the Metro Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA), to relocate the building. The new 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is currently seeking board member with historic preservation, fundraising, and marketing and communications experience. To learn more about their efforts and to get involved, please contact either Russ Bradford at j.russell.bradford@gmail.com or John Horton at legal@kinghospitalitygroup.com.
We will keep you updated of any new information as it arises.
07
Belle Meade Theatre
1/14/25: In November and December 2024, PSN continued meetings with area residents, business owners, elected officials, and key influencers for this project. In addition, the group participated in a meeting with NDOT for an update on the traffic analysis and long-term planning for the Harding corridor as multiple developments proceed forward.
PSN continues to pursue the structural engineering reports for the historic marquee and spire, a current site plan with building elevations and floor plans, and a site survey from the development team.
As of January 14th, an updated development plan has not been formally submitted nor has the developer applied for another hearing with the Metro Planning Commission. The last publicly available versions of the plan are dated September 2023.
Once updated plans are received, PSN will review them against the organization's original recommendations (at the link below), and will continue with various advocacy strategies to preserve the viable and historically significant resources of the site.
08
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.