Developer, AJ Capital Partners has plans to transform the Bell Meade Plaza shopping center into a new mixed-use district. The property is located at the border of the Belle Meade city limits, near the intersection of White Bridge Pike and Harding Pike. The address is 4500 Harding Pike.



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Designed by Hastings and HPA , the plan includes 4 residential towers along Richland creek, one of which includes both residential and hotel uses. The plan also includes a Town Center retail plaza with 1 and 2 story buildings around a central public space, as well as new open space along Richland Creek.
A request has been submitted to rezone the property from MUL (Mixed-Use Limited) to SP zoning. Once approved, the request will permit the new mixed-use development on the 10.57 acres site. The request was made by Barge Cauthen & Associates on behalf of the property owners. Here’s the quick rundown:
Development Rundown

Belle Meade Plaza – Mixed Use
- What’s Now: Shopping Center
- What’s Next: Mixed-Use Development
- Developer: Adventurous Journeys
- Architect: Hastings / HPA
- Landscape: Hawkins Partners
- Civil: Barge Cauthen & Associates
- Council Person: Kathleen Murphy – Dist. 24
Preliminary Building Stats
- 11,12, & 14 Story Residential Towers
- 15 Story Hotel / Residential Tower
- 120 Max Condos Units
- 380 Max Rental Units
- 120 Max Hotel Rooms
- +/- 19,600 SF Residential Ground Floor Retail
- +\- 47,000 SF of Town Center Retail Space
- Underground Parking


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The overall project is divided into to two sites. Site A includes the 4 residential towers as well as the restoration and activation of Richland & Sugar Tree Creeks. Site B consists of the 5 retail buildings which make up the Town Center.
Site A

The 11 and 12-story condo towers (shown in blue) are located closest to where the Kroger is today. The building sits directly adjacent to the new platform park which proposes using part of the concrete slab of the Kroger. There is vehicle drop off at the roundabout in front of the building as well as programed open space in the rear of the property.
The 14 & 15-story towers (shown in purple) are located closest to White Bridge Pike. The 14-Story tower is proposed as rental apartments with street-level retail. The 15-story tower proposes a mix of both hotel and rental apartments with street-level retail. The two rental towers are situated between the Town Center facing Harding Place and to the newly activated riverwalk along Richland Creek. The riverwalk features an outdoor dining promenade, restored natural zones, elevated boardwalk, and future Greenways trail connections. The image below shows a view of the two residential towers from the Town Center public plaza.


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Site B

The Town Center proposes two 1-story retail buildings and three 2-story retail buildings which feature rooftop terraces. All 5 retail buildings feature outdoor dining space. The Town Center is anchored by a central park which leads to the activated Richland Creek riverwalk trail and Platform Park.

Overall site circulation uses the existing main road on Harding Pike near the center of the shopping center. The two smaller entrances on Harding Pike near the Starbucks & Kroger are removed. There is on street parking surrounding the Town Center and an underground parking garage which spans nearly the entire site.
Some of the public benefits noted in the plan includes new sidewalks and tree line along Harding Pike, restoration of Richland Creek & Sugar Tree Creek, nearly 7-acres of publicly accessible open space, new riverwalk trail and park, interactive water feature, bike racks & repair stations, and public dog park.
The project is slated for the 2/9/2023 Metro Planning Agenda.
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