Nashville Electric Service (NES) is planning to overhaul its Central substation in downtown Nashville. The existing central substation will be replaced with one nearly identical to the recently completed 11th Avenue substation in the Gulch. The new 11th Avenue substation was also the catalyst for the decommissioning of another existing substation near the YMCA & Nashville Yards which is slated for redevelopment. The new central substation is located at the corner of Gay Street & 2nd Avenue North.
The existing Central substation was built in 1914 as a privately owned coal-fired steam generation plant that fed the local area until the 1940’s. That plant was then converted from a generation plant to be fed from TVA’s transmission system. NES announced the start of engineering, planning, and design for the new substation in October of 2021. A request for final site plan approval was submitted late last week for the property which is currently zoned DTC. The request was made by TMPartners on behalf of NES. Here’s the quick rundown:
NES
Central Substation
| What’s Now: | Service Lot |
| What’s Next: | Power Substation |
| Developer: | NES |
| Architect: | TMPartners |
| Civil/Landscape: | RaganSmith |
| Structural: | Logan Patri Engineers |
| Contractor: | T.W. FRIERSON |
NES serves roughly a third of the downtown core business district from this substation, and upgrades to this substation will accompany the long-term growth of the downtown area. The plans note that the existing central substation will remain active during construction. NES plans to have the new substation complete by summer of 2025. The project is is slated for the 5/25/23 Metro Planning Agenda.
Be sure to subscribe for more on this and other Developments In & Around Nashville!
