This series was created in partnership with the Nashville Mayor’s office and Metro Nashville Planning Department to inform residents and stakeholders of the ongoing, planned, and future expansion of the East Bank objectively and interactively. The series will cover the Master Development Plan, Flood Mitigation & Resiliency, Multimodal Infrastructure, as well as Parks & Greenways.
The Planning Commission unanimously adopted the Imagine East Bank, October 2022, following 21 months of community engagement. The plan recognizes the East Bank as a rare opportunity to shape Nashville’s “Next great chapter”. Metro Planning is currently in the process of bringing on a master developer for the first phase of the East Bank redevelopment. This includes participation from Small and Minority, Women Business Enterprises (“MWBE”) businesses for both direct contracts and subcontracts. Additionally, Imagine East Bank envisions a strategic hiring of local residents for opportunities and workforce training.
The Nashville East Bank is a collection of public and private land situated between the eastern edge of the Cumberland River and Interstate 24. From a landmark perspective, it spans from the planned Oracle campus to the Titans Stadium.
The mobility infrastructure to support the new development includes the extension of planned pedestrian ways, parks, and other mobility networks to adjacent neighborhoods at both the local and regional scale. Some examples include the East Bank multimodal boulevard, pedestrian connections across I-24 at Cleveland Street & Gay Streets, as well as multimodal connections across the river. Infrastructure improvements will require coordination with CSX, landowners, and other stakeholders to realize the plan’s true potential.
We have a major collector-distributor street plan that we have developed to create the street grid for the East Bank. We will work with the private sector to guide them on improvements around their private property and to ensure they meet our standards. The goal was to ensure that planning around access was considered at the beginning of the development process.
Lucy Kempf, Executive Director – Metro Planning Department
Slide the image to see the previous vs current plan.
Shown for context only.
The first phase of development will include approximately 30-acres of city owned land within the 338-acre Imagine East Bank development area. This 30-acres is situated in the Central Waterfront District and will replace a portion of the existing Titans surface parking lots. Phase 1 will span from Korean Veterans Blvd. to Main Street and consists of 7 parcels (A-E) surrounding the new stadium site. There are two new parcels (A&B) to the North of the new stadium and 5 (C-G) are to the South; the parcels range in size from approximately 2-4 acres. Slide the image below see What’s Now & Next for phase 1.
Current uses within the Central Waterfront consists of the Titans Stadium, roughly 7,500 surface parking spaces, 2 hotels, Cumberland Park, an existing greenway, the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, and the Juvenile Court building. Overall, the Central Waterfront maintains the strongest level of pedestrian connectivity between Downtown and East Nashville. The phasing of the Central Waterfront District will allow the current Nissan stadium operations to continue while the new stadium is under construction. Be sure to subscribe for updates as they become available from the Titans Front Office.
Mobility Hub
The mobility hub is located in Parcel A which is Lot E today. Today, Parcel A is bordered by James Robertson Pkwy and Woodland Street to the North & South – South 1st and 2nd streets are to the East & West, but 1st and 2nd will be realigned to accommodate the new development street grid. The mobility hub will be strategically located on the East Bank multimodal boulevard. The Hub will be operated by WeGo Public Transit (Metro’s transit authority) (“WeGo”), with affordable housing on top.
Affordable housing is another critical component of the Imagine East Bank plan. The East Bank represents a rare opportunity to establish a true mixed income community from deeply affordable to market rate. The master developer will be responsible for developing a plan to best achieve the goals of Imagine East Bank. Metro Planning may hold back parcels if the developer’s plan doesn’t adequately address affordability and develop them independently.
Image courtesy of Baker Barrios.
New development density coupled with stadium operations make the transit hub a key ingredient for the East Bank’s viability. The location, planning, and operation of the mobility hub can set a precedent for peer cities to learn from and be an example for how Nashville can expand transit across the county.
Slide the image to see What’s Now & Next.
Shown for context only.
The Exhibit from the RFQ above depicts a potential concept for the mobility hub site. The mobility hub is intended to provide a centralized transfer point for local service, and will strategically fit within a broader system of hubs for regional bus service. The plan notes that the street level of the hub should include organized access points for buses and a small service center. The Master Developer will be responsible for creating the framework to incorporate the affordable housing above the hub as well as space for WeGo and other Metro objectives.
Generally, Mobility Hubs are built around frequent and high-capacity transit. They are intended to provide a safe, comfortable, convenient, and accessible space to seamlessly transfer from one type of transportation to another. According to the Shared Use Mobility Center, strategies for planning mobility hubs should:
- Build around strong transit stops.
- Incorporate electrification.
- Leverage momentum in transit-oriented development.
- Ensure users’ safety.
- Emphasize comfort and a seamless pedestrian experience.
- Offer a sense of place.
- Provide plenty of options
- Support seamless transfers and integration into the surrounding neighborhood through well designed wayfinding
- Make mobility hubs visible
- Market and educate the public.
Stadium Village
The new Titans Stadium will be situated along interstate drive, and anchored centrally in what is Lot B today. The LaQuinta Inn and Comfort Inns & Suites are located to the East while the current Nissan Stadium is located to the West. The Stadium Village is located in parcels B & C which are immediately to the North and South of the new stadium.
The City anticipates the stadium village being developed concurrently with the new Stadium and will function in a manner that supports stadium events and the overall development. It is anticipated that the villages will include active retail, hotel, restaurants, and residential development.
Slide the image to see What’s Now & Next.
Shown for context only.
The Titans will have access to a portion of the acreage within the Parcel B for media staging areas and Titans‐controlled parking. There may also be interim construction staging there as well. The plan anticipates Parcel C as the gateway to the Stadium on game day. There is also a plaza area located adjacent to Parcel C.
Metro Planning believes that the design and functionality of this area should emphasize placemaking. Given the use rights between the City and the Titans, this could present an opportunity to partner with the Titans on branding and programing. Slide the image below for a look at the Parcel C Plaza.
Slide the image to see What’s Now & Next.
Parcel C Plaza – Shown for context only.
Cultural Uses & Placemaking
Metro envisions potential cultural uses as another key component of the East Bank. The plan envisions uses such as museums, theaters, galleries, strategies for public art, and/or civic and cultural spaces to be grouped around existing bridges. Parcels D,E, F, and G are situated around the Korean Veterans Blvd, the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, and Shelby Avenue which would be the ideal locations for the proposed uses.
Slide the image to see What’s Now & Next.
Shown for context only.
Metro and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) are working towards an agreement to locate the new performing arts center on the East Bank. In this year’s State budget, TPAC received $200 Million in funding to relocate from its current facility. It is expected in the 2023-24 budget for TPAC to receive an additional $300 million. TPAC expects to match the State’s contribution with private philanthropic contributions 5:1 to support the relocation.
This $500 million total investment is based on a study conducted by the State estimating the costs for repair and renovation of the existing facility. Local design firm EOA Architects is partnering with international design firm Bjarke Ingles Group (BIG) on the design of the new facility. The images below are performing art centers from BIG’s portfolio.
Imagine East Bank envisions unique neighborhoods that reinforce a strong sense of place, including an exceptional pedestrian‐level experience and high‐quality ground plane. The design and scale of the pedestrian places and programming for public spaces is integral to the Vision. Riverfront image from the Imagine East Bank Study.
Slide the image to see What’s Now & Next.
Shown for context only.
Metro Planning is currently in Round 3 of 3 in the RFP process for a Master Developer for the 1st phase of the East Bank. They anticipate the final selection by the end of the Summer 2023. Be sure to subscribe to be notified of the Part 2 of this series. For more on the East Bank Vision tap the article in the banner below.
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