Rutledge Hill Culinary Arts District To Usher In New Era In Nashville.

Joint Venture partners Essex Development and GBX Group are embarking on what could be one of the most unique opportunities in an emerging market in the Southeast this year. Situated in historic Rutledge Hill, the new mixed-use development proposes 3 skyline defining landmark towers and the preservation of the surrounding Victorian-era historic homes. Together, by combining the past with the future, the proposal will create a new culinary arts district in the upcoming South Bank area. The property encompasses nearly the entire city block and is located at 43 Hermitage Avenue.

Designed by Snohetta, the project includes 3 mixed-use towers rising to 17, 21, and 37-stories tall situated along Lea & Hermitage Avenues. The existing historic homes will be preserved and repurposed as culinary destinations like Husk which is located across the street. The project embraced the nearly 40-feet change in site topography between Rutledge Street & Hermitage Avenue and created a dynamic pedestrian experience through interconnected paseos.

Additionally, the new landscapes, sculptural tower forms, and unique buildings unique facades will also pay homage to the historic palette of the Victorian homes. Snohetta previously master-planned a multitude of elements within the new World Trade Center and the revamped Times Square in New York City. See the images below for previous project experience.

In an interview with Essex Development (Essex), the developer explained that they made an intentional effort to get feedback from the surrounding community. Elements such as the form of the buildings were designed to reduce the amount of shading to surrounding properties as well as the historic homes.  The developer is also considering incorporating services such as a walk-in clinic, potential police substation, and other community-based services.  Essex also shared that they’ve received letters of support from groups such as Nashville Children’s Theater who may potentially expand there and Historic Nashville Inc., in support of the preservation of the homes.  A link to those letters can be found below:

The project also serves as a major infill development and joins 9 other planned towers in the area. The addition of the proposed Rutledge Hill Historic and Culinary Arts District brings the new tower count to 12 within the South Bank boundary. The map below provides a sample of adjacent development projects for context.

A request for overall height modification has been submitted for the collection of properties located along Rutledge Street, Hermitage Avenue, and Middleton Street, zoned DTC. Once approved, the request will permit the mixed use development, on the 4.11-acre site. The request was submitted by Essex Development, on behalf of the property owners. Here’s the quick rundown:

The shortest tower comes in at 17-stories and is located at the corner of Rutledge Street and Lea Avenue. The 37 and 21-story towers are located along Hermitage Avenue and share the same podium. The tallest tower is located at the corner of Lea & Hermitage Avenues. The form of all three towers is tapered to allow maximum sunlight and air to pass through the site as a whole. The design for the new buildings, “Respects the prominence and prestige of the existing Victorian-era homes along Rutledge Street and Middleton Street, which are preserved and repurposed as a culinary district”, says Jai B. Patel with Essex Development.

Rutledge Street

The transformation along Rutledge Street is gradual as you traverse from Middleton Street to Lea Avenue. The existing 1 story structure on the corner will be demolished and rebuilt as a 2-story teaching kitchen and seasonally rotating restaurant, which carries the new architectural aesthetic along the pedestrian realm. The two historic homes will be preserved and are intended to become new food & beverage retail spaces. The commercial warehouse structure will be demolished and becomes a new food hall and 17-story mixed-use office/multifamily tower. The street level retail activation extends the length of the site along Rutledge Street.

Lea Avenue

The primary functions along Lea Avenue are centered around the residential uses and access to the internal plaza.  The residential lobby is centrally located on the building and is flanked by ground floor retail to the east and west.  The entrance into the parking garage is located closest to the existing public alley.  There is also a major access point to the public plaza where the existing alley is today (shown below).  The service entrance for the hotel is located near the corner of Lea & Hermitage Avenues.

Hermitage Avenue

Both towers along Hermitage Avenue are proposed as hotels with branded residential units above. Both hotel and residential lobbies, as well as the hotel drop-off and valet parking entrance, are located centrally between the two towers and internal to the property line. This will assist with potential traffic congestion along the metered lanes on Hermitage Ave. There is also food and beverage and cultural-use commercial space on the ground floor. The now closed Hermitage Cafe is currently being renovated and will return as Mr. J’s Hermitage Cafe.

Middleton Street

There are 3 historic properties on Middleton Street that will be preserved and used for food and beverage retail spaces. This side of the property also has multiple points of pedestrian circulation into the public plaza and bordering food and beverage spaces.

Public Plaza

The plaza is situated above the parking deck which spans the three new towers. There are 4 main gateways to the plaza located on each of the bordering streets. It is anchored by two large structures which will serve as the central marketplace. The developer envisions a mix of food & beverage, fashion and similar types of soft retail experiences within the market, with a focus on products and crafts from local and regional artisans. It also creates pedestrian centric gathering spaces which includes:

• The Teaching Kitchen is an incubator for aspiring restaurateurs featuring an iconic rooftop greenhouse.
• Dining Decks – Elevated outdoor dining spaces that give the historic Victorian homes a greater presence onsite.
• Greenmarket Square transforms into an outdoor extension of the Market during weekends and special events.
• The Middleton Garden features a bosque of Kentucky Coffee trees that provide dappled shade for visitors.

The plaza is divided into three tiers and maximizes the change in street elevation between Rutledge Street and Hermitage Avenue.

The project is slated for the 9/14/2023 Metro Planning Agenda. For more on tall buildings in Downtown Nashville, tap the banner below the sponsorship grid.

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