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The Prescott Group has announced the results of the Rock Harbor Marina (Rock Harbor) community survey and is moving forward with its redevelopment. With over 500 participants to date, the developer expressed that the responses were overwhelmingly positive, with ideas ranging from water taxis to outdoor spaces for dining, live music and movie nights. The survey,” Enabling Nashvillians to share their own visions for Rock Harbor’s future”, was made available in June 2023 as part of the marina’s new website, which will also offer construction updates and leasing opportunities. Rock Harbor Marina is located at 525 Basswood Avenue, Nashville, TN 37209, and Mile Marker 175 on the Cumberland River.
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“As stewards of this historic part of Nashville, we are beyond grateful to receive this outpouring of feedback and support from the community,” said Prescott Group Regional Manager Wes O’Quinn. “Our neighbors have high expectations for the work we’ll be doing here, and we’re excited to collaborate with them as we build a space that truly reflects their priorities.”
Rock Harbor is one of Middle Tennessee’s long-time hubs for Cumberland River activities and the closest full-service marina to downtown Nashville. The marina’s owner, Prescott Group, is working to ensure that the marina’s development is done in conjunction with local residents’ desires. The next phase will combine community input with carefully selected retail partners to serve Nashville in the most efficient and effective ways possible.
One notably high response rate came in support of “Active Enjoyment (i.e. gym, pickleball, golf simulator, etc.)” with almost 50% of respondents in favor. Prescott Group has noted that answers like these serve as the catalysts for their development decisions, made in lockstep with the community. Other neighbors outlined their desire for further education and environmentally focused activities. One response requested “Enrichment or classes about the Cumberland with some hands on learning about conservation and watershed protection.” This trend continued throughout the survey, with many respondents emphasizing their expectations for sustainability and their excitement for a neighborhood win.
Rock Harbor has long served as an anchor for Nashville’s Charlotte Park neighborhood, which has experienced sizable private investment in recent years. New features have included restaurants and activity venues such as Tee-Line to multi-purpose developments like Breeze Block that brought about shops, offices and townhomes. As a one-of-a-kind gateway to the Cumberland River, Rock Harbor will be a catalyst for future growth in Charlotte Park and help strengthen its identity as Nashville’s latest cultural hub.
Earlier this month, a request to change policy from District Impact (DI) and Conservation (CO) to Urban Mixed-Use Neighborhood (T4 MU) for the marina and the adjacent property on Basswood Avenue. The study area for this request totals 41.83 acres. The developer has also submitted a new request to rezone the property to SP Zoning for approximately 30 acres. Once approved, the permit will advance the mixed-use active marina. The request was submitted by Centric Architecture on behalf of the property owners. Here’s the quick rundown:
Rock Harbor Marina
525 Basswood Avenue
| What’s Now | Marina |
| What’s Next | Mixed-Use Marina Distict |
| Developer | Prescott Company |
| Financing | Truxton Trust |
| Architect | Centric Architecture |
| Civil | Fulmer Lucas |
| Contractor | RC Mathews |
The plan is divided into 5 blocks, each with their own design standards. Some notable proposed uses for the site include multifamily, outdoor music event uses, Hotel, STR, country club, heliport/airport uses, structured parking, and indoor/outdoor amusement. As it relates to building height overall max heights range from 2 – 6 stories tall. The proposed building height breakdown per block is shown below:
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- Block 1 – 6 stories.
- Block 2 – 3 stories.
- Block 3 – 4 stories.
- Block 4 – 2 stories.
- Block 5 – 3 stories.
“With both sides of the river undergoing massive growth, we understand the need to not only be accountable to ourselves, but really to the whole city and the environment in which we operate,” said O’Quinn. “Being such a staple of this town, Rock Harbor will be here long after any of us, so it’s important to recognize our roles in both preserving the space’s natural beauty as well as designing a space the community can be proud of and gather in for generations to come.”
This news comes on the heels of further accolades, as Rock Harbor was awarded “Clean Marina” status by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District this past summer. The designation is given to public and private partners who have demonstrated exceptional care and consideration for the environment in a proactive manner. The ‘Clean Marina’ status requires meticulous sewage management, fuel management, recycling, public education and many other qualities necessary to protect the local environment and preserve it for future generations.
For previous coverage of Rock Harbor Marina tap the banner below the sponsorship grid; check back for coverage on the proposed traffic improvements.
The West Nashville Plan Amendment is scheduled for the 1/11/2024 Metro Planning Commission Agenda.
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