Demonbreun Hill is an upcoming mixed-use development which will stretch nearly the entire length of Demonbreun Street and a portion of McGavock Street between 14th & 16th Avenues in Midtown. The project was first proposed back in 2015 and since that time the concept continues to evolve as the developers Hall Emery & Woodfield continue to assess the best use given changes in the market. The site is situated in a prime location along a major gateway into the established Music Row neighborhood. That consideration went into selecting the architect, as the Esa designed tower showcases well thought-out facades and material selections.
Shown For Context Only
Hall Emery acquired the 3.5-acre Demonbreun Hill property in July 2022 where they then subdivided the property out into 3 separate parcels. This is similar to the original SP zoning proposal with the exception of the grocery store requirement which was removed through an administrative amendment prior to purchasing the property. The Whole foods and Publix are both within walking distance of the site didn’t exist during the original submission back in 2015.
Hall Emery is known for its distinctive office developments in Music Row such as 17th & Grand and 18th & Chet. Combined with the multifamily expertise of Woodfield, the developer believes they can create a true destination. Woodfield recently completed Margaux Midtown near Church Street.
In a conversation with David Wells with Hall Emery, CityNowNext asked about the Vision for the development and how they and Woodfield Development foresee it becoming part of the fabric of Midtown and Music Row.
“The vision for the overall property continues to evolve as we evaluate market conditions. We’ve considered the parking lot at the corner of 16th and McGavock would be the second phase and the 3rd phase would be the existing retail that fronts Demonbreun. As the neighborhood starts to transform Midtown will become the new center of gravity with new apartments, office, green spaces and become highly walkable. So, we are now evaluating how to activate roughly 34,000 feet of really awesome storefronts as amenities for the upcoming towers in the interim and creating a mixture of new and old.
David Wells, CoCEO at Hall Emery
The development is located along a major gateway into an iconic part of Nashville. Its prime location is at the intersection of the Gulch and the Downtown Central Business District. Its proximity to Vanderbilt, Belmont, and Music Row makes the project even more Ideal. Existing uses within the property line includes a collection of bars and restaurants the developers are looking at potentially reprogramming to maintain the sense of character offered by the storefront properties.
“We see a real opportunity to re-merchandise commercial offerings along Demonbreun and come up with a new concept in terms of destination, lifestyle, retail, that’s more complimentary to the upcoming neighborhood.” Wells continued, “We will evaluate the retail storefronts looking 10-15 years out. Until then will try to keep what’s in place for now to see what type of value we can create there focusing complete Streets, safety, and place more family friendly or a destination during a business trip.”
The developer is starting plans for Phase 2 of the project and will likely consist of condos, hotel, retail and office space. Combined with Phase 1 and the existing storefronts the site will create nearly 40,000 SF of retail along Demonbreun and 16th Avenue.
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