Metro Planning Commission approves Imagine East Bank plan - Main Street Nashville

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Updated: October 6, 2022 @ 11:58 pm
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Mayor John Cooper unveiled his administration’s sweeping new vision for the East Bank, a plan to transform acres of pavement into a vibrant cultural destination with waterfront access, connected by shaded avenues where pedestrians, bikes, cars and transit buses work in tandem.
Mayor John Cooper unveiled his administration’s sweeping new vision for the East Bank, a plan to transform acres of pavement into a vibrant cultural destination with waterfront access, connected by shaded avenues where pedestrians, bikes, cars and transit buses work in tandem.
Mayor John Cooper unveiled his administration’s sweeping new vision for the East Bank, a plan to transform acres of pavement into a vibrant cultural destination with waterfront access, connected by shaded avenues where pedestrians, bikes, cars and transit buses work in tandem.
Mayor John Cooper unveiled his administration’s sweeping new vision for the East Bank, a plan to transform acres of pavement into a vibrant cultural destination with waterfront access, connected by shaded avenues where pedestrians, bikes, cars and transit buses work in tandem.
Mayor John Cooper presents his administration’s sweeping new vision for the East Bank on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022.
Metro Planning Director Lucy Kempf speaks about Metro’s sweeping new vision for the East Bank on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022.

Mayor John Cooper unveiled his administration’s sweeping new vision for the East Bank, a plan to transform acres of pavement into a vibrant cultural destination with waterfront access, connected by shaded avenues where pedestrians, bikes, cars and transit buses work in tandem.
Mayor John Cooper unveiled his administration’s sweeping new vision for the East Bank, a plan to transform acres of pavement into a vibrant cultural destination with waterfront access, connected by shaded avenues where pedestrians, bikes, cars and transit buses work in tandem.
Mayor John Cooper unveiled his administration’s sweeping new vision for the East Bank, a plan to transform acres of pavement into a vibrant cultural destination with waterfront access, connected by shaded avenues where pedestrians, bikes, cars and transit buses work in tandem.
Mayor John Cooper unveiled his administration’s sweeping new vision for the East Bank, a plan to transform acres of pavement into a vibrant cultural destination with waterfront access, connected by shaded avenues where pedestrians, bikes, cars and transit buses work in tandem.
Mayor John Cooper presents his administration’s sweeping new vision for the East Bank on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022.
Metro Planning Director Lucy Kempf speaks about Metro’s sweeping new vision for the East Bank on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022.
Members of the Metro Planning Commission unanimously approved the Imagine East Bank Vision Plan during a special called meeting on Thursday — a significant step toward making the vision a reality.
The East Bank Vision Plan is a conceptual master plan for 330 acres across the Cumberland River from downtown, bounded by I-24 and Jefferson Street. It would transform acres of pavement into a vibrant cultural destination with a new waterfront park, greenways and multi-use developments.
“Aside from Nashville Next, this may be one of the most proud moments of serving,” said Commissioner Jeff Haynes. “I want us all to think about what this will be in 25 years — this is going to be a real catalyst, especially to create a diverse neighborhood downtown that we don’t have. This is going to be fantastic.”
Mayor John Cooper presented his administration’s sweeping new vision for the East Bank in August, the product of 21 months of work by Planning Department staff. Key components of the plan include a north-south multi-modal boulevard with dedicated bus and bike lanes, seven new roads, a waterfront park with river access and plans for managing future flooding.
“This is the first concrete step for making it a reality,” said Commission Chairman Greg Adkins during the meeting Thursday.
Since Cooper’s announcement in August, the Metro Planning department facilitated public feedback at live meetings and gathered public comments via email.
Emailed feedback centered on incorporating affordable housing and job availability for existing Nashville residents.
“We want our city to be a community where everyone can afford to live,” wrote Regina Davis, a member of the NOAH Affordable Housing Task Force. “Metro must NOT sell or trade those 100 acres of land to developers without an agreement that the land will be used to serve US!”
Metro Housing Division Director Angie Hubbard told commissioners Thursday that there are repeated commitments in the plan not to sell Metro-owned land — instead operating the Metro-owned area like a land trust — to enable Metro to determine affordability requirements within each new build.
“The purpose of a land trust is having it in perpetuity, so that you can control what’s built on it,” Hubbard said. “With Metro continuing that public ownership, then the ground lease and the development agreements then would dictate that affordability requirement that’s within each of those developments.”
Several business community organizations shared their support for the plan, including the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, the Nashville Business Coalition, Nashville Downtown Partnership and the Metro Transit Authority.
“The development of the east bank is a generational opportunity to activate a fundamental part of the city’s core,” wrote Ralph Schultz, president of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. “The plan presents a thoughtful and beneficial proposal for transportation, infrastructure, and economic development.”
“The East Bank Vision Plan is a positive step forward not just for residents, businesses, and organizations in that emerging neighborhood, but for our entire city,” wrote Butch Spyridon, CEO of the Nashviile Convention & Visitors Corp. “We look forward to seeing the plan guide transformation on the East Bank, especially as Oracle and the Tennessee Titans undertake their own developments.”
The plan includes options for Nissan Stadium remaining where it is and an option for a new stadium for the Tennessee Titans to be built adjacent to Interstate 24. Metro planners said Thursday they expect to have some action on the stadium decision by early next year.
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