Riverfront Plan
"Report" GraffitiNashville Riverfront
Something for Everyone Nashville Riverfront Plan
The Concept
The Nashville Riverfront Concept is a 20 year plan for the dramatic transformation of the downtown riverfront and the east banks of Nashville. The plan calls for expanded parks, trails, water recreation, and environmental preservation, and provides for both residential and commercial opportunities in the heart of Nashville. The vision for the riverfront plans was greatly enhanced by the diverse views expressed in public meetings by residents from all over the county with interest in the environmental quality and quality of life for the citizens and visitors to Nashville.
Click here to view the entire Nashville Riverfront Concept Plan
The History
The plan is the result of 16 months of development, numerous design workshops, community advisory groups, 6 public input meetings, and the expertise of internationally recognized consultants in the field of urban design, engineering and economic development.
In February 2007, Hargreaves Associates, the consultants who designed Chattanooga’s waterfront, presented the Nashville Riverfront Concept Plan detailing new proposed public recreational developments along the downtown riverfront corridor of the Cumberland River. This project was jointly funded by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Nashville Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with the Nashville Civic Design Center. The vision is to build on the Plan of Nashville principles and emphasize the importance of the river as an environmental, recreational and economic development asset.
Click here to view the study background and community meetings summary. Site study overview
Click here to view the study area.
The Benefits
This project has value for everyone. It gives Nashville a world class waterfront and enhances the quality of life for Nashville residents. It can create huge economic development opportunities with the potential to generate over $1.4 billion in private investment. Environmental clean up of over 190 acres of degraded land, as well as a new place for Nashville residents to recreate and celebrate. The estimated public investment is to be $40 million in Phase I, $200 million in Phase 2 and $150 million in phase 3. The economic consultants estimate that for every dollar spent of public funds, Nashville gets three to four back in private investment and could bring in an additional 1 million visitors per year.
Click here to view a summary of the value, benefits, impacts and costs of the project.
20 Year Plan
The 20 year island concept provides a new diversionary waterway and twice the amount of water surface. The waterway would be about 7,689 linear feet long and 190 feet wide framed by new mixed development. The current plan estimates potential development along the waterway:
-Over 1,900 new residential units
-1 million square feet of new retail, restaurant, entertainment, office and hotel
-3,200 structural parking spaces lined by retail uses
-Cayce landing area could realize 260 new residential units and small business opportunities
Click here to view a presentation of the 20 year plans, islands and new waterway. Islands Summary presentation.
Click here to view the islands phasing plan.
The New Nashville Riverfront-the first 5 Years.
Phase I of the Riverfront Development plan is designed to provide new attractions and parkland giving locals and tourists a reason to come and enjoy both sides of the riverfront. The emphasis is on the immediately attainable five-year projects proposed to cost $40 million. Based on a public investment of approximately $8 million per year this could be implemented by Metro government and its state and Federal partners over the next 5 years without any major land acquisitions. It would double the size of current parkland to 120 acres. It would include such public features as a river fountain, a family adventure playground and spray park features, riverwalks, overlooks, piers, performance spaces, wetlands, fountains, plazas, new docking facilities, open play space and an urban forest replacing asphalt lots surrounding LP field. Phase I can serve as either a jumping off point for later phases or could stand completely on its own.
Click here to view a presentation of the Phase I- first 5 years of projects. Phase I summary presentation.
A restructured and expanded riverfront should prove to be an astounding recreational and visual attraction for locals and attract more people to downtown and to the river. The possibilities of adding hundreds of acres of park land and public facilities, recreation, and improved environmental quality allows us to turn and face our river once again, to give it back to the people and attain its full potential for all future generations.
The concept plan states that: “Cities with great waterfronts can offer a better quality of life to retain and attract citizens and capital. Nashville has the potential to create a great waterfront that is truly world class.” The Nashville Riverfront Plan is a bold vision for restoring and activating the waterfront, and can shape how the city relates to the river and how Nashville will be viewed and enjoyed by residents and visitors for decades to come.
For more information contact Chris Koster at 615-862-8400