Edgehill Community Planning Study

Edgehill is a significant, historically African American urban neighborhood, just south of Downtown Nashville. The neighborhood experienced substantial change during urban renewal and has seen unprecedented redevelopment in recent years. The community is a time capsule of priorities and choices made across several generations. Nearby neighborhoods, including the Gulch and Music Row, and higher education institutions, Belmont University and Vanderbilt University, have also shaped growth and development in the neighborhood.

About the Project

The Metro Planning Commission adopted the Edgehill Neighborhood Plan on August 22, 2024. The plan is a culmination of neighborhood planning process that builds on community ideas to guide the development in Edgehill over the next 20 years.

The plan document grounds itself in the unique role of Edgehill within Nashville: a historic urban center for the African American community, a place deeply affected by the choices of 1960s urban renewal, and a strong neighborhood of active and organized residents. Building on community engagement, the Edgehill Neighborhood Plan proposes a long-range vision for growth and development in Edgehill as well as near-term community improvements. Throughout the study, the community informed and shaped the draft neighborhood plan by sharing ideas and feedback during community workshops, neighborhood events, focus groups, stakeholder conversations, and online surveys.

The policy document provides recommendations for policy changes, capital improvements, and key partnerships. Recommendations in the plan are organized around three guiding principles:

• Retain and Preserve: Strategies for preserving Edgehill’s historic neighborhood and mixed-income character.
• Inclusive, Smart Growth: A plan for mixed-use housing and businesses focused along major corridors.
• Reconnect and Elevate: A vision for tying existing open spaces together into a network of enhanced neighborhood amenities.

The Edgehill Neighborhood Plan Executive Summary provides an overview of the process, key ideas and concepts, and recommendations in the draft neighborhood plan document.

The study area was generally bounded by I-40 on the north, 8th Avenue South on the east, Wedgewood Avenue on the south, and Villa Place on the west. It includes several public facilities including a branch of the Nashville Public Library, the Midtown Hills Police Precinct, Rose Park, Reservoir Park, and two public schools – Carter Lawrence Elementary and Rose Park Middle School. Additionally, there are two Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency communities in the neighborhood: the Edgehill Apartments and the Gernert Studio Apartments.

Every successful plan requires careful listening, robust community engagement, and coordination with stakeholders. Thank you to everyone who has participated in the process, attended meetings, joined the team, and shared ideas about the Edgehill neighborhood.