Article by Britnie Turner, Aerial Development Group, Chamber member since 2013
As sales continue to boom and exponential growth reshapes the face of Music City, there is a citywide call for developers and rehabbers to fill the void of the growing need for housing close to downtown. From renovating homes to infill new construction, the city is set in motion for builders, lawmakers and neighbors to work together for the common good of communities. Nashville’s population is projected to double by 2020, and city planners are working diligently to find where the increased density can be added. Many professionals, new homebuyers, renters and emptynesters are moving back into the urban core, seeking walkability, connectivity and community. This trend can be seen not only in Nashville, but also across the U.S., as exemplified in this USA Today article titled “See ya, suburbs: More want to live in the big city.” Articles have been published about our city throughout the nation, naming Nashville among the country’s best cities for job growth (NewGeography.com); strongest economies (POLICOM Corporation); most creative cities (Forbes.com); and best places for business and careers (Forbes.com). Nashville’s “urban core” is a collective of individual neighborhoods within the immediate surrounding regions of downtown. These neighborhoods include East Nashville, Inglewood, 12th South, Germantown, Salemtown, Historic West Town, Sylvan Park, Sylvan Heights and more. These sought-after neighborhoods make up a blanket of rich diversity, historic architecture, cultural pride and opportunity for those who believe in what can be. The revitalization taking place in Nashville’s urban core is being spearheaded by developers, the carriers of this vision, and those willing to invest time or money into these changing neighborhoods. Many neighborhood associations have organized to make sure that new growth comes in a fashion that supports the character of their area. As seen with any rapidly growing city, change is not always accepted easily. For Nashville, change is here, which brings the opportunity for neighborhoods, developers and city planners to work together to ensure that Nashville continues to be a desirable place to call home.
Original article: http://www.ypnashville.org/Libraries/Newsletter_Articles/The_Revitalization_of_Nashville_Britnie_Turner.sflb.ashx