LAFAYETTE NEIGHBORHOOD

Planners envision new look for Lafayette / Eighth area
By Bill Harless, Nashville City Paper
May 23, 2006
 
The intersection of Eighth Avenue South and Lafayette Street just south of downtown’s central business district is a wasteland of outdated buildings, stark surface parking and unsightly signage.

Sitting east of the hip and fast-expanding Gulch and west of where sleek new condo and retail space is set to be built on Rolling Mill Hill, the general area surrounding the intersection is struggling to find an identity and unable to attract development.

But a first spark of light showed itself Monday when the nonprofit Nashville Civic Design Center released a plan for revitalizing the area and the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency announced it is angling to secure $500,000 in federal funding to improve and beautify streetscapes in the vicinity.

The plan suggests that Metro establish a housing development program in the area in coordination with nonprofits and developers and that Metro begin calling the area the “Lafayette Neighborhood,” situated between Fourth Avenue to the east, Gateway Boulevard to the north, Eighth Avenue to the west, and interstate inner-loop to the south.

Part of the difficulty in enticing developers to the area will be a long-publicized homeless population and three entities that serve the homeless: a public health clinic, the Campus for Human Development and the Nashville Rescue Mission. And, according to the new plan, there is a “history of tension between the business owners, homeless service providers, and homeless individuals in the area.”

“ The business owners are increasingly irritated and frustrated with homeless individuals loitering, littering, participating in public substance abuse, drug trafficking, which is periodically heavy, and generally creating a negative atmosphere,” the report notes.

But, study lead and Civic Design Center Associate Design Director Gary Gaston said in an interview that the process of crafting the study has finally brought the homeless and business communities to the table together, a good first step.

The plan recommends creating a neighborhood association to keep the two groups in conversation; advocates increasing the area police presence; suggests that Metro make streetscape improvements along Eighth Avenue South with new lighting, trees, benches, bus shelters and signage such as was done along 12th Avenue South; and recommends Metro establish multiple public restrooms downtown.

Also, the plan recommends establishing partnerships between the government, nonprofits and developers in order to redevelop unused and vacant property.

Gaston said he does not believe the homeless population will deter “urban pioneers” from moving into new homes in the area if they are built, pointing to the success of the Row 8.9n condominium development along Eighth Avenue north of downtown, where condos sold swiftly at market rate.

Existing Conditions along 8th Avenue South (top), 8th Avenue with streetscape improvements (above).

Study: 'Lafayette Neighborhood' needs revamp
Civic Design Center's proposed projects could start as early as next spring

By Suzanne Normand Blackwood, The Tennessean
June 2, 2006

A neighborhood park, more affordable housing and a new magnet elementary school are among projects that could transform the area around the corner of Eighth Avenue South and Lafayette Street over the next decade.

The Nashville Civic Design Center recently released a study looking at improving the aesthetics of the area that is considered neglected, reducing crime and changing the perception of it and creating a neighborhood-friendly atmosphere.

Dubbed the "Lafayette Neighborhood," the revitalization zone is bounded by Eighth Avenue and the railroad tracks, Franklin Street, Fifth Avenue and Interstate 40.

" It needs to be brought up to the standards of everywhere else in town," said Gary Gaston, associate design director for the design center.

Some of the projects could begin as early as next spring. They are being funded by a Community Development Block Grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and $600,000 has been allocated so far.

As part of the study requested by the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, the design center began holding meetings last summer with stakeholders to gather input. City officials, area business owners and residents and providers of services to the homeless, such as the Nashville Rescue Mission, the Campus for Human Development and the Downtown Clinic, participated.

Forming a neighborhood association, creating a neighborhood park, conducting streetscape projects, adding lighting, painting the CSX Railroad bridge and installing a public restroom are among goals the study looks to accomplish in the next five years.

Another goal is to use the area's abundant art and photography supply stores to promote the Lafayette Neighborhood as a "design district" and possibly recruit a culinary institute to provide jobs and training.

There also are plans possibly to relocate the Greyhound bus station in light of a proposed convention center, encourage developers to build affordable housing, encourage more civic accountability among providers of services to the homeless, increase police presence and reconfigure access to the Downtown Clinic by closing the alley that connects to Eighth Avenue.

Long-term plans include completing construction of Gateway Boulevard and having it culminate in a monumental civic space in the area, building a new pedestrian bridge and endorsing funding, design and construction of a new magnet elementary school.

Gaston said the hope is that the revitalization would encourage developers to build in the area and new businesses to come.

Although the area is not very residential, "because of the change in perception, people would consider moving there," he said. He compared it to Hope Gardens, a public-private partnership that led to redevelopment in a residential area of north Nashville.

" It's just a gradual approach to redevelopment," he said.

Rader Walker, chief executive of the Nashville Rescue Mission, said he liked the overall plan.
" It was well organized, thorough and visionary," he said.

But encouraging more civic accountability among providers of services to the homeless, Walker said, is something the mission already goes to great lengths to do. " That's something the mission has done since we first got here," he said.