Introduction
Since the founding of the Nashboro settlement in the late 1780s on a small bluff above the water’s edge, the Cumberland River has been an important economic and social focal point for the City of Nashville. From that early beginning to the present day, the river continues to play an important role in the daily lives of Nashville residents and visitors.
Nashvillians chose to reclaim and re-embrace their downtown waterfront under the administration of former Mayor Richard Fulton. Construction of Riverfront Park in the 1980s was a watershed moment in the City’s commitment to riverfront redevelopment, with transformation of the west riverbank terminus of Lower Broadway into today’s epicenter of citywide celebrations and entertainment events, including the 4th of July fireworks extravaganza and the annual Country Music Association (CMA) Music Festival.
Transformation of the downtown riverfront’s east bank took a major leap forward in the mid-1990s under the administration of former Mayor, and current Governor, Phil Bredesen with reclamation and conversion of an underutilized industrial area into the new home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
Continued downtown riverfront revitalization picked up significant momentum under the administration of former Mayor Bill Purcell as evidenced by many riverfront amenities that we see and enjoy today, including the East Bank Greenway, the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge, the Ghost Ballet art sculpture and the Public Square.
Under current Mayor Karl F. Dean’s administration, the long-term goal of reclaiming and redefining Nashville’s downtown waterfront continues with enthusiasm. In September 2008, Mayor Dean turned to MDHA to oversee and administer the waterfront redevelopment program. The Mayor’s vision is to transform Nashville’s downtown waterfront into vibrant and dynamic mixed-use centers that provide new entertainment, cultural, shopping, working, living and learning opportunities for local residents and visitors.
Nashville Riverfront Concept Plan
The Nashville Riverfront Concept Plan, jointly funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation, represents a community-based vision for long-term revitalization of the City’s downtown waterfronts. The Plan calls for environmental clean-up and remediation of targeted brownfield sites, the introduction of additional parks, trails and water recreation facilities along the river’s edge, and the eventual development of mixed-use urban neighborhoods on the eastern banks of the Cumberland River. The ambitious 20-year redevelopment vision of that planning document provides a framework for the potential infusion of more than $1.4 billion in new private investment capital into the local economy with the transformation of more than 190 acres of underutilized industrial land into sustainable mixed-use development complemented by new cultural and entertainment venues serving local residents and visitors from around the world.
The “New Riverfront Park Plan”
The early phases of the Nashville Riverfront Concept Plan embody an ambitious construction program of 19 riverfront enhancement projects that would add new public parks, open space and recreational amenities in and around the general vicinity of existing Riverfront Park. The $50 million plus “New Riverfront Park Plan” would effectively double existing public park land along the downtown waterfront with expanded recreational boat docking facilities, music performance venues, waterfront parks, boardwalks, overlooks and piers. The historically significant Nashville Bridge Company Building (NABRICO), strategically located at the foot of the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge, would be renovated utilizing sustainable construction practices to accommodate uses that complement and contribute to the ongoing revitalization of the riverfront. Other environmental enhancement projects would include the re-establishment of wetland areas along the river’s edge and retrofitting portions of existing parking lots serving LP Field (home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans) with “permeable grass” parking surfaces and the introduction of additional shade trees to enhance game-day tailgating experiences.
New Riverfront Park – Phase One
On June 9, 2009, the Metropolitan Council adopted a new six-year Capital Improvement Budget that includes up to $54 million for riverfront redevelopment as recommended by Mayor Karl F. Dean. As part of that budget adoption process, the Metro Council also approved the 2009-2010 Capital Spending Plan authorizing an initial infusion of $29.95 million to construct the first series of waterfront park and recreation projects recommended by the “New Riverfront Park Plan.” Funded east-bank projects will include a 7.5-acre Adventure Play Park, renovation and adaptive reuse of the historic Nashville Bridge Company (NABRICO) building, and construction of a one-acre River Lawn. Funded west bank projects will include the First and Broadway Overlook, City Wharf and the Pioneer Walk.
Current Initiatives
Adventure Play Park Construction Plans/ New Riverfront Park Schematic Design.
MDHA has retained the services of Hargreaves Associates to prepare final construction documents and provide construction administration services for the Adventure Play Park project located on the east bank of the river between the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge. The Hargreaves design team (comprised of numerous local firms) also will advance the current conceptual plans for the remaining New Riverfront Park Plan projects to a schematic design level of detail and seek environmental approvals of those projects from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Initial field investigations for this design work (e.g. surveying) are currently under way. Design and permitting of the Adventure Play Park should be complete by next summer, with construction commencing soon thereafter.
Program Management Services for Phase One of the New Riverfront Park Plan.
On November 4, 2009, MDHA issued a Request for Qualifications for professional Program Management services related to Phase One of the New Riverfront Park Plan. The deadline for responses from qualified firms was November 25, 2009. An MDHA evaluation committee is currently reviewing those responses and will be making a selection recommendation to the MDHA Board of Commissioners in the near future.
NABRICO (Trinity Marine) Building Architectural and Engineering (A&E) Design Services.
On November 30, 2009, MDHA issued a Request for Qualifications for professional architectural and engineering design services associated with renovation of the NABRICO (Trinity Marine) Building on the east bank of the Cumberland River at the foot of the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge. Primary renovation objectives for this historically contributing structure will include replacement and/or restoration of the building’s roof, façade, windows and doors; bringing the building into full compliance with current building codes and standards; activation of the building’s ground-floor level for uses that contribute to and complement other riverfront redevelopment efforts; and providing a more convenient inter-connection between the upper deck of the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge and the immediate riverbank area below. Renovation of the NABRICO Building will be guided by a number of the environmental sustainability goals established by the Mayor’s Green Ribbon Committee.
Responses from qualified A&E firms will be accepted by MDHA until December 30, 2009, at 2 p.m. central time. For a copy of the Request for Qualifications, contact Ron Chenault, MDHA Contracting Agent, at 615-252-8498 or at rchenaul@nashville-mdha.org.
Community Outreach
For more information on MDHA’s Waterfront Redevelopment Program, contact Edward C. Owens, Waterfront Redevelopment Director, at eowens@nashville-mdha.org or at 615-252-8443.
