Metro hits pause on Jefferson Street cap project after community pushback

Public forums about a future land bridge in North Nashville have been postponed this month.

The Jefferson Street Cap project hopes to reverse the economic harm done by the construction of Interstate 40 and make way for more green space and foot traffic.

The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, but city officials say they wanted more time to respond to some of the concerns raised about the project. The next public meeting on November 18 has also been cancelled. Officials plan to provide new dates in the coming weeks.

“North Nashville has a broad range of needs, and we want to understand how all of that is being thoughtfully considered even as you’re bringing some particular project forward,” says Faye DiMassimo, the interim director of Metro Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure.

The city’s pursuit for a more holistic perspective of North Nashville was largely sparked in response to the first two public forums, where community members asked how the project will impact the affordable housing, transportation and economic development.

More: First community meeting for North Nashville’s Jefferson Street cap project brings turnout, and some skepticism

DiMassimo says the city has formed a group of contributors — largely from the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, the Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure, WeGo and the Office of Economic and Community Development — to examine the potential consequences and opportunities of the project.

“Our commitment is to thoughtful, transparent communication and listening that supports North Nashville,” DiMassimo says.

She adds that her team will continue to have meetings with individual stakeholders and collect oral histories this month.