As Vote Looms On $100M Floodwall, Mayor Says Downtown Is ‘Everyone’s Neighborhood’

Mayor Karl Dean is beating back skepticism over his proposal to build a floodwall around part of downtown Nashville. The $100-million project will be discussed at the Metro Council’s public hearing Tuesday night. On Monday, area business leaders joined Dean to promote the project.

“Protecting downtown isn’t about pitting one area against another. Downtown is everyone’s neighborhood, and everyone has an interest in its success,” Dean said.

Council members and candidates for mayor have expressed resistance to spending so much money on flood protection for downtown rather than other neighborhoods. Responding to critics, Dean put his spin on a unifying slogan that emerged from the flood recovery.

“Back in 2010 we didn’t say, ‘We are Donelson,’ or, ‘We are Antioch,’ or, ‘We are Bellevue.’ We said, ‘We are Nashville.'”

Dean noted that the city has already invested in flood protection measures throughout Davidson County, not just downtown. This includes buying 200 homes that were in flood prone areas.

The Metro Council votes on the floodwall next week as part of Dean’s construction budget.