Broadway Historic Overlay Moves Forward

The Metro Council unanimously approved on the second of three readings, the historic overlay for Lower Broadway in Downtown Nashville.

The overlay is part of a package of bills related to the proposed Westin Hotel tower that will rise just off of Lower Broadway.

Last night was the public hearing for the overlay bill, and out of the two people that spoke, only one was opposed to a condition of the overlay.  Brenda Sanderson owns the building housing “Second Fiddle,” and owns several other honky tonks like the Stage and Legends Corner.  Sanderson says she doesn’t oppose the overlay, but does oppose the 201-foot tall Westin.

“That project is the perfect example of why this overlay is needed.  The very fact that this overlay is being requested supports that conclusion.  How can we say the prospect of one tall building is good, but more than that is bad.”

The overlay caps the height of the buildings and owners objected that they might lose money if they couldn’t have the possibility to add floors to their buildings.  Another bill that passed second reading last night will allow owners in the overlay to sell credits for the underdeveloped portions of their buildings to other developers in the downtown area.

These two bills, along with the Westin Hotel proposal will be up for third and final reading March 20^th.

Council deferred debating an extension of its ethics code to include all Metro employees for one meeting over concerns about whether Metro Council members should be allowed to accept meals.