A group of Nashville residents and a large-scale developer must try once more to compromise on a hotly contested mixed-use project.
Stonehenge Real Estate Group is seeking a rezoning to redevelop the abandoned Madison Mill industrial site with 400 apartments, commercial space, new sidewalks and greenspace at the corner of Charlotte Avenue and 42
nd Avenue North.
“It’s rather dilapidated, and the buildings are certainly obsolete,” project attorney Shawn Henry told the Metro Planning Commission on Thursday. “This is an $80 million investment to remove a blighted piece of property. It’s polluted. It’s a brownfield site, declared by TDEC.”
But Sylvan Park resident John Summers, who is also a former councilman, says the project’s density has 97 percent of surrounding neighbors standing opposed, even after alterations by the developers and several face-to-face meetings.
“You have people here tonight that haven’t agreed on the time of day in the last 10, 15 years. And we have disagreed on zoning projects. There is almost complete unanimity in this neighborhood opposed to this project,” he said.
In all, 17 opponents spoke at the hearing. They questioned Metro’s projected traffic volumes and pushed against what they say would be an abrupt transition from single-family homes to the multi-story apartment.
The Metro Planning Commission — divided during discussion — deferred its vote and urged another round of talks.
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