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

About 200 residents, business owners and city leaders met in North Nashville this weekend to discuss the proposed Jefferson Street Cap project, a land bridge that would extend across Interstate 40.

The goal of the project is to restore the area that was disrupted by the construction of the interstate decades ago.

Perri duGard Owens heads a communication firm that is contracted with the city to do engagement about the project. She says they heard a wide range of opinions.

“There’s some skepticism as to whether or not this project will help and heal, as the project says that is the intention, or will it intensify or speed up gentrification?” she says.

She says residents questioned whether the project was for the community that is already living in North Nashville, or instead for people who might move there in the future.

On the other hand, she says business and land owners hope it might increase foot traffic and boost sales.

“They want to see something positive happen in the community,” she says.

Mayor John Cooper told WSMV he sees the project as a way to correct a historic wrong: “Create an environment for businesses to thrive and to use it as an opportunity for equity, and equitable development and ultimately generational wealth.”

In an emailed statement, Metro Nashville Department of Transportation’s director, Faye DiMassimo, says her department is suited to help bring about a solution.

“Metro Nashville DOT supports the fact that what was done 60 years ago hurt the community,” DiMassimo says in the statement. “We are now able, interested and willing to put something up for the community to consider that could be a catalyst for healing the rift that intentionally decimated a once vibrant economic center. It would be misguided to think this heals all of the hurt, but it could be a start.”

The meeting was the first of several designed to get feedback from the community. The project would be paid for through a combination of city, state, and possibly federal funding.

Residents can find ways to weigh in on the project here.

This story has been updated to include a quote from the Nashville Department of Transportation.