The redevelopment plan for Nashville’s river got a little easier to digest last night, as designers presented a modified riverfront park idea, with a much smaller price tag.
In August, the Boston architectural firm hired to design the master plan, presented the idea of making an island out of the Titans stadium.
Gavin McMillan, a principle with Hargreaves Associates, says the public input has reshaped the project.
“We heard loud and clear. We originally thought of the island idea which would last for 20 years or so, but we heard from the community meetings that everyone’s interested in getting their heads around something to do short term, in five years without taking on all the bigger issues about acquiring land, finding all the extra funds, moving railroads, moving roads, creating new bridges.”
The first phase, detailed last night, is estimated to cost 40-million dollars over five years. Phases two and three, which include the island idea, are estimated to cost 350-million.
The initial phase has floating walkways, boat docks and an urban forest. The trees cover several of the Titan’s tailgating parking lots, which under the plan will be turned into ‘green’ parking spaces, which means grass parking.
A finalized report will be completed and released in December. After that, there’s no clear indication of who or what group will pick up the plan and get it off the ground.
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