New fire codes may not be the most exciting topic for a special Metro Council meeting, but they can mean expensive changes for businesses.
100 people died in a 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire caused by fireworks used in a rock show. After that, fire codes changed to force nightclubs with live music to install sprinkler systems.
Now that the recommendations have trickled down to the local level, Councilman Jim Hodge says many of Nashville’s small clubs can’t afford to retrofit for sprinklers.
“If we don’t change something here, Music City’s going to lose a lot of its music. And we’re going to lose a lot of businesses. And in this kind of economic times that we’re in, we don’t want to lose businesses.”
Hodge has sponsored a bill to adopt the International Fire Code—a less strict version. It would allow existing buildings to be grandfathered in, unless undergoing major renovations. Hodge is hosting a meeting tomorrow so the public and concerned stakeholders like the Fire and Codes Departments can debate the issue.
The meeting will be held at the Metro Courthouse Thursday at 4 pm.
The Metro Council also passed two bills relating to the financing for the new downtown convention center. The Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, which will oversee the construction, will be holding a public meeting on Monday to release preliminary designs for the building.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM