State of Metro Addresses Riverfront

In what was Bill Purcell’s final State of Metro address, (this morning/yesterday) the two-term mayor announced a new plan for the old thermal transfer site on the downtown riverfront. As recently as last month it was thought to be the future home of the Nashville Sounds.

Purcell says the Sounds dropped the ball on building a new stadium and offers what he contends is a better use of the property: an outdoor concert venue and public park.

The 11-acre parcel now owned by Metro government will soon come under the discretion of the Metro Development and Housing Authority which will take new proposals for the site.

Purcell says an amphitheatre could be completed in short-order.

“MDHA will have to decide the timeline, but my sense is that at this time next year we can be in a public space downtown and frankly I foresee the state of Metro address or other similar addresses occurring there in the years ahead.”

As part of the state of Metro address, Purcell released his capital budget plan for building projects in the city. Sticking with a riverfront theme, 8-million dollars was recommended for the first phase of the Riverfront Redevelopment project that has been spearheaded by the Nashville Civic Design Center.

85-million will be set aside for school buildings and repairs. Nearly 7-million will go toward the Metro Fire Department’s master plan. 5-million dollars was pledged for building the African-American museum on Jefferson Street. Each item will be voted on by the Metro Council after it passes an operating budget next month.