After facing stiff opposition from the preservation community, the developer of a Westin hotel on Lower Broadway is looking for an endorsement from a recently revived non-profit group.
Historic Nashville Inc. met yesterday to hear arguments from the developer’s attorney and from Metro Officials. It was the group’s first public action in years.
The 19-story hotel has already received approval from the Metro Development and Housing Agency and the Planning Commission. But staffs of the Planning Department and Historical Commission have adamantly opposed its height.
Historical Commission director Ann Roberts says preservation groups have been in lock-step against allowing high-rise development on historic Lower Broadway.
“The Tennessee Preservation Trust, The National Trust for Historic Preservation have certainly come out on the same side as the Metro Historical Commission. And these are groups that do preservation professionally.”
Historic Nashville president Michael Stagg says if his non-profit group makes a recommendation, it will only be taken as advisement when the Metro Council makes its final decision.
“We have no official authority. It would purely be an expression of who we are as an organization who is interested in historic preservation.”
There are obvious conflicts of interest on the Historic Nashville board. In fact, five of the 12 have conflicts. Stagg is an attorney for the law firm that represents the Westin developer. Councilman Mike Jameson – who is shepherding the deal through Metro Council – is also a board member. Though board meetings are closed to the public, Stagg says those with conflicts will not vote on an endorsement for the Westin.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM