Reasons: East Nashville

Continuing our series of “Reasons”, today we touch on East Nashville.  I’ve been a resident of the east side of the river for 5 years now.  Even in that short amount of time, I have seen plenty of changes and many progressions in our community.  I think it is important to point out that “East Nashville” is not a neighborhood (despite being voted Best Neighborhood in the Nashville Scene’s reader poll year after year).  There are many neighborhoods within East Nashville (Edgefield, East End, Lockeland Springs, etc), but this geographic region differentiates itself from the rest of Nashville by its united front and combined efforts.  Below are 10 reasons (in no particular order) that one should live in East Nashville (the area…not the non-existent neighborhood).

-          Community

When I sat down to create this list of reasons, it was not necessary to belabor the specifics.  I simply asked the East Nashville listserv (http://groups.google.com/group/east-nashville ).  Simple fact: East Nashville is the most active community in Nashville.  We are the most militant, most defensive, and, perhaps, the most arrogant citizens of Nashville.  It may be a bad for everyone else, but it is great for east side residents.  Simply browse through the listserv, and you will find years of information on community obstacles and headaches that neighbors were unafraid of taking on.

East Nashville Google Group

-          Beautiful Homes

East Nashville is rich with history.  Quality homes have been built in some areas for over 100 years.  Plenty of Bungalows, Victorians, and some Romanesque homes pepper the streets of East Nashville.  Images are courtesy of Google Street Views, as I was reluctant to take photos of random neighbors' homes without their consent.

-          Location

East Nashville is downtown adjacent.  There is no need for the interstate in many cases.  Several have argued that East Nashville is a location unto itself (Downtown is a great place to live…it is right next to East Nashville!).

-          In touch with some realities

One of my favorite posts from the listserv speaks to the fact that areas of East Nashville still can “keep it real”.  One resident cited reasons for living in East Nashville being “proximity to good, quality porn, at rock bottom prices. The
ease of procuring illicit substances at any hour of the day or night.  Discounted Beer and tobacco. Not having to mow your yard. And an alley to leave stuff in when you don't feel like hauling it off.  I think that's pretty much it.”  No neighborhood/community is perfect.  The fact of the matter is that some people still patron the porn stores on Gallatin and many residents need their beer and cigarettes at discounted prices.  While the Gallatin Pike Improvement District might cause trouble for many of these businesses in the future, many residents have accepted them as a part of the community and an essential piece of what makes East Nashville, East Nashville.  (Edit: These reasons may not reflect society’s view on what makes a desirable neighborhood.  I am simply restating information I received from the listserv.)

-          Local Development

This is a double edge sword in some cases.  The demographics of East Nashville are quite varied.  You will find public housing a block away from million dollar Queen Anne homes.  Ultimately, this diversity confuses the corporate companies looking to expand their brand into East Nashville.  The plus (or negative) side of this is that East Nashville is not home to a T.G.I Friday’s or a Chili’s.  However, people familiar with the community (ones who live here), tend to have a better understanding what the area needs and what it takes to truly make an impact in a neighborhood.  You will find restaurants, shops, and offices owned by local residents.  These developments spring up all over the place and are not concentrated to one specific area or one sector.  This increases accessibility and makes walking more enjoyable without the threat of gobs of motorists.  The great part of this is that local owners tend to listen to the community and adapt their business to better suit the users.  Some residents, however, can find it troubling that they will not find a nice Publix or Harris Teeter in East Nashville.  It is really fine by me.  I like Turnip Truck better anyways.

Riverside Village Development: image from http://www.riversidevillagenashville.com/



Martin Corner Development ( http://www.martincorner.com/ ) : One of many local developments in East Nashville

Marche Artisan Food: this would be a Cracker Barrel elsewhere in Nashville...not that there's anything wrong with that



-          Sidewalks

You can walk around in East Nashville.  In fact, 5 of the top 10 neighborhoods that are most walkable belong in East Nashville (according to http://www.walkscore.com/TN/Nashville ).  Sidewalks are plentiful, and they are not afterthoughts.  You will see them in heavy usage in many areas.

-          Shelby Park/Shelby Bottoms Greenway

This may be my personal top reason.  Runners have long uninterrupted stretches of pavement.  Cyclists enjoy the same benefits.  The new pedestrian bridge stretches to the Stones River Greenway (also beautiful).  Dog lovers can enjoy the dog park. The large softball complex is very active during season.  You can also fish in the ponds.  Here is a brochure from nashville.gov.



Shelby Bottoms Trail Map



Great pic from listserv user

-          5 Points

Many consider the 5 Points the epicenter of East Nashville.  Others, whole heartedly, disagree.  This is not to say that Riverside Village and the Walden developments are not impressive, but as I said earlier, I am simply stating that most responses on the listserv cited 5 Points.  And to be fair, it is the most diverse of the local developments.  Many bars, restaurants, music venues, and shops are located at the intersection of 11^th and Woodland, and they are, primarily, supported by the nearby residents.  Food options range from the mobile vendor I Dream of Weenie to the celebrated Margot Café.

-          East Nasty Running Group

The East Nasty runners can motivate you to get in shape ( http://eastnastyforlife.com/ ).  This group has blossomed from a couple of people to runners in the hundreds.   Simply put: feel free to run with the East Nasty Wednesday evenings.  Stay, if you wish, for post run drinks at 3 Crow Bar.  There is also a Sunday morning run in their regiment.  They provide water and good times but it is always fun to see the group running the weeks preceding the Music City Marathon.  TONS of people are all over the streets.  This local group has spawned other worthy causes and is now a showcase for East CAN (http://www.eastcan.org/ ).  Runners/walkers can volunteer their time to help out homeless dogs and hopefully help to find permanent homes for these guys.

East Nasty on the East Nashville Streets



Tough runs rewarded afterward at 3 Crow Bar



Yeah...there are a couple of runners



East CAN function next to Bongo Java

-          True Diversity

There are East Nashville residents that are 3^rd or 4^th generation locals.  But East Nashville is still home to many transplants from all over the country.  Some areas of the South are threatened by “invasive citizens” but, for the most part, it works brilliantly in East Nashville.  I, for one, feel the diversity brings some of the better ideas and habits from other walks of life to create a truly unique local culture.

Honorable Mentions: Tomato Art Festival, Riverside Village, and Family Wash

-faD_writer

Design with a Conscience

Every once in awhile, a project comes along that encapsulates all that I love about architecture. Located just outside downtown Nashville on

8^th Avenue

, the W.O. Smith Music School is one of those projects.

THE SCHOOL

“W.O. Smith Music School makes affordable, quality music instruction available to children from low-income families. We transform lives through music.”

Without going into great detail about the center as you can read more about them on their website, the music school offers music lessons to underprivileged children for just $0.50 a lesson! Children swarm the facility after school to learn the drums, piano, violin and saxophone, to name a few. Volunteers from our music-rich community freely give their talents to these children so that they might grow in the art of music. Young lives are being transformed.

THE BUILDING

Bauer Askew Architecture (the architect) has successfully captured the vision through the design of the school.

·         Design: The contemporary design of the school is elegant and refreshing in a city where contemporary architecture is the exception to the norm. The massing and detailing, both inside and out, have been well thought out. Music motifs are sprinkled throughout the building, sometimes subtle and other times obvious. I am usually not too crazy about literal representations on buildings, and while some moments are too literal (i.e. piano keys for windows), there are other subtle moves in the lobby that are quite clever. I won’t ruin the surprise, but will let you discover them for yourself.

·         Repurposed Structure: The music school was not a new structure from the ground up; instead, the building used to be a tire warehouse. The car bays at the exterior are now the practice rooms, and the large interior space is now home to the large recital hall. Only the main lobby area was added to the existing building. This gave the designers the opportunity to create a large 2-story gathering space.

·         Non-profit: In a world where the bottom line of the corporate balance sheet drives design and the architects’ voice continues to diminish, it is refreshing to see a quality building from a non-profit group. I know nothing of the budget and schedule of this building, but I imagine (or hope) the users of the building relied on the architects and trusted them to guide them through the design process. This is what architects dream of: a client that looks to them as the “master builder.”

Even the wasps know to respect the symmetry

·         Community-minded: This building has been designed in Nashville…by a Nashville architect…for a Nashville audience. Like any architect, I love to follow the Starchitects of our generation, but it is great to see a quality building by our own. I hope this building attains the national recognition it deserves.

·         Socially Consciousness: Perhaps the greatest feat of this building is its contribution to society. One day the designers of this building will look back on their careers and consider their legacy. I am confident this project will rank high in their list of achievements. Buildings in and of themselves are worth being proud of, but design trends, wealthy clients and functions come and go. Changed lives create waves well beyond the life of even the longest-standing structures.

If you haven’t seen this building I encourage you to stop by and appreciate it for yourself.

-fAd_writer