The proposed project at the old Belcourt Nursing Home (1710 Belcourt) will be introduced at the Metro Council meeting on April 5 to request a zoning change from RM40 to allow for a 76-unit apartment building. Neighbors have attended two community meetings to learn about the project. While this is a good example of locating density on the corridors, there are still concerns about traffic. I will be meeting with Metro Public Works to discuss possible ways to avoid increased congestion in Hillsboro Village from this project.
The April 5th Council meeting will also include the first reading of the Council’s bill to create a framework to provide a wider range of housing price choices in Nashville. The bill requires that projects seeking an increase in density set aside a percentage of the project to be affordable to people earning 60 to 100% of the county’s average income. There are a number of groups providing input on this bill, and it will probably be revised significantly before it passes. This is part of a group of programs and policies geared toward keeping housing affordable for all Nashvillians. The most important piece of the solution will be expanding the reach of the Barnes Affordable Housing Fund and coming up with a dedicated funding source to make it sustainable.
I am co-hosting a community meeting to review Nashville’s Short Term Rental Property (STRP) regulations at 6pm on April 13 at Sonny West Conference Room in the Howard Office Bldg, 700 2nd Ave S. This will provide an opportunity to discuss the regulations that were adopted last year and to evaluate successes and shortcomings.
Nashville’s Hunger Crop Walk will take place at Fannie Mae Dees Park on Sunday, April 17 beginning at 1:45pm. CROP Hunger Walks help to provide food and water, as well as resources that empower people to meet their own needs from seeds and tools to wells and water systems. Up to 25 percent of funds raised will come back to local agencies Community Food Advocates, Second Harvest Food Bank/Middle TN Table and Luke 4:12. More information is available here.
Saturday, April 23 is Earth Day, and there are events all over our city. As part of the Mayor’s City-Wide Clean-up, HWEN will have an electronic waste collection at West End Middle School from 9-3. In addition, the Earth Day Celebration at Centennial Park will be taking all types of recyclables including
- Usable Clothing, Shoes and Books – Bring usable clothing and shoes for donation to the Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee exhibit.
- Unused or Expired Pharmaceuticals – Bring your unused or expired pharmaceuticals for safe and proper disposal at the Metro Nashville Police Department’s exhibit.
- Creative Supplies – visit the Reuse village and bring any creative supplies (check out a list of creative supplies) for Turnip Green Creative Reuse. They also take ink and toner cartridges and used cell phones.
- Canned Food and Dry Goods – bring canned fruit and vegetables as well as packaged dry goods (pasta, rice, oatmeal, crackers, nuts, etc.) for donation to the Community Food Advocates mobile market exhibit.
There will be a community meeting to discuss a proposal to redevelop the property at 2000 and 2002 Ashwood. Join owner Steve Condurelis at Belmont UMC at April 26 at 5:30pm to hear and respond to his concept for a multifamily development.
The Country Music Marathon will take place Saturday, April 30. The route is the same as last year and will include Magnolia Blvd, 18th Ave, Portland Ave, Belmont Blvd, Clifton Lane, Lealand Lane, Granny White Pike, 12th South, and Wedgewood Ave. The race organizers will be contacting residents along the route to notify them of the street closings and of no parking times. Street closings downtown will begin Friday morning. Enforcement of No Parking on the route streets listed above will begin at 2am Saturday morning. Street closings will begin at 6am and will end after the last runners have come through. Questions about road closings and alternate road access should be directed to community@competitorsgroup.com or 858-450-6510 or check the interactive map here. (Meter points are locations where traffic will be allowed to drive through before the race begins and when there is a break in the crowd of runners).
The Metro budget process is under way. The Mayor will present the budget to the Metro Council on Friday, April 19 after the State of Metro address, which takes place at Ascend Amphitheater at 11:30am. Interested citizens are welcome to attend, but seating is limited and available on a first come basis. The proposed budget will be available on the Metro Finance Department’s website as it is debated over the next months. The council will offer amendments and vote on a final version of the budget mid-June.
The Metro Parks Department is taking registration for its summer camps and summer jobs programs. Metro Parks offers a variety of summer camps and classes for every age and interest, including drama, ballet, tennis, mountain biking, teen leadership, and outdoor play and environmental education. Jobs are available for 15-17-year olds to fill the positions of Lifeguards and Recreation Assistants. Applications and information are available here.
I hope everyone is enjoying the arrival of Spring. It is a great reminder of growth and new possibilities. Please let me hear from you with your ideas on new possibilities for the District and the City. You can contact me at 615-383-6604 or burkley.allen@nashville.gov.
Regards,
Burkley Allen
Metro Council 18th District