Dockless Bikes & Scooters
After several months of community engagement and stakeholder meetings, Metro passed BL2018-1280 creating regulations for the use of dockless bikes and scooters in Nashville. After passage of the bill on August 21, the operators have been working with the Metro Transportation Licensing Commission to get permits and start their programs. Limebike and Bird launched as soon as the Mayor signed the bill into law. Neighbors can expect to see small groups of scooters parked around the district. The scooters should be upright and out of the pedestrian pathway. Having a well regulated scooter program can be a helpful tool for expanding mobility and reducing car traffic if users learn the rules quickly. The most important rules are not riding on sidewalks in the business districts and parking appropriately. Hub Nashville has already added sites for reporting any issues. Please take note of the color of the scooter so we can identify the company, and mention time and location as accurately as you can. Retention and expansion of permits is dependent on how well each company can get its users to follow the requirements; it will be helpful to get information from neighbors about any problems.
HWEN’s Pilot Walking District
The Metro Public Works department has officially finished its evaluation of HWEN’s pilot Walking District. Neighbors’ surveys and traffic data both indicated that the project was successful in slowing down traffic and making pedestrians feel safer. The long-term plan is to lower the speed limits on local streets city wide as a result of this. Thanks to Nora Liggett and Jenny Cheng for persuading Public Works to give this a try.
Belmont Boulevard Traffic Calming
The Belmont Blvd Traffic Calming study produced several suggestions for changes to the street to make traffic safer for cars, bikes, and pedestrians. Proposed designs were presented at two community meetings with lots of community input. The design included protected bike lanes, extended curbs at key intersections, and additional pedestrian crosswalks. The changes are planned to be installed with paint as a trial pilot with an evaluation before permanent changes are installed in conjunction with a planned repaving of Belmont down the road. Due to concerns from a number of Belmont residents, the Planning team has agreed to reduce the area where the bike lanes would be moved between the parking and the curb to the commercial area between 18th and Ashwood. There are several interesting articles and studies about the safety improvements from this arrangement: read here and here.
Catholic Diocese Property
The Catholic Diocese property at the corner of 21st Ave S and Linden has been purchased. As it is currently zoned, the new owner can build office space and 40 residences on the property. At my request, he has offered to meet with neighbors to discuss other options that might be more beneficial for the neighborhood. Key topics of discussion will be minimizing traffic increases on Linden and establishing appropriate transitions at existing residential properties. The meeting is scheduled for Sept 12 at 6:30 at the home of Eric and Laura Swanson, 2001 Linden.
Hustle For The House 5K & Kathy Dungan 1-Mile Fun Run
Join the families at the Ronald McDonald House on Saturday, September 15, 2018 for the Hustle for the House 5K and Kathy Dungan 1-Mile Fun Run benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities. The race will start and finish at the Nashville Ronald McDonald House (24th and Fairfax) and follow a certified course through the Hillsboro West End Neighborhood. Runners, walkers, corporate groups, families and their furry friends, are welcome to dress in their finest disco attire. Portions of Fairfax, Chesterfield, Marlboro, and Richardson will be closed starting Friday evening through Saturday morning.
Green Hills Park Festival
The Green Hills Park Festival is scheduled for September 15, 2018 from 5pm to sunset at the park 1200 Lone Oak Road (next to JT Moore Middle School). Neighbors can have fun while raising funds for exercise equipment and benches for the Green Hills neighborhood park! (Info on the park projects can be found by clicking here). At the Festival, enjoy sweet and savory food, fun finds at booths and bid on the silent auction items. Sports enthusiasts, check out college football games at the football trailer. Kids 15 and under can try to score a goal on a Nashville Soccer Club pro soccer goalie. Pets will find open green spaces and tasty treats at the doggie food truck. Kids can listen to Mr. Steve, The Music Man sing, jump on a trampoline, visit the face painter, ride in the Walk Bike Nashville bike rodeo, and race on the Major Family Chiropractic obstacle course. The festival finale will be a movie at sunset - Despicable Me 3. There is more info on Facebook.
Metro Council Public Comment Period
The Metro Council has begun holding a twenty minute public comment period for citizens with concerns on non-zoning issues at the second council meeting of each month. The next public comment period will be Tuesday, September 19. Because time is limited, speakers are asked to sign up here.
Brush Pick-Up
Brush pick-up starts for BHN,12th South, and Sunnyside begins Sept 28 and for HWEN Oct 5.
Good Neighbor Day Festival
The sixth annual Good Neighbor Day Festival (formerly the Nashville Neighborhoods Celebration) will take place in the Sylvan Park Neighborhood at Richland Park on September 29. The Festival is a day full of fun activities for the whole family. Listen to fantastic music provided by local musicians. Watch great parades throughout the day. Taste great food from diverse cultures. Play in the Fun Zone. Neighborhood groups can sign up for the chili cook-off, baking contest, marketplace, or showcase of neighborhoods. More information is available here.
I-440 Re-Paving
The TDOT I-440 re-paving contract has been awarded, and construction is scheduled to begin in November. There will be community meetings October 18th at Granny White Church of Christ and October 24th at West Police precinct to explain details and hours of the construction process.
BHN Home Tour
The BHN Home Tour will take place October 6.
Nashville Community Education Fall Classes
Nashville Community Education Fall Classes begin this month with registration continuing through December. The program is filled with diverse, affordable offerings like sewing, social media, and Spanish, just to name a few. Nashville Community Education seeks to enrich the community’s personal and professional skills with offerings led by passionate instructors. For more information and registration click here.
Hillsboro Village Updates
Construction projects in Hillsboro Village continue. Belcourt Village construction is still in the blasting and drilling phase. Major blasting should be complete in early September. They are currently on schedule for the opening of the parking garage on Belcourt in Spring 2019. Blasting times are scheduled for 9am, 11am, and 1pm (with an additional backup blast, if needed, at 3pm). There may be days that blasting will occur less than three times during the day, but they will still occur at the scheduled times. The area along Belcourt and the alley adjacent to the job site will close to pedestrian and vehicular traffic for approximately six minutes at those times, if there is going to be a blast. Click here for more information. The Moxy Hotel is continuing to pour concrete slabs for each floor, and has several more early morning pours before that phase is complete.
International Market Update
Belmont University has purchased the property at International Market on Belmont Blvd. as well as the two adjacent lots. The International Market will stay open for business for the next year with construction to start in fall or 2019 for a new Student Performance Hall. This is consistent with the entertainment zone plan shown in the recently updated Institutional Overlay.
Metro Public Health Department - Hepatitis A Reports
Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) officials have confirmed 93 cases of hepatitis A reported in Nashville since December 2017. MPHD continues to work with the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), as well as other Metro Departments and community organizations in response to the outbreak. Work continues to reach three at-risk groups. Those at greatest risk of exposure to hepatitis A in the current outbreak include people who use drugs (not just injection drug use), men who have sexual contact with men, and individuals experiencing homelessness. The Health Department has led a hepatitis A vaccine campaign, along with community partners, to vaccinate more than 5,000 people in Nashville since the outbreak was announced in late May. Vaccines are effective for preventing disease and are strongly recommended for anyone in the three groups. MPHD continues to offer free hepatitis A vaccine at all three of its Health Department Centers to the three risk groups.
MPHD operates three health centers open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday:
- East Health Center, 1015 East Trinity Lane
- Lentz Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Ave.
- Woodbine Health Center, 224 Oriel Ave
Nashville Tree Fest
Nashville Tree Foundation’s free tree giveaway program, Nashville Tree Fest begins in September. The organization will provide 800 free container-grown trees to Davidson County residents during Nashville Tree Fest, a 3-week celebration of trees. From September 25 to October 12 Nashville Tree Foundation will provide a variety of free trees and education at 8 farmers markets. The first delivery is on September 25 at the 12th South Farmers Market.
In Conclusion
I hope everyone had a great Labor Day holiday. Please let me know what is on your mind by contacting me at burkley.allen@nasvhille.gov or call at 615-383-6604.
Regards,
Burkley Allen
Metro Council 18th District