Sounds Development Public Hearing

Around 200 people turned out today to ask questions and share their views on a plan for a new downtown ballpark for the Nashville Sounds that combines housing and retail shops with the stadium.

Representatives of the development firm Struever Brothers, Eccles and Rowse came to the meeting seeking input on the design, but faced many questions about how viable and appropriate the plan is.

Berdelle Campbell says today’s meeting was the first chance for Nashvillians to speak out. Campbell, a 25-year resident of downtown, says she likes baseball and isn’t necessarily opposed to the development.

“…but the question has not be asked and people have not had a chance to say is this the best thing to use this prized, precious piece of riverfront property for. Will this make it most possible for the most people to make the most use of that river.”

The Metro Council formed a task force to sift through proposals for the former site of the thermal transfer plan. The panel recommended the ballpark, retail and housing plan.
Developer Bill Streuver says he wished public hearings had come before that, but he urged the audience to get behind the plan.

“If you travel the great waterfronts of the world, I think you’ll see many of them have very intensive private uses – housing, office, retail, restaurants, hotels – right in the midst of their great public waterfront spaces. We do not see a conflict. We don’t see something inherently wrong or evil about bringing thousands of people to live on the Cumberland riverfront. We think it’s a good thing.”

The Nashville Civic Design Center will sponsor another public hearing on the ballpark proposal in two weeks.

The Mayor’s office has not given the go ahead to the plan. It’s been waiting on the proposed mix of retail, housing and the park to hit a certain number for generating sales tax revenue.