Dear friend of the William Edmondson Homesite, Park & Gardens,
It has been awhile since we have reached out. The great news is that we have had many successes as we pursue the community led Higher Vision master plan for the future of the Homesite, in partnership with our new Mayor. Join our Facebook group to stay up-to-date!
However, I am writing because we need your help to remove a new threat to the William Edmondson Homesite, Park and Gardens!
Below, I will request two specific ways you can help. One will take you only minutes. The other, if you are in Nashville, only a couple of hours. Read on for the details...
Chicago-based Marquette Properties is proposing a Edmondson-themed “community greenspace” as part of a 1000-unit upscale residential and hotel complex, they want to build at the Beaman automotive site bordering the Gulch, at the very north edge of Edgehill.
While it may sound like a good idea, they are using Edmondson’s name and artwork for private gain, without permission from the Edmondson family. A “community greenspace” is not the same as a public park. Their concept seems to be a copy of the work we have done with the community, including the plan for the William Edmondson cultural arts center and sculpture garden that we took to the Mayor’s office in May. By appropriating Edmondson’s name for a private greenspace, this plan has the potential to dilute or undermine our community’s efforts to honor Edmondson at his actual historic homesite.
Why would they do this? The Chicago developers are seeking a zoning change from the Planning Commission, to build at heights above what the property is currently zoned for. The required process is to show “community engagement” and evidence of public support to the Commission. They are distributing flyers in Edgehill and asking for signatures on petitions to include in their proposal to the Commission. There is nothing on the flyers to indicate to people who sign the petition, or write to the Planning Commission, that they are actually endorsing a zoning change to support tall buildings.
The Planning Commission takes up the proposal at their next meeting on June 24. Staff is working on their recommendations this week. We would like to see a deferral of two months at the Planning Commission, so the developer can revise their proposal and hold actual community meetings before submitting to Planning. We think this is fair to both to the community and the developer.
We are URGENTLY asking you to do two things: The email is absolutely CRITICAL.
1. Write the Metro Planning Commission to object to this proposal by this Thursday, June 17: planning.commissioners@nashville.gov and jason.swaggart@nashville.gov Voice your concerns and ask for a two month deferral on the decision. Please send to both email addresses.
2. Voice your concerns at a community meeting with the developer this Tuesday, June 15 at 6PM, at Midtown Hills Police Precinct. Show up and wear your Save the Homesite shirt!
We hope to see you all this coming Tuesday. Please remember to write, too. Thank you for your support of the William Edmondson Homesite, Park and Community Gardens!
In service,
Mark Schlicher
For the Friends of the William Edmondson Homesite, Park and Community Gardens