The Metropolitan Historical Commission is now accepting nominations for the 45th Annual Preservation Awards program, honoring Nashville's best preservation projects. Anyone may nominate buildings or structures that have been restored, rehabilitated, or carefully maintained over time. The awards also recognize well-designed new construction that harmonizes with a historic environment. To be considered, nominated properties must be in Davidson County and have an original construction date no later than 1971. Infill projects should be no older than 2019. All projects must have been completed within the past two years. Previous winners may be eligible if the work is significantly different.
The Metropolitan Historical Commission must receive all nominations by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 12, 2021. A virtual awards ceremony will be held in May 2021.
For more program details and submission instructions, please visit our Preservation Awards page!
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MHC News
Research Projects: Staff researched the Parkwood Community Club baseball fields, located on Aldrich Lane, including the history of the property and ownership by the Parkwood Community Club.
Staff assisted District 8 Council member Nancy VanReece with the language of a resolution honoring Diane Nash for March's Women's History Month.
Staff provided the Davidson County Property Assessor’s office with information on properties with significance to African American history in Davidson County. These include Meharry Medical College, Citizens Savings Bank and Trust, Ted Rhodes Golf Course, and Cameron School. You can view these property histories on the Property Assessor’s Instagram account.
Preservation Incentives: Staff is working with District 15 Council member Jeff Syracuse, Property Assessor Vivian Wilhoite, and Metro Trustee Erica Gilmore on BL-2019-3, legislation for a historic property tax abatement. This bill was indefinitely deferred after approval on second reading by Metro Council last year. As we work with those noted, we hope to get the support of the Mayor’s Office, Metro Finance and Metro Council, so that the program can be put in place later this year.
Street Name Change Report: MHC staff recently submitted a street name change report to Metro Council regarding the history of Carney Street for BL2021-622, an ordinance to rename Carney Street to “Bianca Paige Way." This news article details more about the proposal and life of Bianca Paige.
Representative John Lewis Way: MHC staff continues to assist at-large Council member Zulfat Suara and others with a planned celebration for the renaming of a portion of 5th Avenue to Rep. John Lewis Way. That celebration is planned for July 17th. A historical marker for Rep. Lewis will come to the MHC next month and should be in place in time for the event. Check back for updates over the next few months!
Nashville City Cemetery: Staff oversaw the repairs and cleaning of eight damaged gravestones in the City Cemetery. This work was completed in January by mason Stephen Hutchins. MHZC is working with staff from the Metro Parks Department to assess and repair damage to the northwest corner stone pier of the perimeter wall along Oak Street near its intersection with 6th Avenue North. This album shows some of the dramatic before and after photos.
Rachel Ward headstone, before and after recent repairs at NCC. Credit: Stephen Hutchins.
MHZC News
Repairs to the National Register-listed and locally landmarked Holly Street Fire Hall are scheduled to be completed by March. Some architectural features, that were not reusable in their original locations, have been salvaged.
The formal process of designation of the Haynes Heights neighborhood as a Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District began with a public hearing at the February MHZC meeting. The consolidation of the neighborhood conservation zoning overlay will return with a public hearing in March and a decision at the April MHZC meeting. We have approximately 4 individual buildings where a Historic Landmark is being considered.
The MHZC’s March public hearing will be on Wednesday, March 17th at 2:00 p.m. and will be a virtual meeting. Guidance regarding meeting access and submitting comments can be found on our Coronavirus Procedures page.
View the MHZC meeting schedule and application deadlines here. Access archived videos of the MHZC meetings on the Metro YouTube channel anytime!
Over 200 people attended the virtual 40th Annual Nashville Conference on African American History and Culture. Thanks to all who supported and attended the conference! Please be sure to fill out this brief post-event feedback survey so we can continue to improve this beloved program. The complete conference video can be viewed on the Metro YouTube channel. MHC staff and the conference planning committee are deeply grateful to Metro Information Technology Services and Metro Nashville Network for making this virtual event a success. We look forward to seeing everyone at the 2022 conference!
(Left to Right) Planning Committee members Gloria McKissack, Dr. Lea Williams, Jr., MHC's Tim Walker, Linda Wynn, Pamela Bobo and Sharon Hull Smith. Credit: MHC.
The new Profiles of African Americans in Tennessee book will be publicly posted in the coming weeks so keep an eye out for updates! The digital book includes 25 years of profiles added since the book's original printing and will feature an expanded bibliography with several embedded links for easy access to online information and research.
Be sure to check out our new conference website, which will host archives (photos, profiles, programs), updates, and registration details for future NCAAHC events.
Ten bombing-related permits have been issued on Second Avenue in the last month. Work includes window and door replacements and minor masonry and storefront repairs. MHZC staff are in conversation with multiple contractors on several projects that will soon have a permit. For the eight buildings closest to the explosion, stabilization will take several months, after which rehab can begin. Additionally, staff toured Second Avenue with an engineer who has extensive experience working with war-damaged buildings around the world for UNESCO. He put together a pro-bono report for MHC that included recommendations for recovery.
On February 10th, a Second Avenue Visioning Session was led by the Metro Planning Commission and the Nashville Civic Design Center. County Historian Dr. Carole Bucy gave a short history of Nashville and Second Avenue that laid the foundation for a productive two-hour meeting. Another session is proposed in March, but no date has been set.
Rhea Building at 164-166 2nd Avenue N. in 1970. Credit: Historic American Building Survey.
During the week of February 8-12, staff worked with Metro Public Works and General Services to salvage materials from 166 Second Avenue North, also known as the Rhea Building. Through the financial support of The District and the MHC Foundation, New South Associates was hired to sort and catalog materials. Salvaged wood and metal have been stored in a secure city lot, while brick is being stored at the Alley Cassety brickyard across the river. The only other salvage that may occur is at 170-176 Second Avenue North, which has a single owner; however, the owner is still assessing the situation. The District and the MHC Foundation continue to raise funds for the Second Avenue recovery that will assist owners and businesses with structural analyses and the repair of façades. News Channel 5 will broadcast a virtual benefit concert on Friday, March 26th at 7:00 p.m.
The Planning Department, Mayor's Office and other stakeholders will host a 2nd Avenue community visioning session on Monday, March 8th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. You can find more information on the Second Avenue recovery and sources for assistance on hubNashville's Historic Downtown Response and Recovery webpage.
The Sunnyside and Sevier Park improvement project began last month, and staff has attended several meetings with Parks staff, Dryden Architecture, and Collier Engineering. Asbestos abatement will begin next week as additional structural analysis is completed. We expect to have construction documents for the project completed in six weeks, with on-site work to follow this spring.
The project entails repair of the rear portion of Sunnyside including reconstruction of the two-story connector, construction of a new vehicular entrance and parking off of Kirkwood Avenue, reworking the existing vehicular entrance for pedestrians, reconstruction of the carriage house as a rental location for a food service business, and renovation of the office shed as public restrooms. The project will take up to 18 months to complete.
In celebration of Women's History Month, be sure to follow Nashville Sites on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as they highlight their tours and tour stops that tell the story of women’s history in Nashville. Check out both the Women's History and Woman's Suffrage Nashville Sites tours for more great stories and historic images!
You can also look back at previous posts from February featuring African American history during Black History Month. And stay tuned for the latest Nashville Sites tour dropping in March—East Nashville!
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Members of the Blue Triangle YWCA, 1927. Credit: Nashville Public Library/Nashville Sites.
Journalist Cassandra Easley (pictured at right, credit: Tennessee Tribune), daughter of Billy Easley, the Tennessean's first Black photographer, has started a historical newspaper dedicated to highlighting Black history in Nashville. The first edition was published in 2019 and more recently, the second edition published in 2021. Easley is also working on a book on Black history in Tennessee that will be published this fall and offered in both print and digital format. Read the 2021 Nashville Historical here.
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