Edgehill Neighborhood Study

Nashville Civic Design Center

EDGEHILL NEIGHBORHOOD FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 2003

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE

The work represented in this document was done at the request of the Organized Neighbors of Edgehill (ONE). The work was produced by the Nashville Civic Design Center in cooperation with the greater Nashville community. The design staff of the Civic Design Center during the study were: Mark Schimmenti, Design Director; Gary Gaston, Assistant Design Director; Andrea Gaffney, Designer; design interns: Jason Hill, Amanda Posch, Matt Gregg and Raven Hardison; and research interns: Dan Cooper and Ben Palmquist.

Judy Steele of the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency and Randall Hutcheson of the Metro Planning Department contributed significantly to the report. Reverend Bill Barnes and Betty Jean Forester provided us with keen insight to the history of the neighborhood. We would like to express our gratitude to the community members for the time and effort they put into this process. Questions and comments may be directed to:

Area of Study

3

Executive Summary

4

Executive Outline Findings and Recommendations

5

Overview Development History of Edgehill Comparison of Figure Ground Maps Comparison of Aerial Photographs

8 12 13

Community Input Meetings Diagrams Identifying Issues Survey Results Neighborhood Vision Workshop Urban Design Class

14 15 20 21 22

Recommendations Overview Neighborhood Vision Plan 12th Avenue South Detailed Plans Case Study - Alameda Cornerstone Plan A New Park for Edgehill Polar Bears Other Issues

23 24 29 36 38 39 40

Appendix A Implementation Chart

41

Appendix B Survey Results

42

Appendix C CPTED Principles

45

EDGEHILL NEIGHBORHOOD STUDY Nashville Civic Design Center 700 Church Street, Suite 102 Nashville, Tennessee 37203 (615) 248 - 4280 voice (615) 248 - 4282 fax info@civicdesigncenter.org www.civicdesigncenter.org The Nashville Civic Design Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with funding from the Frist Foundation, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, the University of Tennessee, and Vanderbilt University. Š2003 Nashville Civic Design Center

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 2

OF

CONTENTS

AREA

OF

STUDY

Overview of Edgehill neighborhood and surroundings

I-40

Fort Negley

Peabody College

Music Row

Edgehill

Belmont University

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 3

I-65

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Aerial of Edgehill neighborhood

At the request of the Organized Neighbors of Edgehill (ONE) the Nashville Civic Design Center conducted a study of the Edgehill Neighborhood. The study area is to the south of The Gulch, north of Wedgwood Ave., west of 8th Avenue South and east of the alley separating Villa Place and 16th Avenue South. ONE specifically requested the Civic Design Center to: “Establish and maintain an identity and character as a strong, diverse, and viable neighborhood within the community, and determine its relevance to the surrounding neighborhoods and the city at large by: • Maintaining a strong, viable community that continues to promote its historical diversity through its culture, economy and social structure.

• Mitigate commercial encroachment and zoning conflicts.

• Suggest options for retail and community services for the neighborhood.

• Improve traffic engineering and consider the use of traffic calming techniques.

• Develop affordable housing that adds to the unique character of the neighborhood.

• Assist residents in developing a unified vision for the neighborhood.”1

A series of community meetings were organized to establish what the neighborhood perceived as the concerns and desires for the present and future of Edgehill. In addition, the advanced course in urban design taught at the Civic Design Center focused on the neighborhood as its research subject. Five public meetings were conducted in the Edgehill neighborhood; four at the E.S.Rose Community Center and one at the I.W. Gernert Homes Community Room. Two public meetings were conducted at the Civic Design Center. Personal interviews and archival research augmented the information gathered at the public meetings.

The Nashville Civic Design Center makes the following recommendations for the Edgehill Neighborhood: • Redesign 12th Avenue South, through the Edgehill neighborhood, to become a pedestrian friendly boulevard.

• Encourage commercial and mixed-use development at the intersection of 12th Avenue South and Edgehill Avenue to create a strong “Neighborhood Center”.

• Utilize, improve, and capitalize upon the numerous community assets.

• Reestablish an urban neighborhood scale retail and commercial uses along 12th Avenue South.

• Hold future public housing revitalization programs to a high level of design and construction accountability.

• Introduce plans and programs that reduce the risk of encroachment and gentrification.

• Reestablish the network of streets, alleys and paths within the neighborhood, returning, where possible, to the historic street grid.

• Implement Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Principles listed in appendix C.

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This booklet contains detailed information explaining and illustrating these recommendations. The following pages outline each issue that was raised during the community meetings, explaining information that was obtained through research by the Civic Design Center, and expands upon the recommendations given to the neighborhood.

EXECUTIVE OUTLINE FINDINGS

AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

FINDINGS: 1. 12th Avenue South is a major concern for the neighborhood.

Our Studies found: • The design of 12th Avenue South is that of an urban arterial.

• Traffic counts do not justify the layout and width of the avenue.2 • The presence of a turn lane along 12th Avenue S. between Edgehill Avenue and Horton Avenue, even though there are no places to turn.

• Residents feel that intersections and crossings are difficult.

• Low visual appeal.

• “12 South” and “The Gulch” projects have, or will receive significant street improvements, yet Edgehill, which lies along 12th, between both neighborhoods, has not seen comparable street improvements.

2. The Heart of the neighborhood is the intersection of 12th Avenue South and Edgehill Avenue.

Our study found: • This intersection is also the physical center of the neighborhood • The center is within a 1/2-mile walking distance to all parts of the neighborhood.

• The “Neighborhood Center” has a variety of uses: schools, park, grocery store, convenience store, and public housing.

3. Numerous community assets were pointed out as symbols of neighborhood pride: the Polar Bear Sculptures, E.S. Rose Park and Community Center,

Reservoir Park, the Edgehill Branch of the Nashville Public Library, the Edgehill Community Garden, I.W. Gernet Homes, the historic residential fabric and the long history as an African-American neighborhood.

Although physically removed, Ft. Negley is also considered a community asset.

Our studies found: • The Polar Bear Sculptures are a beloved and iconic symbol of the Edgehill neighborhood.

• Edgehill is a neighborhood with numerous parks and green spaces, unrivaled by many Nashville neighborhoods.

• E.S. Rose Park has magnificent potential as a public space, though currently it is not defined sufficiently.

• Reservoir Park is an underutilized resource.

• The Edgehill Branch Library is well utilized by the neighborhood.

• The vacant lot behind the Edgehill Branch Library, adjacent to Murrell School and the community garden, is designated to become a new community park.

4. The neighborhood lacks minimum necessary retail and commercial facilities.

Our study found: • A lack of retail and commercial uses generally associated with a neighborhood of this size.

• A rich historical precedent of commercial and mixed-use density previously located along 12th Ave. S. and South Street.

5. Public housing and other non-ownership housing dominates the neighborhood.

Our study found:

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 5

• The ratio of owned homes to rented homes to be out of balance with good community design standards.

6. Residents are concerned about physical and economic encroachment.

Our study found: • Adjacent districts and educational institutions have tried to change zoning laws to allow for expansion.

• The current tendency of the real estate market in Nashville is to gentrify neighborhoods like Edgehill, and inflate property taxes.

7. The network of streets is discontinuous and confusing in certain areas.

Our study found: • There are several opportunities to reopen streets, making the network more coherent and logical.

• Street closings that were originally intended to keep Edgehill residents from accessing Music Row, now serve the opposite function, preventing cut-through traffic and protecting the neighborhood.

8. Crime is a mainly a localized problem within the neighborhood.

Our Studies found: • Crime occurs in areas that correspond to poor urban design standards.

EXECUTIVE OUTLINE FINDINGS

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RECOMMENDATIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS: Ater conducting public input and consulting with the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, the Office of the Mayor, transportation engineers, the Metro Planning Department, Metro Public Works, Affordable Housing Resources, and Bank of America CDC, the Nashville Civic Design Center makes the following recommendations: 1. Modify 12th Avenue South through Edgehill to become a pedestrian friendly boulevard.

• Create design guidelines related to architectural types and building placement that reinforces the role of 12th Avenue South as the neighborhood “Main Street.”

• Reconfigure 12th Avenue South to allow for on-street parking and bicycle lanes during off peak hours. Peak hour travel can be accommodated through flexible use of the roadway.

• Realign necessary intersections and signals to create greater ease of use for pedestrians.

• Create a planted median along 12th Avenue South.

• Install lighting and landscaping that is consistent with the designs for “12South” and “The Gulch.”

• Upgrade Edgehill Avenue between 16th Avenue South and 8th Avenue South using similar design guidelines as those along 12th.

2. Concentrate initial commercial and mixed-use development at the intersection of 12th Avenue South and Edgehill Avenue, creating a strong “Neighborhood Center”.

• The Edgehill neighborhood should work with the Metro Planning Department to create

a Detailed Neighborhood Design Plan that reflects the recommendations of this report.

• Focus federal, state, and local funds to strengthen the “Neighborhood Center” concept.

3. The numerous community assets should be utilized, improved, and capitalized upon.

• Incorporate the Polar Bears into the new Edgehill Community Park or a similar setting appropriate to the scale and history of the statues.

• Make E.S. Rose Park more accessible and better defined by extending a low use road through the park. The edges of the park also need better definition.

• Expand the E.S. Rose Community Center to meet additional needs.

• Open more of reservoir Park to the public.

Usage could be encouraged by offering community activities such as “movies in the park” or better playground equipment.

• The Edgehill Branch Library is an excellent resource; expand the library over time to accommodate community needs.

• Expand the library uses to an outdoor area in the adjacent Edgehill Community Park, where outdoor activities could take place.

• Coordinate community garden summer activities in conjunction with the library.

• Reconfigure I.W. Gernert homes over time to better define the public and semipublic spaces.

4. Reestablish urban neighborhood scale retail and commercial uses along 12th Avenue South, beginning with the intersection of 12th and Edgehill Neighborhood Center.

• Discard generic suburban designs in favor

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 6

of fine grained storefront traditional urban architecture.

• Do not allow off-street surface parking in front of buildings.

5. Require future public housing revitalization programs to maintain a high level of design/construction accountability.

• Develop economic assistance programs to aid in home ownership.

• Develop infill housing that is affordable, of good quality, and has an architectural style consistent with the neighborhood.

• Reconfigure or rebuild public housing with an architectural quality that contributes to the urban qualities of the neighborhood.

• Integrate future public housing with private housing.

• Require public housing units to remain consistent with the neighborhood’s requirements • Phase reconfiguration/rebuilding efforts of the public houing such that no one is displaced from the neighborhood.

• Require mixed-use development in future public housing reconfigurations.

6. Introduce plans and programs that reduce the risk of encroachment and gentrification.

• Adaptation of Alabama’s Property Senior Tax Exemption Programs. Seniors over 65 who make under a certain level of income could be exempt or have their property tax rates frozen at current levels. This would reduce the possibility of seniors being forced to sell their homes because they cannot afford the increased property values.

• Expansion of Inclusionary Zoning Law

EXECUTIVE OUTLINE FINDINGS

•

•

• •

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RECOMMENDATIONS

projects (ex. Row 8.9 Housing). Inclusionary zoning laws gives incentives to government or private developers to develop affordable properties for owners and renters earning less than 50 percent of the area’s median income. As a result, these new developments typically include households earning a wide range of income.

Mayor Purcell’s HoPE Program (Home Ownership Preservation Effort) provides funding to homeowners whose income is less than 60% of the median income with houses valued less than $125,000.

Historic areas of Edgehill (Villa Place) could obtain a Historic Conservation Zoning Overlay to help prevent the demolition of historic homes. This overlay also governs additions and new construction, which might not fit the character of the neighborhood.

Neighborhood Landmark Overlay could be used to protect important neighborhood buildings.

Attending Metro Zoning and Planning Commission meetings and working closely with city council members is also highly recommended. This allows residents the opportunity to become aware of what is being proposed for their community, and also gives developers a chance to familiarize themselves with the specific development needs of the Edgehill Neighborhood.

7. Reestablish the network of streets, alleys and paths within the neighborhood, returning, where possible, to the historic street grid.

• Mega-blocks, created during Urban Renewal, should be reconfigured when housing types change.

• A pedestrian bridge connecting Edgehill to Ft. Negley should be considered.

8. Implement Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Principles listed in appendix C.) • Buildings that do not promote the “eyes on the streets” concept should be reconfigured or replaced.

• High quality lighting should be standard throughout the neighborhood.

• Cul-de-sacs and discontinuous streets should be eliminated in certain areas within the neighborhood to eliminate pockets of crime.

Taken from the Proposal Nomination Form submitted April 19, 2002 page 2.

2 Metro Public Works conducted car counts showing a daily count of 14,385 cars on 12th Avenue South at Edgehill Avenue compared to 29,729 cars on 21st Avenue S. in Hillsboro Village’s . 21st Avenue S. has much less design capacity than 12th Avenue S. 1

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 7

OVERVIEW HISTORY Three historical forts located on current aerial photograph

Edgehill is one of Nashville’s oldest neighborhoods.

Over the years the neighborhood has been reshaped again and again, yet through it all runs a common thread of perseverance. In the face of natural disasters, urban renewal, and the continual encroachment on neighborhood boundaries, the residents of Edgehill have maintained solidarity through strong neighborhood identity. As a result, Edgehilll is one of Nashville’s most vocal and active communities.

Edgehill’s beginnings date back to the early 1800’s when Robert Brownlee Currey, an early mayor and postmaster of Nashville, built a settlement on top of what would later become Rose Hill, the second largest of the three hills rising near Franklin pike just southwest of downtown. After Currey’s home was consumed by fire the hill took on the name Currey’s Hill, a name that remained until the Civil War.1 In 1862, the Union army marched into Nashville and, after setting its sights on the three hills, enlisted black laborers to construct Fort Morton, Fort Casino, and Fort Negley.

Historic image of Reservoir after its wall broke

When Fort Negley was completed in December, 1862 it was the largest Union fort west of Washington, D.C. In 1864, the Union army established a contraband camp for fugitive slaves near Fort Negley. When the Confederates tried to retake the city, the contraband fugitives were made to defend the fort with picks and shovels rather than being given weapons. After the Union army pulled out of the area, the contraband camp developed into a black neighborhood. Its population grew as newly freed slaves arrived from the plantations south and west of Nashville.2 Edgehill’s reputation as a community of aspiring working-class African American families attracted people from other parts of the city. The burgeoning community soon established such important neighborhood institutions as Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (1866), Kayne Avenue Baptist Church (1882), Bass Street Baptist Church (1887), and Lea Avenue Christian Church (1892).

While Fort Negley remained intact, growth and development in Nashville explains the disappearance of Forts Morton and Casino. A quarry was excavated where Fort Morton once stood atop Currey’s Hill. (By that time, the hill had become known as Meridian Hill.3) In 1889 the city built the Nashville Reservoir on top of Kirkpatrick Hill on the site of Fort Casino.

The reservoir, built with rock from the Meridian quarry, supplied water to the whole city. On November 5, 1912, a section of the reservoir wall collapsed, sending 25 million gallons of water crashing into the neighborhood. Fortunately no lives were lost, but over 25 houses were significantly damaged.4 The reservoir was repaired, and residents again were allowed to walk or bicycle along its walls until 1917. The outbreak of World War I prompted fears that Germany might try to poison the city’s water supply and the reservoir was closed to the public.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 8

The arrival of a streetcar line to Edgehill around 1890 made the neighborhood more attractive to downtown professionals. White commuters began to settle along 8th and 9th Avenues on the eastern border of the neighborhood and along 15th Avenue to the west. Before long, the Great Migration brought a flood of rural black migrants into Nashville as they sought work in the city or stopped there on the way north. The large growth in Nashville’s African American population coincided with the rise in popularity of the automobile. Many of Nashville’s white residents moved to new suburban areas further from downtown, segregating the onceintegrated inner city neighborhoods.5 As white flight continued into the 1940s and 1950s, African American professionals began moving into West Edgehill. Having won more equitable wages in federal court, the growing black middle class built large family homes in areas such as the west side of Edgehill. The neighborhood boasted its own doctors, dentists, and lawyers. M. G. Blakemore, the first African American representative in Tennessee was a resident of Edgehill. Sculptor William Edmonson, who in 1937 became the first African American artist to be granted his own show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York also called Edgehill home.

OVERVIEW HISTORY William Edmonson’s marker at Murrell School (above) *Grocery store with housing on South Street, 1956 (below)

*Hicks Grocery with houses on South Street, 1956 (above) *Interior of a cafe on South Street (below)

By the 1960s, however, powerful external forces changed the character of Edgehill forever.6

Commercial retail was plentiful along 12th Avenue and South Street. Hardware stores, bakeries, meat markets, drug stores, and large-scale grocery stores lined the streets. Restaurants, such as the popular Cotton’s, were also neighborhood fixtures. Although outsiders owned many businesses in Edgehill, it had its share of locally owned African American businesses. Clemons’ Drug Store on 12th Avenue and Patton’s Funeral Home, an early site of the famed polar bear sculptures, were both

owned by African American Edgehill residents.

In the 1950s, Edgehill remained culturally and economically vibrant. In addition to the well-to-do residents in west Edgehill, many high profile African Americans stayed in the neighborhood as they passed through the city. Touring African American musicians, barred from segregated hotels downtown, stayed in a rooming house in west Edgehill.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 9

In the late 1950s Owen Bradley’s recording studio moved to 16th Avenue South on the border of west Edgehill. It was the first recording studio in the area, and its success, in conjunction with the boom of the country music industry, led to a large-scale migration of record companies to the area now known as Music Row. As record companies rushed to purchase residential houses, the city was happy to accommodate with zoning changes, and as a result Edgehill’s character changed drastically. Many of the prominent families living in west Edgehill left the area as the music industry continued its expansion. Today, although there is still fear of encroachment from Music Row, the western boundary of the neighborhood is well-defined and communication between the two communities has improved dramatically.

The most devastating development to affect Edgehill was the federal urban renewal program, which tragically altered the design and fabric of the neighborhood. The program’s mission was to completely redevelop “blighted” areas with goals that included: the expansion of neighborhood schools and parks, the widening and realignment of certain streets, the redevelopment of public housing, the elimination of incompatible land uses and obsolete structures, the separation of storm water and sewage lines, and the clearing of land for the expansion of Belmont University.7

OVERVIEW HISTORY Nashville Housing Authority (MDHA) urban renewal plan for Edgehill - infrastructure implementation plan, 1960s

Urban renewal plan for Edgehill - planning objectives, 1964 (above) Two cul-de-sacs separated by a fence - Edgehill, 2003 (below)

Nashville Housing Authority (MDHA) urban renewal plan for Edgehill - master plan development, 1963

Pervasive in the philosophy of urban renewal was the importance of right-of-way for interstate highway expansion. With the construction of I-65 and I-40, the northern and eastern boundaries of the neighborhood were truncated. Direct connections to downtown and Fort Negley were limited to two bridges that focused mainly on automobile traffic. The project also sought to create major traffic arteries to free motorists of the congestion brought about by commercial properties, and to reduce traffic on residential streets. To reinforce this idea, the redevelopment plan called for transforming the majority of the traditional residential street grid into dead-end cul-de-sacs.

While cutting off through-traffic was thought to benefit the residents, it developed isolated areas which later attracted crime.

The Edgehill public housing campaign began at the center of the neighborhood with the construction of Edgehill Homes at the corner of 12th Avenue South and Edgehill Avenue. The project was completed in 1954, and while it did away with deteriorating structures, it completely eradicated the traditional design of the neighborhood and eliminated commercial space along 12th Avenue, the neighborhood’s historic spine.

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1950s urban renewal foreshadowed the next decade’s calamitous interventions forced upon the neighborhood’s structure. Public and elderly housing was built throughout the neighborhood with a tabula rasa mentality, completely ignoring the existing neighborhood fabric. Homes were razed and neighborhood streets

OVERVIEW HISTORY Carter Lawrence School, September 2003 during demolition

erased to make way for new “superblock” subdivisions. An estimated two thousand, three hundred people were relocated to make way for new public housing.8 Commercial property on 12th Avenue was virtually eliminated when the street was expanded to five lanes. The major traffic artery of Wedgewood Avenue swooped through the historic street grid, and separated the neighborhood from Belmont University. In 1964, the abandoned rock quarry on top of Meridian Hill was filled in and Rose Park, Rose Park School, and the E.S. Rose community center were built. The large swath of land was not landscaped and had few access points, making the majority of the park inhospitable to its neighbors. In the northwest portion of the neighborhood, streets were cut off with cul-de-sacs that created a distinct boundary between Edgehill and Music Row. Initially considered a hostile boundary, the cul-de-sacs disrupted the street grid and reduced access to the neighborhood.

Urban renewal coincided with the Civil Rights movement, prompting neighborhood residents to become active in protesting both segregation and proposed redevelopment of the neighborhood. Under the leadership of Reverend Bill Barnes, Edgehill residents became active in protesting urban renewal by opposing a new housing development proposed for the South Street area. Largely due to their efforts, the development was scrapped. Instead, the area was incorporated into Rose Park with single-family Turnkey III homes built on the north side of the hill. Nevertheless, the damage had been done. Businesses in Edgehill all but disappeared, and residents were left with one grocery store where, at one time, there were fifteen.9 Although Urban Renewal destroyed much of the neighborhood, some prominent historic institutions (such as churches, Patton Brothers Funeral Home, and

the White Way Cleaners complex) survived. In response to the drastic changes brought about by Urban Renewal – and with the resolve that Edgehill was still a thriving community – Organized Neighbors of Edgehill (ONE) was created in 1967 to give residents a voice to express their concerns and a vehicle with which to take action. Longtime Edgehill residents such as Reverend Barnes and King Hollands became instrumental in mobilizing the community to take action and fight for development to keep in mind the interests of the residents. ONE began sending delegations to Metro Council meetings and defeated attempts by the Music Industry to rezone property on the western border of Edgehill for commercial use. The group organized around such issues as crime reduction, public school monitoring, and the humane construction of new public housing developments. ONE created the first Community / Police contract for crime reduction, and set up a substantial scholarship fund that supports students from the neighborhood.

Hopes are high that commercial development will be revitalized in the neighborhood’s once thriving central artery. The owners of the White Way complex in west Edgehill are planning on redeveloping the building for mixed use purposes. Plans for the development of a new park incorporating the Edgehill Community Gardens along 13th Avenue are also under way. Carter Lawrence School has been demolished and a new school will be built in its place. With the assistance of MDHA, the community has purchased the polar bears and plans to relocate them in the neighborhood.

Neighborhood organization and mobilization has brought about new visions for the future of Edgehill. With the redevelopment of 8th Avenue South at Douglas Corner accomplished, Nashvillians are now turning their attention toward 12th Avenue South. The 12South Plan and the Gulch Master Plan are already being implemented north and south of the

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 11

neighborhood. Edgehill can play a key role in the connection of these two areas. In order for the development to benefit everyone, special attention must be paid to the design of infrastructure and buildings. As Reverend Barnes stated in one of the meetings for this study, “For once, we have the chance to be a pro-active community instead of a reactive one.”

*Photos courtesy of Ronnie Miller.

1 Walker, Hugh. The Giant Pit on Rock Crusher Hill is No More. Nashville Tennessean. 1/6/1963. p. 3-B 2 Lovett, Bobby. The African American History of Nashville, Tennessee, 1780-1930: Elites and Dilemmas.

Fayetteville : University of Arkansas Press, 1999 3 Walker 4 Zepp 5 Lovett 6 Interview with King Hollands & Betty Jean Forrester 7 MDHA Annual Reports 1961-1972.

8 Organized Neighbors of Edgehill 9 Reverend Bill Barnes

OVERVIEW COMPARISON

OF

FIGURE GROUND MAPS Edgehill Figure Ground 1908

1908 • The northern portion of the neighborhood is occupied by single family residences.

• The southern portion of neighborhood was platted for development, but is still primarily undeveloped land.

• The reservoir is the dominant feature in the landscape.

• Belmont College can be seen in the lower left corner.

Edgehill Figure Ground 1951

1951 • A majority of the neighborhood is occupied by single family residences.

• Commercial areas are focused on 12th Avenue and South Street.

• WhiteWay Cleaners is located at Edgehill Avenue and Villa Place.

• Historic streetgrid is prevalent throughout neighborhood.

• Belmont University expands.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 12

Edgehill Figure Ground 2000

2000 • Much of the traditional neighborhood fabric is gone due to urban renewal and interstate implementation.

• South Street has been widened to a boulevard, removing all of the commercial buildings.

• E.S. Rose Park has been established in the central portion of the neighborhood.

• From 1908 to 2000, the figure ground illustrates the increase in building footprint size.

• The western residential portion of the neighborhood is still very similar to its 1951 character.

OVERVIEW COMPARISON

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AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS Edgehill, 1961

1961 • Edgehill homes is first public housing to be built in the neighborhood.

• Traditional neighborhood fabric is largely intact.

• “Rock Crusher” hill quarry can be seen in the center of the neighborhood.

Edgehill, 1987

1987 • Interstates and public housing have been in the neighborhood for about twenty years.

• Wedgewood Avenue is a main east/west thoroughfare.

• 12th Avenue South is under-utilized for its width.

• Cul-de-sacs and the closing of Grand Avenue have fortified the border between Music Row and Edgehill.

• Rose Park has replaced “Rock Crusher” hill.

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Edgehill, 2003

2003 • Music Circle has been added to Demonbreun Street in the north.

• The Gulch and 12South developments have begun implementation.

• Carter Lawrence school razed, construction on new school begins in Fall 2003.

• Reservoir is closed to the public in 2001.

COMMUNITY INPUT MEETINGS Edgehill Community Meetings

ISSUES DISCUSSED IN MEETINGS WITH THE EDGEHILL COMMUNITY AND THE NASHVILLE CIVIC DESIGN CENTER CIVIC/PUBLIC SPACES • Improvement of schools • Entrance markers for the neighborhood • Maintenance and improvement of Pedestrian Walk (10th Avenue) • Library expansion with study rooms and tutoring program • Renovation of Fort Negley into a public park • Formal entrance to community garden • Revitalization of Parks through landscaping, illumination, installation of equipment • Landscaping/beautification of public areas, for example: Re(dis)cover East! Main Street HOUSING • House numbers • Central a/c in public housing—general upgrades to existing public housing stock • More affordable, owner-occupied housing • More housing for elderly/disabled

• A property tax break for older residents in the event of gentrification and significant property tax increases.

• Marketing Campaign for home improvement grants for TurnKey3 housing • Make land available for purchase at an affordable price so that O.N.E. can build new homes. (O.N.E. is currently only able to renovate existing structures due to the high prices for property in the area, especially in parts of neighborhood adjacent to historic neighborhood districts.)

INFRASTRUCTURE • New sidewalks and bike paths • Crosswalk across Edgehill Avenue in front of E.S.Rose • Street access to the middle of the public housing blocks • Signalization timing at certain intersections—identified on transportation diagram • Lighting and landscaping of streets off 12th Avenue

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• Substation beautification, improved lighting • Creating a visual connection the length of 12th Avenue from Sevier park, through Edgehill, and to the Gulch.

PEDESTRIAN Walk No one wanted to see this walkway reopened as a street, but instead felt strongly that it should be cleaned up, mowed, planted with trees, better landscaping, and improved lighting, so that it becomes an attractive option for walking and bicycling. (Several residents remarked on how children of the neighborhood use the P.E.D. walk to get to the park and public pool).

Bicycle Lanes and Greenways • Areas for greenways, bicycle lanes and paths should be considered.

Traffic Calming design for 12th Avenue Parking Issues • Need resident permit parking on streets near Belmont University

COMMUNITY INPUT DIAGRAMS IDENTIFYING ISSUES BASE MAP

The following diagrams are visual representations of the issues discussed during the Edgehill community meetings. The accompanying text identifies the specific issues mentioned for each map’s subject. From the subjects discussed during these meetings, a survey was prepared and distributed to the residents of Edgehill.

The results of this survey are on page 20.

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COMMUNITY INPUT DIAGRAMS IDENTIFYING ISSUES INFRASTRUCTURE MAP

TRANSPORTATION ISSUES DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS • Wedgewood Ave. & 15th Ave. S. • Wedgewood Ave. & Hillside Ave. • 12th Ave. S. @ Summit Ave. • 12th Ave. & Edgehill

SIGNAGE/SIGNALIZATION IMPROVEMENTS • Wedgewood Ave. @ Acklen Ave. needs a “do not block intersection” sign • 8th Ave. & Chestnut Ave. & Edgehill Ave. - no left hand turn signal • 12th Ave. & Edgehill Ave. – no turn on red and no left turn arrow.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 16

COMMUNITY INPUT DIAGRAMS IDENTIFYING ISSUES COMMERCIAL MAP

RETAIL / COMMERCIAL NEEDED • Pharmacy • Banks • Produce market (Food Secure Neighborhood Program) • Restaurants—not fast food • Beauty/Barber shop • Laundry facility • WhiteWay Development—How and What will it become?

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COMMUNITY INPUT DIAGRAMS IDENTIFYING ISSUES SAFETY ISSUES MAP

SAFETY ISSUES Drug Activity • Substation block 14th/Horton Avenue • Grand Avenue/ 13th Avenue • Sigler/ Hawkins down 13th Avenue • Argyle and Wade near Hillside Avenue • Whiteway parking lot near mailbox

Street Crossings • 12th Avenue/ Horton Avenue dangerous Insufficient Lighting • Grand Avenue park • Tony Rose Park • E.S. Rose Park • Alley between 14th and 15th Avenues Reduce turnover rate of police force to help foster relationship between community and police—help create a self-policing mentality Protecting residential aspect of neighborhood from Music Row development Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 18

COMMUNITY INPUT DIAGRAMS IDENTIFYING ISSUES DEVELOPMENT AREA MAP

COMMUNITY RELATIONS / DEVELOPMENT • Social services representation at the Alert Center • Full year/ indoor recreation/fitness facilities—YMCA • After school program for ages 11-15 (YMCA? Boys Club?)

• Transformation of Polar Bear house into a Community Center

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 19

COMMUNITY INPUT SURVEY RESULTS For complete survey results, see Appendix B

Thirty-four people participated in this survey which was conducted in December, 2002.

The following list represents the twenty items with the highest frequency of number one priority*: # of votes

item description -- CATEGORY

23

Drug Activity -- SAFETY ISSUES

21

Improvement of schools -- CIVIC/PUBLIC SPACES

19

Lighting and landscaping of streets off 12th Avenue -- INFRASTRUCTURE

17

Central a/c in housing—general upgrades to existing public housing stock -- HOUSING

16

Library expansion with study rooms and tutoring program--CIVIC/PUBLIC SPACES

16

Traffic Calming design for 12th Avenue -- TRANSPORTATION ISSUES

15

After school program for ages 11-15 -- COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

14

Increased Police Presence -- SAFETY ISSUES

14

Crosswalk across Edgehill Avenue in front of E.S.Rose -- INFRASTRUCTURE

14

Pharmacy -- RETAIL/COMMERCIAL

14

Social services representation at the Alert Center -- COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

13

Dangerous intersections -- TRANSPORTATION ISSUES

12

More affordable, owner-occupied housing -- HOUSING

11

Produce market (Food Secure Neighborhood Program) -- RETAIL/COMMERCIAL

11

More housing for elderly/disabled -- HOUSING

11

Insufficient Lighting -- SAFETY ISSUES

10

Banks -- RETAIL/COMMERCIAL

10

Substation beautification, improved lighting -- INFRASTRUCTURE

9

New sidewalks and bike paths -- INFRASTRUCTURE

8

Property tax break for older residents in the event of gentrification and significant property tax increases. -- HOUSING

* When the frequency of number one votes for multiple items was equal, the frequency of the number two votes determined the ordering.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 20

COMMUNITY INPUT NEIGHBORHOOD VISION WORKSHOP Vision map

Edgehill Community Visioning Workshop.

On February 13th, 2003, approximately 30 citizens, council people, neighborhood policemen, and community members gathered at the Nashville Civic Design Center for the Edgehill Neighborhood Visioning Workshop. The goal of this meeting was to establish a vision for the neighborhood.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 21

COMMUNITY INPUT URBAN DESIGN CLASS Urban Design Class Schematic Diagram

Urban Design Class final presentations (above) 12th Avenue South proposed section (below)

Urban Design 102, taught during the Spring of 2003 at the Nashville Civic Design Center, studied the Edgehill Neighborhood. The class focused on writing codes and policies to promote traditional neighborhood development patterns. Victor Dover of Dover Kohl & Associates and members from the Edgehill community served as critics for the final presentations.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 22

RECOMMENDATIONS OVERVIEWS Figure / ground of proposed neighborhood plan

Overall Neighborhood Design • Design 12th Avenue South boulevard with an emphasis on “main street” design with mixed-use development, retail, residential, civic and institutional buildings.

• Replace urban renewal housing typology with traditional neighborhood housing that has a defined front and back, oriented towards the street.

• Infill housing throughout neighborhood: substation at Horton and 14th Avenue South, northeast corner of Rose Hill, Reservoir Park—housing facing the park, multi-family housing on MDHA property, 8th Avenue and Wedgewood.

• Expand library to Edgehill Park.

• Build a new green space and housing west of the reservoir.

• Implement Rose Park Lane—a low volume vehicular access through the park.

• Build belvederes at high points in Rose park for gatherings.

• Expand E.S. Rose community center • Build mixed-use and multi-family housing along Sigler, Hawkins, and Music Circle East • Re-open Grand Avenue at 16th Avenue South • Build a pedestrian bridge from Archer street to Fort Negley boulevard • Build a pedestrian bridge from Southside to 9th Avenue South • Emphasize community, civic, cultural, and institutional buildings along Edgehill Avenue, especially along Rose Park.

• Build a greenway on the north and east edges of the neighborhood along interstates.

• Landscape/redesign the Edgehill Avenue/ Chestnut Avenue bridge over interstate.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 23

RECOMMENDATIONS NEIGHBORHOOD VISION PLAN Neighborhood Map

Recommendations for land use: This drawing illustrates the vision for Edgehill’s future.

The plan represents what the neighborhood could become at some point in the future with suggested changes being incorporated over time. See the phasing chart in Appendix A. The main concepts for this plan are: • Design 12th Avenue South boulevard with an emphasis on “main street” design with mixed-use development, retail, residential, civic and institutional buildings.

• Emphasize community, civic, cultural, and institutional buildings along Edgehill Avenue, especially along Rose Park.

• Replace urban renewal housing typology with traditional neighborhood housing that has a defined front and back, oriented towards the street.

• Infill lots with housing throughout the neighborhood.

The plan represents the addition of the following amounts of residential, retail, commercial, and green space: Residential 239 single family detached houses @2000 sf/unit 169 townhouses/rowhouses @1500 sf/unit 591 apartments @ 1200 sf/unit 429 resident apartments @800 sf/unit 361 units in mixed-use buildings @1200 sf/unit Retail/Commercial 575,000 sf Green space (incl. community garden) 18 acres

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 24

RECOMMENDATIONS Row 8.9 housing, 8th Avenue North (above) Mechanicsville Commons, Hope VI Project, Knoxville, TN (below)

Proposed land use diagram for public housing block (above) Sterling Court apartments, Belmont Boulevard (below)

Grocery store with offices on corner, 21st Avenue South (below)

• Multi-family residential building 2 - 3 floors • Mixed-use building with parking in rear • Mixed-use building: ground floor retail/ commercial, 2-3 upper floors residential/ office space.

• Multi-family residential courtyard building with roof gardens. (4 floors) • Single family detached houses replace the substation • Single family townhouses/rowhouses These images suggest an idea of what different types of development could look like in Edgehill. These examples are found locally and represent a broad range of income levels, from governmentally funded public housing units and affordable row houses to apartments and mixed use commercial property.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 25

RECOMMENDATIONS Diagram of proposed changes for Rose Park area (above) Park lane, Centennial Park (below)

Belvedere on Capitol Hill (below)

• Rejoining of cul-de-sacs creates a focal point for a staircase leading from the belvedere to the neighborhood.

• Belvederes located on the two high points of Rose Hill to command views.

• Single family rowhouses line edges of park.

• Rose Park Lane - a slow speed road through the park.

• E. S. Rose community center expansion • New civic building is located in front of Rose Middle School

Rose Park is a tremendous resource for the neighborhood that is currently underutilized. The addition of belevederes at high points in the park would offer locations for family picnics/reunions, areas to watch downtown fireworks, or just quiet spaces for contemplation.

A small vehicular road, similar to the one through Centennial Park, would aid in access to the park.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 26

RECOMMENDATIONS Diagram of proposed changes for Reservoir Park area (above) Row Houses, Portland Avenue, Nashville (below)

Playground equipment, Fannie Mae Dees Park, Nashville (below)

• Reconfigure street grid adding a combination of single-family detached houses and rowhouses • Extend Gernert Homes to 11th Avenue South adds 2 units to each courtyard.

• Build Three-storey apartment buildings facing 11th Avenue South. These could be used as additional elderly housing.

• Create a new park that is lined with rowhouses and frames the reservoir to the east (see illustration page 28).

• Reservoir park becomes a family park withchildcare and outdoor activity center as focal points.

Emphasize Reservoir Park as a neighborhood park. Its quiet and well-shaded character should be expanded upon to offer more activities for children and families.

This could include more playground equipment and picnic shelters, expanded childcare facilities, and an area that could accomodate such activities as summertime “movies in the park” or other community functions. New houses could face the park and reinforce the concept of “eyes on the park.”

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 27

RECOMMENDATIONS PERSPECTIVE Perspective looking east towards reservoir

RESERVOIR HILL NEIGHBORHOOD A new park created to the west side of the 8th Avenue Reservoir serves as a tree-lined commons area for surrounding row houses, apartments, and single family homes. The Reservoir becomes a beautiful backdrop to the new green space.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 28

RECOMMENDATIONS 12TH AVENUE SOUTH DETAILED PLANS Detail Plan, Phase I

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 29

Detail Plan, Phase II

Detail Plan, Phase III

RECOMMENDATIONS 12TH AVENUE SOUTH - PHASE I (0 - 5 YEARS) Detail Plan, Phase I

Detail illustrating planted median and bus shelters

figure 1

Avenu 12th

• Construct more covered bus shelters.

• Insert a planted median where the turn lane is currently located but is not being utilized.

This median will serve as an area of refuge for pedestrians crossing the street.

• Insert a planted strip between the sidewalk and the street. The addition of this extra space creates a safety zone between pedestrian and automobile traffic.

• Locate all utility poles in the middle of this planted strip, allowing for complete use of the sidewalk by pedestrians.

• Create highly visible crosswalks and delineate street paving differently at crosswalks in order to increase motorists’ awareness.

• Plant trees along 12th Avenue South to reinforce the boulevard concept while providing shade for pedestrians and parked vehicles.

• Line parking lots with trees and plantings to create a continuous rhythm along 12th Avenue South.

• Edgehill Park and the new Carter Lawrence school completed.

e Sou th

Improvements suggested for 12 th Avenue South, emphasizing the area between Edgehill Avenue and Horton Avenue

Edgehill Ave nu

e

Horton Ave

nue

bus shelter figure 1

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 30

RECOMMENDATIONS 12TH AVENUE SOUTH - PHASE II (5 - 15 YEARS) Detail Plan, Phase II

Detail illustrating transformation of buildings at corners

Detail illustrating expansion of library and infill bulidings along 12th Avenue South

Emphasis is placed on important corners to begin realignment of street-based neighborhood design.

figure 2

• Buildings at corners are redesigned to “meet the street” and define important intersections in the neighborhood.

• Parking lots are moved to the sides and behind buildings to create a continuous rhythm of buildings along 12th Avenue South.

• Library expands and connects to Edgehill Park.

• Building infill occurs along 12th Avenue South.

Horton A venue

library

figure 2

Edgehill Ave

nue

figure 3

Wedgewood Av enue

bus shelter figure 3

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 31

RECOMMENDATIONS 12TH AVENUE SOUTH - PHASE III (15 + YEARS) Detail Plan, Phase III

Detail illustrating transformation of housing, dark green indicates rooftop gardens on lower height buildings (below)

12th Avenue South is a continuous boulevard from the Gulch to 12South with a variety of civic, educational, residential, retail, and mixed-use buildings.

figure 4

• Edgehill homes replaced with mixed-use buildings on 12th Avenue South, and with town houses and single-family houses to the west.

• I.W. Gernert Homes expanded eastward to 11th Avenue South. The tower is expanded to the corner of Edgehill and 12th Avenues with retail space on the ground floor.

• Retail corners developed at South Street and 12th Avenue South.

Detail illustrating the development of retail corners figure 4

South Str eet

13th Aven

ue

14th Aven

ue

Edgehill A venue

figure 5

Horton Ave

nue

bus shelter figure 5

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 32

RECOMMENDATIONS BOULEVARD 12th Avenue South at Edgehill Avenue, looking North

8’

6’

5’

1’

This drawing illustrates the suggested redesign of 12th Avenue South at Edgehill Avenue. There are two lanes of travel in each direction, with the outside lane accomodating a shared-lane with cyclists. The outside lane is available for parking at all times except for morning

14’

10’

1’

7.5’

2.5’ 1’

10’

14’

1’

5’

and afternoon rush-hour, at that time it opens in the direction of the rush-hour traffic. For example, the section above represents a north-bound rush-hour situation, with two lanes of automobile traffic and a cyclist riding next to the curb in the north-bound

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 33

6’

direction. On the south-bound side, there is one lane of automobile traffic and one lane of parking with the cyclist riding to the inside of the parked cars. The center turning lane becomes a planted median where a turning lane is not necessary.

RECOMMENDATIONS BOULEVARD Section and plan of 12th Avenue South at mid-block crossing of Gernert Homes, looking North

8’

6’

5’

1’

14’

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 34

10’

1’

10’

1’

10’

14’

1’

5’

6’

RECOMMENDATIONS CONTINUITY

OF

DESIGN Redevelopment areas along 12th Avenue South

Street sections for development areas along 12th Avenue South

The Gulch mixed-use neighborhood located to the north of Edgehill and the 12South commercial district located to the south are areas that have masterplans which are currently being implemented by Metro. Edgehill lies between these two neighborhoods along 12th Avenue South.

Gulch

When comparing 12th Avenue South as it exists through Edgehill, and its configuration in The Gulch or 12South, one realizes the vast difference between the two sizes. 12th Avenue South was built in its current dimensions during urban renewal as a street with highway proportions. Its right-of-way through Edgehill is approximately 80 feet, while in the 12South area the typical right-of-way is 50 feet.

12th Avenue South street section in the Gulch Edgehill

Wedgewood Avenue 8’

6’

6’

14’

11’

10’

11’

14’

6’

6’

Recommended 12th Avenue South street section in Edgehill

A logical argument exists for redesigning 12th Avenue South through Edgehill. Its neighbors to the north and south are currently receiving street improvements, which include new sidewalks, planting strips, streetlights, street furniture and landscaping. When completed, these neighborhoods will have a pedestrian friendly environment. However, these new centers will be separated by the Edgehill neighborhood, which is harshly divided by its main thoroughfare.

With similar street improvements, Edgehill could also become a pedestrian friendly neighborhood. Its residents would benefit from the slower traffic speeds that result from the various traffic calming measures introduced. The commercial businesses in the neighborhood would also benefit from being located along a beautiful tree-lined avenue.

Ashwood Avenue

12South

12th Avenue South street section in 12South

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 35

The Civic Design Center proposes that the boulevard section be continued south of Wedgewood Avenue to Ashwood Avenue, where the 12South plan begins.

This is a natural boundary because of the shift in 12th Avenue as well as the reduction in the number of travel lanes and traffic speed.

CASE STUDY PHASING - GARRISON ST. NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER Dover Kohl & Associates plan for Lakewood, Colorado

THE ALAMEDA CONERSTONE PLAN Lakewood, Colorado The Alameda Cornerstone Plan is a community based plan created to realize the long-standing vision of West Alameda Avenue as the Grand Parkway from Denver to the Mountains. The Cornerstone Plan is intended to promote reasonable and responsible growth.

It sets forth a proactive approach to guiding growth while respecting the need of residents and existing businesses, and at the same time, addressing the full spectrum of transportation needs. This plan was adopted by the City of Lakewood Planning Commission in March 2003. (source: http://www.doverkohl.com) The following series of images are intended to show an example of how phasing can be used to transform an automobile orientated highway into a pedestrian friendly, activity orientated neighborhood center.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

BUILDINGS DEFINE THE STREET

The image above is an existing condition streetscape in Lakewood, Colorado. The street is too wide for safe crossing and does not relate to the pedestrian.

Dover, Kohl and Partners conducted a neighborhood design charrette which proposed the following phases of improvements: beautification, buildings defining the street, and infill.

Moving the buildings closer to the street helps contain it and creates a sense of place rather than a drive-by space. Buildings relate by having doors and windows facing and opening directly onto the streets (above).

BEAUTIFICATION

INFILL

Includes the addition of street trees, landscaping, lighting, widening of sidewalks and re-striping roads to allow for multiple forms of mobility (above).

The final step of the transformation is to infill the remaining lots with mixed-use buildings. People using all forms of transportation feel comfortable in the environment, causing an increase in commercial and social activitiy (above).

This case study can be used as an example for the Edgehill Neighborhood when implementing changes for 12th Avenue South.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 36

RECOMMENDATIONS 12TH AVENUE SOUTH - PERSPECTIVE 12th Avenue South at Edgehill Avenue looking South (above) Photograph of current conditions (middle) Location key for perspective (below)

This perspective drawing depicts 12th Avenue South at the intersection of Edgehill Avenue. It represents what the intersection could become at some point in the future, with the suggested changes being incorporated over time.

In the left foreground is the Carter Lawrence Math and Science Elementary Magnet School. Demolished in 2003, the new Carter Lawrence school opened its doors to students again in 2005. In the background is the expanded I.W. Gernert Homes tower. At ground level the facilities have been enlarged to offer retail and office space to better serve the residents. The office spaces are used by non-profit community organizations, help groups, and a small health facility.

Located at the corner of the newly expanded I.W. Gernert Homes is a small plaza space. This serves as a small “pocket park” denoting the center of the neighborhood. It is used to showcase important neighborhood art, sculpture, and important neighborhood icons.

In the right foreground is a new neighborhood shopping center, featuring a corner grocery, drug store, bank, clothing shops, hair salon/barber shop, restaurant/cafe, and other needed community amenities. In the background is a new mixed-use building that has ground level retail/office space and upper level residential units.

Infrastructure improvements can be seen in the addition of a planted median and trees located to each side of the street, creating a lush boulevard. Utilities have been placed underground.

The design allows for safer pedestrian crossings of 12th Avenue South. Walking and biking have been encouraged by the construction of larger sidewalks and bike lanes. In addition, drivers have access to onstreet parking. Shopping has become a more social experience, returning the neighborhood to the historic character that once existed along 12th Avenue South.

This added activity along the avenue reinforces this intersection as the Edgehill “Neighborhood Center.”

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 37

RECOMMENDATIONS A NEW PARK

FOR

EDGEHILL

12th Ave

nue South

library alley

enue

Final design for the park (below)

Av Wedgewood

Horton Avenue

Nashville Civic Design Center park proposal (above) Filled-in culvert and right-of-way area (below)

The Edgehill neighborhood received a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through the Metropolitan Development & Housing Agency to build a park on the vacant lot next to Murrell School (along Horton Avenue and 14th Avenue South). Working closely with community leaders and MDHA, the Civic Design Center suggested several design improvements for the proposed park. The completed design incorporates a central tree-lined pedestrian path and entrance gateways. The plan also includes a multi-use playing field, baseball field, tennis court, playground equipment, picnic pavilions, and a walking path.

The following are potential elements to be considered for future development:

Murrell School 14th Avenue South

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 38

• Extension of park space across Wade Avenue into an abandoned right-of-way, with formalized access to Wedgewood Avenue. • Extension of the library into the park with an area for reading activities.

RECOMMENDATIONS POLAR BEARS Polar Bears at 1408 Edgehill Avenue

The two concrete polar bears were located at 1408 Edgehill for more than 60 years. Each bear weighs 600 pounds and is 5 1/2 feet tall. They were molded around 1930 at G. Mattei Plaster Relief Ornamental Company, which was once located downtown at the corner of Fourth and Elm Streets. They were constructed as advertising gimmicks for the Polar Bear Frozen Custard shops, formally on Gallatin Road and West End Avenue.

After WW II, soft ice cream took the place of frozen custard and the store closed, leaving the bears homeless. They were sold to Zema Hill, who lived at 1408 Edgehill Avenue, in the early 1940s. He placed two in front of his house and two in front of what is now Patton Brothers Funeral Home, also in the neighborhood.

The funeral home bears were sold to a North Nashville homeowner in 1952 and have now found their way to Germantown.* Currently the Edgehill bears have been purchased by the neighborhood with the assistance of MDHA and plans are underway to design a space specifically devoted to their display.

Proposed polar bear location at corner of Edgehill Avenue and 12th Avenue South in front of I.W. Gernert Homes

The corner of 12th Avenue South and Edgehill Avenue was identified as a possible new home for the Polar Bears. This site is considered important by residents because of its central location within the neighborhood. The land is owned and maintained by MDHA. Currently the neighborhood is considering holding a design competition which would focus on this site.

While the site is prominent in the neighborhood, the current scale of 12th Avenue is too large and fast moving for the Polar Bears to be noticed. The Civic Design Center recommends a design scheme that elevates or in some other way draws attention to the bears located on this corner.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 39

Proposed polar bear location at entrance to the new park on Horton Avenue

Locating the polar bears on Edgehill Avenue next to the tree behind Carter Lawrence school is another possible location for the bears. An added benefit to this site is that it could also serve as a new entrance to Rose Park (below left). The incorporation of a promenade and landscaping would improve pedestrian access to the park space. The view of the bears is on axis with Edgehill Avenue from the west, enabling both pedestrian and vehicular traffic to appreciate the bears. Most important is the creation of a unique place for the polar bears located near the heart of the neighborhood. polar bears

The new Edgehill Community Park, located adjacent to Murrell School (see page 38) is designed with formalized entrance gates along Horton Avenue. The Polar Bears could serve as entrance markers to this park.

By placing the bears on pedestals, the risk of people climbing on them is reduced. This site is similar to their previous Edgehill Avenue home, because it is located on a residentially oriented street. In this atmosphere they would serve as neighborhood monuments. If citywide recognition is a desired element for the display of the bears, the 12th Avenue site is a better choice.

(*Source): “Bidding War Over Bears� by Craig Boerner, The Nashville City Paper

RECOMMENDATIONS AESTHETIC ISSUES 12th Avenue South at Wedgewood-existing (above) Proposed median with neighborhood entrance marker (below)

Dumpster at I.W. Gernert Homes-existing (above) Painted dumpster-proposed (below)

Substation at 13th and Horton-existing (above) Substation art project in Seattle, WA (below)

GATEWAYS

DUMPSTERS

SUBSTATION

An opportunity exists for creating markers denoting the entrances to Edgehill. These could be located at several different locations throughout the neighborhood, with the most prominent ones at Wedgewood Avenue in the south and South Street in the north.

The diagram below illustrates this idea. A competition could be held for the design of the markers.

In the future, relocate dumpsters to less prominent areas and incorporate their placement into the overall design concept. Existing conditions can be remedied with minimal expenditures (such as painting) which would significantly improve the presence of these objects in the neighborhood.

The electrical substation, on the corner of 14th Ave. S. and Horton Ave. is an eyesore, and also one of the most dangerous locations in the neighborhood. Though it should eventually be relocated, a short term solution could involve the neighborhood working with the Metro Arts Commission in transforming the look of the station with the use of public arts funds.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 40

APPENDIX A IMPLEMENTATION

0-5 Years Infrastructure

5-15 Years

Addition of planted median with street trees to 12th Ave. S. between Edgehill Ave. and Horton Ave.

Extension of boulevard along 12th Ave. S. to the blocks between Edgehill and Hawkins.

Adoption of standard light poles and street furniture.

Introduction of on-street parking and bicycle lanes to 12th Ave.

Construction of pedestrian bridge from Archer St. to Ft. Negley Boulevard.

15+ Years Street grid is repaired when Urban Renewal housing types are replaced with single family homes.

Reopen Grand Ave. at 16th Ave. S. Housing

Landscape and street lighting improvements.

Corner buildings are modified to create better defined intersections.

Implement neighborhood watch programs.

Infill housing built on empty lots with quality housing that fits with the character of the neighborhood.

Community education classes focusing on home ownership offered to community.

Park

School

Community Garden improvements.

Edgehill homes replaced with mixed-use buildings, town houses, and single family houses.

Replace urban renewal housing typology with traditional neighborhood housing that has a defined front and back oriented towards the street.

Edgehill Community Park built.

Construct belvelderes at hight points in A new park is created east of the reserRose Park to take advantages of views of voir, bordered by an affordable housing. downtown.

Construct “Rose Park Lane”, a low volume, one way vehicular path through the park, which allows for better access.

Reservoir Park improvements include new playground equipment and “movies in the park” during summer months.

Construct greenway on the north and east edges of the neighborhood along I-40 / I-65.

Construct new outdoor gathering space on the hillside landscape of Reservoir Park.

Landscaping improvements in all neighborhood parks.

Expand library to address Edgehill Community Park.

Carter Lawrence is rebuilt with improved facilities.

Expand child care center located in Res- Performing arts school built in proximity ervoir Park to offer better facilities to the to the W.O. Smith School of Music and neighborhood. the outdoor performance center.

W.O. Smith School of Music moves to new location at corner of 8th Ave. S. and Outdoor performance space / amphiEdgehill Ave. theater is built in empty lot across from Rose School.

Civic

Emphasize Edgehill Ave. as a cultural throughfare, espically along Rose Park.

Expand the Edgehill Branch Library.

Commercial

12th Ave. S. emphasized as the neighborhood “main street”.

Intersection of 12th Ave. S. and Edgehill built as “neighborhood center”.

Transportation

Bike lanes added to 12th Ave.

Expand E.S. Rose Community Center.

New covered bus shelters added to most traveled routes.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 41

New civic building constructed in front of Rose School.

Light rail developed along 12th Ave S. and 8th Ave. S.

APPENDIX B

Residents prioritized the issues in each category rating them 1 - 5 with 1 being of highest importance and 5 being of lowest importance. They were instructed to not respond to issues they felt were not important to the community. The bold numbers represent the 20 most important issues identified in the survey.

SURVEY RESULTS

SURVEY RESULTS - EDGEHILL COMMUNITY DECEMBER 2002

1

2

3

4

5

21

7

4

0

2

Entrance markers for the neighborhood

2

2

8

6

6

Maintenance and improvement of Pedestrian Walk (10th Avenue)

3

3

7

4

7

16

8

3

1

2

Renovation of Ft.Negley into a public park

3

6

6

1

7

Formal entrance to community garden

3

4

4

3

9

Revitalization of Parks through landscaping, illumination, equipment

5

4

4

4

5

Landscaping/beautification of public areas

4

2

3

4

7

7

2

2

1

7

Central a/c in housing—general upgrades to existing public housing

17

7

1

4

4

More affordable, owner-occupied housing

12

8

4

1

4

More housing for elderly/disabled

11

6

7

4

3

8

5

6

5

2

Marketing Campaign for home improvement grants for TurnKey3 housing

2

4

7

2

6

Make land available for purchase at an affordable price

6

5

9

4

4

CIVIC/PUBLIC SPACES Improvement of schools

Library expansion with study rooms and tutoring program

HOUSING House numbers

Property tax break for older residents in the event of gentrification and significant property tax increases.

so that O.N.E. can build new homes.

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 42

APPENDIX B SURVEY RESULTS

INFRASTRUCTURE

1

2

3

4

5

New sidewalks and bike paths

9

7

2

5

6

Crosswalk across Edgehill Avenue in front of E.S.Rose

14

4

7

1

4

Street access to the middle of the public housing blocks

4

10

3

4

3

Signalization timing at certain intersections

5

9

4

2

5

Lighting and landscaping of streets off 12th Avenue

19

3

6

2

3

Substation beautification, improved lighting

10

7

4

5

1

7

4

2

4

6

Pharmacy

14

4

5

3

4

Banks

10

9

2

2

7

Produce market (Food Secure Neighborhood Program)

11

7

9

0

3

Restaurants other than fast food

5

5

8

6

5

Beauty/Barber shop

5

4

4

4

4

Laundry facility

4

4

9

2

7

WhiteWay Development—How and What will it become?

7

3

1

5

5

Creating a visual connection the length of 12th Avenue from Sevier park, through Edgehill, and to the Gulch.

RETAIL/COMMERCIAL

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 43

APPENDIX B SURVEY RESULTS

COMMUNITY RELATIONS/DEVELOPMENT

1

2

3

4

5

14

1

8

4

3

4

15

5

3

3

15

7

9

1

0

4

6

3

9

3

13

5

4

5

3

Signage Improvements / Signalization Improvements

8

4

10

5

3

Opening “Closed” Streets

4

3

3

5

5

PEDESTRIAN Walk improvement

7

8

9

2

4

Bicycle Paths

4

7

8

1

7

16

7

1

2

4

23

4

4

0

1

6

6

3

5

11

11

6

6

7

1

8

3

6

7

6

14

11

7

1

1

Social services representation at the Alert Center Full year/ indoor recreation/fitness facilities—YMCA After school program for ages 11-15 (YMCA? Boys Club?)

Transformation of Polar Bear house into a Community Center TRANSPORTATION ISSUES Dangerous intersections

Traffic Calming design for 12th Avenue SAFETY ISSUES Drug Activity Street Crossings Insufficient Lighting Parking Issues—Residential parking permits Increased Police Presence

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 44

APPENDIX C CPTED PRINCIPLES

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED \sep-ted\) is a branch of situational crime prevention which has as its basic premise that the physical environment can be changed or managed to produce behavioural effects that will reduce the incidence and fear of crime, thereby improving in the quality of life, and enhancing profitability for business.

CPTED is a multi-professional approach to reducing crime and the fear of crime by having planners, designers, architects, landscapers, and law enforcement professionals working together to create a safe climate within a built environment.

The proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a reduction in the incidence and fear of crime and thus increase the quality of life.

Key CPTED Principles 1. Natural Surveillance: CPTED focuses on the placement of physical features, activities, and people in such way as to maximize visibility. This includes the lighting of public spaces and walkways at night.

2. Natural Access Control: CPTED features the physical guidance of people coming and going from a space by the judicial placement of entrances, exits, fencing, landscaping, and lighting.

3. Territorial Reinforcement: CPTED encourages the use of physical attributes that express ownership, such as fences pavement treatment, art signage, and landscaping.

4. Maintenance: CPTED allows for the continued use of space for its intended purpose and serves as an additional expression of ownership It prevents any reduction of visibility from landscaping overgrowth and obstructed or inoperative lighting.

While traditional law enforcement and crime prevention has focused on target hardening (locks and lights), many neighborhoods have gone a step past this old style of thinking and adopted the CPTED concepts of crime prevention.

Crime and the fear of crime can be greatly reduced by having neighborhoods, schools, and businesses implement the CPTED principles in the early planning stages of community design.

Source: http://www.cpted.com.au/

Nashville Civic Design Center Report: Edgehill Neighborhood page 45