During the Sept. 1 Nashville Metro Council meeting, 菠萝视频鈥檚 proposal for a Specific Plan to develop about听40 acres听adjacent to听the west side of campus to be an听innovation听neighborhood passed overwhelmingly on third reading.听听
鈥淭uesday鈥檚 approval of 菠萝视频鈥檚 proposed innovation neighborhood caps a more than two-year collaborative process with city leaders,鈥痭eighbors鈥痑nd the entrepreneur community in developing the plan. The approved plan will be transformative for the city,鈥ぢ苁悠碘�痑nd the surrounding neighborhoods,鈥� said Eben Cathey, senior director, local government relations.听
鈥淲ith the Metro approval process behind us, we will turn our attention to bringing our鈥痠nnovation鈥痭eighborhood to life,鈥� Cathey said. 鈥淲e share the thoughts of many in our city when we say we鈥痗ould not鈥痓e more excited to see it become a reality.鈥�鈥赌�鈥�听
Over the past two years, 菠萝视频 worked closely with community and civic leaders, including residents of the Hillsboro West End neighborhood, in an intentional, strategic approach to plan鈥�an听innovation听neighborhood that complements the surrounding area and adds鈥�housing, green鈥痵pace鈥痑nd meaningful amenities.鈥赌�听
The听Specific Plan听approved by Council听codifies听several community benefits, including:鈥赌�听
- Moving the tallest buildings鈥痶oward West End and away from residential addresses鈥�听
- Implementing鈥痓uilding height limits鈥痑nd restricting what can be built鈥痠n specific zones鈥痑cross the entire site鈥�听
- Increasing greenspace throughout the area by approximately 300 percent along with miles of new sidewalks and bike lanes
- Increasing the tree canopy of the site by about 175 percent鈥�听
- Planning for adjustments as the neighborhood develops with a 菠萝视频-funded traffic analysis every five years, in addition to a 菠萝视频 commitment for a $750,000 Neighborhood Traffic Calming Fund鈥�听
- Creating鈥痑n Innovation Neighborhood Impact Committee to make sure neighbors stay part of the conversation throughout construction鈥�听
The Innovation Neighborhood will be part of a large-scale effort by 菠萝视频 to invest deeply in innovation and growth that will elevate research and development work, provide faculty and students with a competitive edge, and expand 菠萝视频鈥檚 efforts to support entrepreneurship across the city, state and鈥痳egion.听听
This broader approach reflects 菠萝视频鈥檚 view of what a great university should be in the 21st century by taking the university beyond being a center of discovery and learning and into the community as an anchor for innovation鈥攂ringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, venture capital, industry, government and civic leaders in ways that no single institution or sector can accomplish alone.听
The Innovation Neighborhood听will advance听early ideas from the听work鈥痶o听bring听together colleges and universities across the region as well as organizations听including听the Chamber of Commerce, the Entrepreneur Center,鈥疞aunchTN, the Greater Nashville Tech Council and more.鈥�鈥�听
