Urban planning composition: Notes from the Music City

Having not been in Nashville in a quarter-century, I was curious how much it had actually changed over the years given the numerous stories about its ascendency as a great American city. In my mind, I always thought of it as the interesting city where our baby boom era nuclear family routinely spent Easter mornings on out way to or from Florida during spring break.

As the lessons below clearly articulate, the Music City is thoroughly enjoyable and vastly entertaining in countless ways. As a retired urban planner, I was impressed how well the city seems to be handling its newfound status. With some notes exceptions, it appears to be weathering the boom times well. Peace!

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• When a city has a vibrant and expansive music scene, it is certain to be an innovation leader in a wide range of endeavors.

• There is a palpable street vibe in much of Nashville that too few American cities possess. It is critical to the health and vitality of any city.

• It’s hard to imagine any city in the country having a wider range of cozy brew or gastro pubs, taverns, dive bars, juke joints, restaurants, and honky tonks per capita than Nashville. It’s an enchanting mix that stirs the senses with a big ol’ swizzle stick.

• Kindness and friendliness is contagious and visitors definitely will notice it in Music City. We noticed it before moving to Albuquerque and it’s clearly apparent when visiting Nashville too.

• Few cities of Nashville’s size offer a wealth trendy and exciting areas for entertainment. Here you have The Gulch, Lower Broadway, East Nashville, and others. East Nashville contains a particularly appealing mix of new, eclectic, hipster, and mid-century retro. Besides, where else on the planet are you going to find whiskey glazed donuts? More on East Nashville in a separate post.

• The 1960s era freeway loop around downtown Nashville is in dire need of an upgrade or replacement. The amount of traffic often overwhelms the roadway’s capability. One can hardly imagine the situation before and after Titan’s home games.

• It’s unfortunate that the “Let’s Move Nashville” proposal for a light rail and bus rapid transit network failed at the voting booth. The density in downtown and midtown neighborhoods is certainly there and the need is increasing every day.

• It was heartening to see the number of separated bike lanes in and around Nashville. Particularly impressive were the protected bike lanes using rain gardens to separate motorists from bicyclists. I do not recall seeing such a design anyplace else. Well done!

• The former country twang image of Nashville from the days of Hee Haw has morphed into a blended urban/rural hip persona that enjoys a broad range of musical tastes, styles, and sounds.

• The greatest impediment holding Nashville back from superstardom amongst American cities is the archaic politics of the Tennessee state government. Nashville is not alone in this predicament – Indianapolis, Salt Lake City, Columbus, and several other cities face this conundrum.

• My greatest environmental concern for cities east of the 100th Meridian is the lack of public lands and/or open places that we are blessed with in the Intermountain West and Pacific Coast. Nashville is no different. Extended outdoor recreation opportunities often require lengthy drives to larger areas like the Great Smoky Mountains or the Appalachian Trail. The recent attempt by the administration in Washington D.C. to sell-off vast amounts of public lands would have destroyed entire lifestyles and communities in the American West. If there is any way for the Nashville-Davidson County Metropolitan Government, as well as surrounding suburbs to combine, link, extend, or expand open spaces, it would most certainly improve public health and elevate the city/region beyond its competitors.

• While not just a Nashville thing, the idea of reserved paid parking spaces nearest to mall entrances are an annoying and unnecessary example of Disney-style elitism gone wild. Must we relegate our mid and lower income citizens to ever more demeaning reminders of wealth inequality in this country?

• Given the eye-popping amount of new/recent construction in and around downtown, it’s surprising how so few power and phone lines have been relocated underground. Seems like that should be a basic prerequisite for redevelopment.

• Nashville’s skyline is quite impressive. However, too many skyscrapers are incorporating the same or a similar color of blueish-gray glass cladding. As a result the buildings blend together too much, taking away from their architectural individuality.

• Vanderbilt University has a handsome transitional campus setting consisting or primarily brick buildings amid a wooded setting. Meanwhile, just a bit away is Belmont University whose buildings resemble iconic temples of education — both are impressive in their own ways, but Belmont really stands out due to its visible proximity to a major artery and the formal architectural style.

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• The number of pedal taverns combined with tour vehicles of every shape and style (including monster trucks) has earned the city the nickname of “Nashvegas.” These especially proliferate in high profile tourist areas like Lower Broadway and Downtown.

• Nashville has soared far beyond Memphis as the heart and soul of the Mid-South. Whether it and/or Charlotte will ever challenge Atlanta as the economic heart of the New South remains to be seen. To date, they appear to be the most likely candidates.

July 4th 2025 fireworks