'Rock Block' Rezoning Bill Withdrawn From Metro Council

On the subject of a proposed zoning change on Elliston Place adjacent to the area known as the Rock Block, the people spoke, and their representative on Metro Council listened. Even so, the ultimate outcome is yet to be determined.

The Council was to hear bill 2019-1568 for a third and final time at Tuesday night's meeting. Said legislation is a proposal to rezone three adjoining properties at the corner of Elliston Place and Louise Avenue in District 21, currently home to three buildings sometimes collectively called the Louise Douglas Apartments. Opponents like Chris Cobb (owner of nearby music venue Exit/In) argued against a change that would permit a structure up to 15 stories tall to be built on the property, which they felt would pose a host of threats to area businesses and residents.

Councilmember Ed Kindall, who represents District 21 and who sponsored the rezoning request on behalf of the buildings' owners, held a community meeting on Thursday, Aug. 15. Following the meeting, the owners asked Kindall to withdraw the bill, citing opposition from the community. He did just that early in the proceedings of Tuesday's Council meeting. (Prior to the meeting, word of Kindall's decision had gotten out to activists who'd gathered outside the courthouse, and who were posting about it on social media.)

However, Kindall gave comments on his motion to withdraw that struck something of an ominous tone. He pointed out that the rezoning legislation did not specifically allow the demolition of the existing structures and construction of a hotel on the site — the property's current zoning does allow for that very thing to happen, and it was his understanding that the rezoning request was to make it easier to configure the site for the best use. A transcription of his comments is below.

We had a community meeting last Thursday, which we had maybe 10 or 15 people who attended, but it was a very informative meeting, a very spirited meeting. When we left there, the owners [of the Louise Douglas Apartments] have requested, and I concur with — I’d like to read a letter that they sent me through their attorney. It says:

‘We are requesting that you withdraw this zoning bill. We attended the community meeting which you held this last Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. It was obvious to my client and to you that a great deal of misinformation had been circulated to the public as well as to the Metro Councilmen. The only purpose for the zone change for the proposed hotel was to allow a better configuration of the hotel site. Some of the opponents claim that a hotel could not be built on the site. But the current zoning clearly allows a hotel. My clients will continue to circulate correct information, and appreciate all the time and effort you have put into this.’ 

I concur with this. I hope that in the future, whatever project is built at this site, or whatever happens to this site, that we will have full participation by the community. And that’s my reason for asking to withdraw at this time. I don’t know what the future of the project will be, and can’t say.

But one thing I do want to be clear about: There were some communications that this bill actually would allow the owners to demolish the structures there. They can already do that under the current zoning. It also stated that some people believe that it would allow a hotel to be built there. They can already build a hotel there under the current zoning. The difference is — I think at the time they applied to planning, they asked — it was understood they might build a 15-story building. And my understanding is they had agreed to build only an eight-story building. 

I can’t speak to the future of this project, but I would encourage the public — those for and those against any project, be it housing, retail — of course I would encourage the housing, workforce housing. But I don’t know if that can happen, but if it can happen, certainly I would support that.