Mayor Freddie O’Connell has appointed local attorney Emily Lamb to sit as board chair of the East Bank Development Authority, which oversees the construction and promoting of economic development along the East Bank of the Cumberland River. Additionally, the mayor appointed four other individuals to serve on the board of the authority, including community leaders Hal Cato and Kaitlin Dastugue.

A shareholder with the Nashville office of Dallas-based law firm Winstead PC, Lamb was formerly the Metro Codes Department deputy director. The other four appointees are as follows:

  • Hal Cato (term ending 2028). Cato is Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s chief executive officer.
  • Kaitlin Dastugue (term ending June 2026). Dastugue is Nashville Civic Design Center’s chief operating officer.
  • Mona Hodge (term ending June 2027). Hodge serves as both associate principal and the director of people and culture at local architect firm Smith Gee Studio.
  • Brian Reames (term ending June 2025). Reames is a partner with Green Hills-based commercial real estate firm Magnolia Investment Partners.

The mayor’s appointments do not require Metro Council approval. The date of the board's first meeting is expected to be announced in early 2025.

“I’m grateful for each appointee’s willingness to serve on what will be a critical authority that ensures continuity of work and progress along our East Bank,” Mayor O’Connell says.

“The authority will help us deliver the neighborhoods that Nashvillians envisioned during the robust public engagement period of Imagine East Bank. Those neighborhoods will come with unprecedented commitments in affordable housing, childcare and safe streets with transit access.”

In early November, the council filled its two positions on the authority with attorney Scott Tift and workforce organizer Nathaniel Carter.

Similarly, the state has tapped Jimmy Granbery, CEO of H.G. Hill Realty Co., and House Speaker Cameron Sexton or a Sexton pick. (Nashville Business Journal reports Sexton is expected to serve.)

In August, the Metro Council unanimously approved the deployment of an authority to oversee work on the East Bank, with the state legislature having previously approved legislation in April enabling the authority’s creation.

Also in August, the council passed the development agreement between Metro and The Fallon Company, which will start developing the first 30 acres of Metro-owned land. The future NFL stadium, under construction to the immediate east of Nissan Stadium, will anchor the East Bank.

Above see photographer Angelina Castillo's shots of construction on the forthcoming Titans stadium, which is currently underway.

This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.

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