Local preservation organization Historic Nashville Inc. on Monday released the Nashville Nine, its 16th annual list of "buildings, neighborhoods, or historic landscapes in danger of being lost to demolition, redevelopment, or neglect." Topping this year's list is Colemere Manor, the building formerly home to restaurant Monell's at the Manor and now owned by the Metro Nashville Airport Authority.
Airport Authority says no 'immediate' demolition planned for former home of Monell's at the Manor
Built in 1893 by Confederate veteran and railroad magnate E.W. Cole, Colemere burned in 1929 and was later rebuilt by Cole’s daughter. The historic building on Murfreesboro Pike was the subject of a resolution passed by the Metro Council in May. Though airport representatives said earlier this year that there were no immediate plans for demolition of the property, Colemere was reportedly "in bad shape" and will at some point be "prepared" to accommodate flight activity. The council's resolution asks the MNAA and the Metro Department of Codes to provide written notice of any action related to demolition of Colemere, and urges MNAA to relocate the building.
Also included among the Nashville Nine: the Day-Morgan Cemetery, a family burial area that dates back to the 1870s and sustained heavy storm damage in 2021; the Art Deco-style Belle Meade Theatre, which was constructed in 1940 and remained operational for 51 years, and is now under threat of becoming a mixed-use development; the Metropolitan Community Church building on 15th Avenue North in Midtown; 200-year-old antebellum tavern and residence the Elijah Robertson House on Old Charlotte Avenue; the 100-year-old Mt. Calvary Baptist Church; the William Scruggs House on Hillsboro Pike, which has been listed for sale in recent years despite including historical burial grounds; and the Italianate Merritt House in Wedgewood-Houston, which was sold in 2021 and is planned for relocation.
Preliminary findings from the Greater Nashville Music Census and the full report from the Nashville Independent Venues Study are now available
The ninth item on the list is a catchall: "small music venues across Nashville," including the famed Bluebird Cafe in Green Hills and legendary bluegrass outpost the Station Inn in the Gulch. Historic Nashville points to this year's Nashville Independent Venues Study, which was commissioned by the Metro Planning Department, and notes: "In a city where development is progressing rapidly, these small venues are quickly being dwarfed by surrounding high-rise developments."
Historic Nashville also lists a number of success stories alongside this year's Nashville Nine, from the restoration of John Geist & Sons Blacksmith Shop (now Geist Bar + Restaurant) to the 2015 restoration of the Gallatin Road Fire Hall for Engine No. 18. Find more details at Historic Nashville Inc.'s website.
