A hotel in Joelton could soon be transformed into an affordable housing development following the Metro Council’s approval of a rezoning measure.
The council advanced an ordinance on second reading Tuesday that would amend a segment of Joelton’s planned unit development overlay district. This would allow for 120 multifamily residential units as a part of a redevelopment effort of the Days Inn located at 201 Gifford Place.
During a public hearing, citizens and councilmembers spoke in favor of the project, saying it will help to address Nashville’s housing crisis, with the property to benefit the city more so than having the hotel service transient guests.
“Having micro units like this is crucial to housing people who are moving to this city,” said Councilmember Emily Benedict. “It is exactly the type of housing reform that this city and this council, our planning department and commission have been working on.”
Meanwhile, some Joelton residents spoke against the project, citing concerns about the increase in traffic and impact on infrastructure.
“We need council support to not allow this to happen, because Joelton doesn’t have space for this many residents until something else changes,” said Bob Shirey.
Other residents said the Days Inn hotel is needed in the area, though the ordinance’s sponsor, Councilmember Joy Kimbrough, said she has been told by the owners that the hotel is not lucrative.
“Sometimes people are just afraid of people they’re not used to seeing every day being around them,” Kimbrough said.
The ordinance will be heard for a third and final reading before the council.
In other business:
18 amendments to be considered for redevelopment plan
The council deferred the consideration of two bills related to a redevelopment plan for a scrapyard in the East Bend segment of the East Bank. The bills will be taken up at the council’s next meeting on April 21, when a slew of amendments placing restrictions on parking, hotel developments, height bonuses and digital signage, among other matters, will be considered.
Two bills tied to rezoning for the future Oracle Corporation headquarters advanced on second reading. The bills amend the current River North Urban Design Overlay district to rezone 165 acres of property located on Cowan Street, Cowan Court and Waterside Drive to create a new subdistrict for the development of streets, open spaces and greenways.
Another bill that would have given a one-time credit to users of Metro water and sewer services as a result of January’s winter storm failed 16-18.
In an effort to address the lack of child care centers in Nashville, the council advanced a bill on its second of three readings to create a program to expedite the permit processes for affordable housing and day care development projects. This is a part of a package of bills, drafted with the help of the mayor’s office, looking to expand access to affordable child care across Davidson County.
