The city's planned demolitions have been pushed to mid-October. See an update at the bottom of this post.
The city plans to demolish six homes at Old Tent City on Monday following weeks of discussion with state officials, police and various Metro departments. Residents of the encampment say they were not given appropriate warning and have asked Mayor Freddie O’Connell, Metro’s Office of Homeless Services, TDOT and downtown Councilmember Jacob Kupin to delay demolition for 90 days.
Sixteen residents met Wednesday morning to discuss warning signs posted by TDOT last week at the encampment. Several lived in structures that, residents assume, will be taken down on Monday. Metro has communicated that these structures will include three under the I-24 overpass, two “around” the overpass, and one at the “bottom half entrance” of Old Tent City, leaving residents to piece together which homes will be taken down.
City, TDOT try to get on the same page about clearing Old Tent City
The sprawling footprint of Old Tent City includes several city-owned properties stretching from Hermitage Avenue to the Cumberland River. It is home to an estimated 100 residents and has functioned as an encampment for unhoused people since the 1980s. Several residents have built up weatherproof structures over months and years. Metro finalized plans for Wharf Park, a riverfront amenity that includes a boathouse, on the site in January 2023.
“The upstairs is the bedroom,” Dallas, who built a two-story home under I-24, tells the Scene. “I have a kitchen and a flushing toilet, which I plumbed down to a septic tank. I just wish they’d give me a little more time and I’d take it down myself.”
Old Tent City encampment near Hermitage Avenue, September 2024
Dallas has steady work in construction and maintenance. He built his home over three years from materials he found at nearby industrial yards.
“I probably won’t be here when they come to take it down,” Dallas says. “I just can’t see that. It would make me too mad.”
City and state officials have given two explanations for clearing the site: that the structures impede imminent repairs to the Silliman Evans Bridge, a stretch of I-24 that crosses the Cumberland River; and more recently, that Codes has deemed the structures unsafe. The state has not clarified what deficiencies necessitate urgent access to the Silliman Evans Bridge.
One resident, William B., says the city's Codes Department cited him for his home on the property, which has electricity and water hookups. To do so, they gave him an address — 99 Anthes Drive.
In a press release dated Sept. 9, the city argued that demolition is necessary because these homes endanger residents.
“There are a number of Metro agencies, including Metro Codes, MNPD, Metro Parks, OHS, as well as the State, who are growing increasingly concerned about the safety of people experiencing homelessness camping near the Silliman Evans overpass,” reads a statement sent to the Scene by OHS.
Old Tent City encampment near Hermitage Avenue
Metro emphasizes that this is not a camp closure, a step that would require extensive outreach and rehousing efforts per the city’s Outdoor Homelessness Strategy.
On Wednesday, six residents — including Dallas and William B. — co-signed a letter to city and state authorities requesting a “90-day extension on any demolition process,” waste services, temporary storage for belongings, permanent housing and a campground as temporary accommodation.
Kupin attended the Wednesday residents’ meeting, convened by nonprofit Open Table Nashville, but has not publicly stated whether he supports delaying demolition.
Update, Sept. 24: In a statement sent to media, Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office has announced that the Old Tent City demolitions have been pushed to Oct. 15. See the full statement below.
Metro will extend the demolition date by another 20 days to Tuesday, Oct 15 for the 8 structures the lower part of Anthes Drive. That means a 30-day extension from the original day of demolition.
The two structures up on hill will get 30 days too as their situation is harder to address because it is difficult to access the site. Their removal will start Oct 25. There will also be more work required to determine best approach to these.If any violence occurs in a structure during this period, that structure will be dismantled as soon as possible. The city is carefully balancing the need to ensure there is no further violence or crimes committed in the structures.
