In early 2024, construction is set to begin on the south block of the Second Avenue area that was destroyed three years ago in the Christmas Day bombing.
Second Avenue looking toward Broadway
The Metro Development and Housing Agency says in a release the first phase of south-block construction is expected to be completed in one year. Private recovery efforts have been ongoing with buildings in the area, like AT&T’s commitment to fund the redesign of its building facade.
The scope of MDHA’s plans will include roadway, tree preparation and underground utility work, including separating stormwater from the combined sewer system as a part of Metro Water Services’ Clean Water Nashville initiative. Traffic changes and road closures are expected to begin on the segment of Second located between Commerce Street and Broadway in January.
MDHA says it is about halfway done with the construction on the north block between Church and Union streets that began in May. It is finishing grading roadways after the installation of the new storm drain infrastructure, as well as finishing the hardscape on the east side of the sidewalk, including installing brick pavers. Tree soil cells have been in the works to support crossings, manage stormwater and promote tree growth.
Second Avenue at Bankers Alley
Second Avenue at Church Street
Once the east sidewalk is ready for pedestrians, and the roadway work is complete, work will begin on the west side sidewalk, which will include demo work, new utilities and new hardscape similar to that of the east side. Traffic changes and closures will continue in the north block until construction is complete in spring 2024. All buildings and businesses have remained and will remain open during construction.
Metro’s design plans include recommendations from citizens, business owners and members of the Urban Land Institute Advisory Services Panel.
The total cost of the city’s Second Avenue rebuild is more than $39 million, with funding supplied by Metro’s capital spending plan. The Metro Council voted in favor of former Mayor John Cooper’s $20 million capital funds to start the recovery effort in December 2021. The Convention Center Authority also provided funds for the rebuild project, according to MDHA.
Scene sister publication the Nashville Post reported in November that four heavily damaged Second Avenue buildings are for sale. MDHA says the potential sale of those buildings does not affect its work. The owners of those buildings said in litigation that it is “impossible or not feasible to repair or reconstruct the buildings using all the remaining insurance proceeds.” No on-site work is being done, but the owners previously received Metro Historic Zoning Commission approval for a selective demolition permit. Insurance disputes over building damage in the area have also hindered private recovery efforts in the area.
For the north and south block work, Nashville construction company Reeves Young is serving as construction manager, with MDHA, the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure, and the Metro Planning Department also participating.
The designs were completed by the local office of Raleigh, N.C.-based engineering and land-planning company Kimley-Horn, and the renderings are from Nashville architectural firm ESa.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
