Metro moves forward with Hickory Hollow Mall redevelopment

Metro is advancing plans to redevelop the former Hickory Hollow Mall site — an undertaking that will likely rank second behind the East Bank as the most ambitious city government development project ever.

Why it matters: The mall is located in Antioch, a part of town that has been overlooked for such investments.

• The project offers the city an opportunity to bring retail, housing, improved transportation options and cultural investments to southeast Davidson County.

State of play: Recent moves by city departments underscore how the Hickory Hollow Mall project is moving up the priority list for Mayor Freddie O'Connell's administration.

• Last week, the Planning Department released an updated master plan, which envisions the arts, housing and green space at the site. The next phase calls for public comments before it heads to the Planning Commission for approval in July.
• A rezoning of the mall property is in the works, an important procedural step that will allow for taller buildings.
• Once the master plan and zoning are approved, the city plans to seek bids from developers to manage the project.

The latest: The city is moving forward with demolishing the interior portion of the mall building while leaving the anchor buildings, which previously housed large department stores, intact.

• The city also wants to build a large WeGo transit hub as one of the updates to the mall property.

Flashback: Metro purchased the mall property for $44 million during Mayor John Cooper's tenure. Plans to lease a large portion of the building to Vanderbilt University Medical Center never came to fruition.

Friction point: Nashville is in the midst of a housing crisis . However, early feedback from residents indicates a lack of support for a dense multifamily housing development on the site.

What she's saying: Redeveloping the mall has been a passion project for Councilmember Joy Styles. She tells Axios she is enthused about the master plan and especially excited about including artist housing and a performing arts center.

• "This will be a gathering place for community," Styles says, adding that a key component is a day care center.

What's next: There will be a community meeting Wednesday at 6pm at the Southeast Community Center to discuss the master plan.

• The Planning Department will host a meeting next month and accept emailed comments about the plan through July 11 .

Go deeper: Read the executive summary of the master plan.

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