Short-term rentals proposed at Old Spaghetti Factory site on Nashville's Second Avenue

Nashville's historic Second Avenue may soon include dozens of short-term rentals at the site of the former Old Spaghetti Factory .

The Metro Council in its regular meeting on Tuesday will consider a zoning exemption for 55 short-term rental units at 160 Second Ave. N., as part of a larger restoration of the area following the Christmas Day bombing in 2020.

City code prohibits non-owner-occupied short-term rentals from operating within 100 feet from a church, school, playground or park. But Council member Jacob Kupin, who proposed the exemption, said the location off busy Lower Broadway is the right fit for tourism.

“If it’s between market rate housing or short-term rentals, I would rather have short-term rentals and bring in people who are going to walk out of their front doors on a newly-renovated Second Avenue and spend their money,” he said.

The Old Spaghetti Factory, a downtown fixture for 40 years, terminated its lease after the bombing in 2020 damaged 60 structures.

More than three years later, the city is continuing a major renovation project for the area that will include restaurants, entertainment and retail space.

In addition to the Old Spaghetti Factory, the historic building once included more than 30 upscale apartments that were all evacuated following the explosion.

While the area is zoned to allow non-owner-occupied short-term rentals, the building is prohibited under city code because it sits within 100 feet of Riverfront Park.

Kupin said he believes this is a good case for an exemption to municipal code because Riverfront Park is more like a city greenspace as opposed to a residential park.

The council earlier this year voted against a similar proposal for the building that would have allowed 62 short-term rental units, but Kupin said he’s hopeful  members this time will reconsider.

The building would be mixed use and would also include some restaurant or retail space, he added.

The proposal comes as the city in recent years has struggled to curb its booming short-term rental market. In 2018, council members voted to phase out non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in residential areas.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Short-term rentals proposed at Old Spaghetti Factory site on Nashville's Second Avenue