A three-story venue is in the works to be built at 120 Second Avenue South and there is no better time than now says Principal Broker Brandon Kuvara with C. B. Ragland Company.
Current plans call for an approximately 20,000 square-foot building, with the first two floors offering approximately 7,500 square feet each, and the third at 5,200 plus a rooftop deck overlooking the riverfront, LP Field, and the new ampitheatre set to break ground on First Avenue South. At 80 feet wide, the lot is one of the largest in the Broadway Historic District, and the building will nod to history through its architecture, 20-foot ceilings and all-brick construction.
Kuvara says that they have an opportunity to tailor this building to the right tenant, which is envisioned as a three-story entertainment destination that fits the historic neighborhood perfectly, but also offers the modern systems and conveniences to the tenant. You couldn’t ask for a better location or venue, and with all of the recent development in the area and the buzz around downtown Nashville, the timing is right.
Frank May, the property owner, was an urban pioneer in downtown Nashville, and has been investing in Lower Broadway properties since he graduated from college in 1979. The May family owned nearly 30 properties at one time, and Frank May remains one of the largest landowners in The District.
May says, I’ve always believed in the potential of downtown Nashville, and now we’re seeing the kind of critical mass that creates demand for additional development. All of the buildings are full, there’s a lot of energy and there’s room for a few signature infill projects. We believe this is one of them.
The first block of Second Avenue South is included as part of the National Register listing for the Broadway Historic District, and this block could include as many as 10 restaurants when the project is complete. Kuvara says the new Music City Center, the downtown loop, and a recent influx of both tourists and urban residents adds to the optimal timing.
One tenant could utilize the entire space or the building could be home to multiple ground-level retail shops, restaurants, music halls, other entertainment venues, etc.
The building is planned to have six-foot windows that open up to the river on one side, Broadway on another and Second Avenue on the third front. There’s also the potential for a green roof.
The building has not been named yet in hopes that the future tenants will be apart of honing the identity of this new venue.
Mark Robin is the architect on the project.