Brakes for “no right on red” proposal
Plus, a new In-N-Out location near Downtown Nashville, progress on the old Starwood Amphitheater property, and a bridge closure
Good morning, Nashville! It’s Monday, August 10th. Writing today’s edition from Haraz Coffee House in East Nashville.
⚡ Quick hits
Weather: ☀️ Extreme heat! High: 97 (but the heat index will be as high as 109), Low: 76. Storm chances return tomorrow.
Multiple Metro Council members tell me they won’t support a proposed ban on right turns at red lights unless it’s scaled back. Nashville’s mayor also seemed hesitant.
Students in Metro schools return to class tomorrow with new start and end times at many schools, which could impact traffic.
What’s new in Nashville’s neighborhoods, including a new In-N-Out Burger location near Downtown Nashville, progress at the old Starwood Amphitheater property, and an upcoming bridge closure with impacts starting today.
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🚦 Brakes for “no right on red” proposal
Multiple Metro Council members tell me they won’t support a proposed ban on right turns at red lights unless it’s scaled back. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell also seemed hesitant about the proposal on Friday. “I think the scale that’s been initially proposed, without any kind of pilot period or data capture in it, seems very quick,” he said.
One of the bill’s sponsors, Sandra Sepulveda, argued in her newsletter that NDOT has been talking about the idea since 2024 and “every delay means we risk another preventable tragedy.”
Pedestrian deaths in Davidson County nearly doubled from 12 at this point last year to 23 this year, according to state data.
The legislation passed the first of three readings at last week’s Metro Council meeting. As of now, it would apply to Nashville’s Urban Services District, which is essentially the city’s most populated areas.
Thirteen out of 40 council members sponsored the legislation. Four members told me they don’t support the bill as written. Another said the same on social media. You can read all of their full responses at the link below, but here are a few quotes.
“I just don’t think it will be able to be enforced” - Jennifer Frensley Webb
“We know that our high injury networks are top priorities so I would be curious to understand the pros and cons of a countywide change versus investing in our high injury networks.” - Jacob Kupin
“I would consider a condensed version for the downtown core” - Jeff Gregg
“If it got paired down to the UZO that would make a lot more sense.” - Jordan Huffman (Here’s a map of UZO — it’s essentially areas in and around Downtown Nashville)
🏫 School traffic returns tomorrow (with some changes)
Students in Metro schools return to class tomorrow, and if you time your commute based on when school starts and ends, here’s a heads up that many school start and end times are changing.
High schools will start 20 minutes later (7:25 a.m. start, 2:25 p.m. dismissal)
Elementary schools and early learning centers will generally shift 10 minutes later (8:10 a.m. start, 3:10 p.m. dismissal for elementary, 2:10 p.m. dismissal for early learning centers.)
Middle school timing isn’t changing.
Metro is expanding its before and after school programs at more than 30 elementary schools — $2 million for 1,800 seats — to help working families impacted by the schedule change. “Our goal is for every one of these new programs to be up and running by October 1st,” said superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle.
🏠 What’s new in Nashville’s neighborhoods
Antioch
A Metro judge ordered the closure of an alleged illegal daycare at a home on Wagondale Way. Tennessee’s Department of Human Services described a “very chaotic” situation with 12 kids unrelated to the alleged operator staying in the home. DHS ended up calling law enforcement “due to [the] large number of children and Defendant leaving the residence.”
Plans to redevelop the old Starwood Amphitheater property on Murfreesboro Pike into a mix of industrial, residential, retail, and commercial won a key approval from Metro’s Stormwater Commission this week. Sounds like the industrial component is moving first.
Culver’s will open a restaurant in Century Farms, according to Metro Council member Joy Styles.
Near Berry Hill
In-N-Out Burger plans to open a restaurant at 8th Avenue South and Berry Road, the site of a former furniture store, according to a discussion in Metro’s Stormwater Commission.
Bringing NASCAR back to the Fairgrounds speedway: on NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast, the CEO of Speedway Motorsports said he met with government officials in Nashville in recent weeks as he pushes to renovate the track.
East Nashville
A new mixed-use project, including apartments and retail, at 1218 Dickerson Pike received approval from Metro’s Board of Zoning Appeals despite concerns about traffic due to the density of the project, along with building heights of up to six stories.
South Nashville
Proposed data center near the Nashville Zoo: Metro’s Board of Zoning appeals announced two appeals tied to the project will not be heard until at least December 3 after the Metro Council passed a temporary moratorium on data center permits through December 1.
“Crashes that could result in injury” dropped 25% on a section of Antioch Pike from Nolensville Pike to McCall, according to Nashville’s mayor, after a “tactical urbanism project,” which included recycled tires used as delineators for bike lanes.
Sam’s Place at Nippers Corner scored a 96 in its latest health inspection. You can read the inspection here.
Bellevue
Several new restaurant health scores in the Bellevue area - just click to read each report:
Joelton
The Crocker Springs Road Bridge replacement project begins today. It starts with a lane closure this week followed by a full road closure starting next Monday. More details from Metro Council member Jennifer Frensley Webb.
Germantown
Oracle at The Neuhoff District: the company applied for a permit to build out three floors of offices — at 22,000 square feet per floor. Here’s what Oracle shared about the project in March.
Emmy Squared at 1121 5th Avenue North received a score of 96 in its latest health inspection. Here’s a link to their inspection.
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📰 A few final headlines…
Metro’s Community Review Board asked Metro Police for eight changes to the department’s use of force policy. The board is holding a public forum tonight.
A new Metro Health dashboard reveals a 40% decrease in drug overdose deaths in the most recent quarter compared to the same time last year.
“Austin Peay professor sues Sen. Marsha Blackburn over firing due to Charlie Kirk post” (WKRN)
“After rejection from lawmakers, TWRA tries again to raise hunting and fishing license fees” (Fox 17)
Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty voted to confirm President Trump’s personal attorney as attorney general.
What I’m following today: a special meeting about “refinements” to NES’s more aggressive tree trimming policy implemented after the January ice storm. This video explains why people are concerned.
Thank you for reading nash.news! Just reply to this email if you have a correction, story idea, concerns about my coverage, or anything else. You can also email me at ryan@nash.news. I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow! - Ryan