Nashville has a great deal going for it, but rising housing costs and gentrification could take it down a darker path.
Nashville is growing quickly, but its bright future is being challenged by issues that have affected other cities, writes Khushbu Shah. The city is already a hub for the healthcare industry, Christian publishing, and country music. Adding to this are Amazon’s plans for a new operations center that will bring 5,000 new jobs and a flourishing tourism market.
The influx of visitors and new residents will be an economic boost for Nashville, but community activists are concerned about the displacement of residents as new buildings go up and housing prices increase. "[Anne] Barnett recently visited Amazon’s hometown, Seattle, where she says she saw an extreme housing and homeless crisis. With those issues already plaguing Nashville, she worries about how much worse it might get when Jeff Bezos’s tech behemoth arrives in the city," notes Shah.
The city defends the Amazon deal saying it can manage the new growth and development, and proponents say Nashville offers a wealth of opportunities, particularly in the music industry, that are not available in other cities. "A proportion of Nashville’s economic rising star can be attributed to the grassroots investment the city has made into its new and existing residents with incentives like the nonprofit Entrepreneur Center, which took shape in 2010," adds Shah.
FULL STORY: Bachelorettes, Bibles and Amazon: is Nashville the perfect model for a second-tier city?
Philly Residents Push Back on New Historic Preservation District
Some residents of Philadelphia’s newly designated Washington Square West Historic District say the community was left out of the decision-making process that could impact housing costs and building requirements.
Displacement Fears in Lahaina
Economists warn that reconstruction could put new housing out of reach for long-time residents.
A Dirty Little Secret: Rising Property Values Are Incompatible With Affordability
Rising property values come with positive community development, but this shift can make neighborhoods inaccessible to low-income renters and fixed-income homeowners.
How Smaller Supermarkets Could Transform American Communities
Bigger is not always better.
Research Links Urban Design and Human Happiness
An emerging field of ‘neuroarchitectural’ research is revealing how building facades and urban design impact the human brain and body.
Save Lives on Our Roads Using the Safe System Approach
Prioritizing safety and committing to the SSA framework can make a big impact in the effort to reduce traffic fatalities.
How AI Is Revolutionizing Urban Forestry and Climate Resilience
Tree-D Fusion, an AI-driven tool developed by MIT and Purdue researchers, generates 3D models of urban trees to help city planners visualize future green spaces, address climate challenges, and enhance urban livability and sustainability.
Key Climate and Health Issues to Watch in 2025
The escalating health impacts of climate change, from extreme heat to sea level rise, highlight the urgent need for integrated medical education, proactive communication, and sustainable policy solutions to protect public health.
Rising Temperatures and the Escalating Wildfire Crisis
Rising global temperatures driven by climate change are intensifying and prolonging wildfire seasons worldwide, necessitating improved forest management, public awareness, and urgent action to reduce fossil fuel emissions.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Oxford
Caltrans - District 7
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport