New Donelson Branch Library
A couple weeks ago, we had the opportunity to celebrate the “topping out” ceremony for our new Donelson Branch Library. I’m pleased to report its ahead of schedule. Target completion date is still around Spring 2024.
Category: Donelson Council News
Gleaves Farm Community Meeting
Dear Friends,
I’ll be doing a full newsletter in the near future. I’m sending this to get information out about a community meeting I’m hosting with Council Member Emily Benedict about the Gleaves Farm.
Please us on Wednesday, February 15 at 6:30pm via WebEx to review updated plans for the Gleaves Farm property on Pennington Bend. Members of the public may attend in person; however, the presentation will be made over WebEx and participation via WebEx is strongly encouraged.
CM Syracuse and CM Benedict will be conducting the meeting from Committee Room 1 at the Historic Metropolitan Courthouse. Paid parking is available in the garage underneath the Courthouse.
Regards,
Jeff
615-886-9906
Metro Council At Large Campaign
Finally, as you’ve no doubt heard and seen, I have decided to run for Metro Council At Large in the August 2023 election. I want to take my laser focus and passion for Donelson and apply it to the whole county. It’s been a humbling opportunity to lead Donelson through balanced growth and development as all of Middle Tennessee continues to grow at a rapid pace. As “Downtown Donelson” comes to life through our new Donelson Branch Library and a revitalized Donelson Station to ensuring historic protections, single-family neighborhoods and rural areas in the county are supported and preserved, we can find a way to channel our success as a city into the support our neighborhoods need across all of Davidson County. We need to push harder on creating the intersections between transit and affordable housing as well as our efforts to ensure our growth also means sustainable and resilient communities that grow with thoughtful intention.
Appointed Committee Chair of Public Health and Safety
Vice Mayor Shulman announced new Committee Chairs and has appointed me Chair of Public Health and Safety. As we emerge from the worst of the pandemic, deal with the fentanyl crisis, advance our co-response model for public safety, and more in this area, I will be focused on these areas and more in my role. I want to thank District 12 CM Erin Evans for all her great efforts as the last Chair of this committee.
Mental Health Co-operative, Public Health and Safety, Vice Mayor Jim Shulman
Music Makes Us Advisory Council Chair Hand Over
I recently completed my two-year term as Chair of the Advisory Council for Music Makes Us that serves to support the 44,000 students and 188 music teachers across MNPS. I handed it over to Brian Sexton, whom is a wonderful community leader within arts and music, and he will be an excellent leader as we emerge from the pandemic and focus on rebuilding some programs and bringing further investment to support our teachers and students.
One such effort to support our student’s performance opportunities is the “Metro Marching Classic” where marching bands across Davidson County participate in an exhibition of their marching shows this year. It’s a free event and all are welcome to attend on October 1st. See flyer below for details.
Mayor’s Youth Summit
Encourage your student to engage with the Mayor’s Youth Summit on Wednesday, November 2nd, which will be back in person this year. The summit is held annually to bring together young people from across Metro Nashville to discuss issues important to them with their peers and local stakeholders. Registration is due by October 14th. Thanks to the Oasis Center for hosting. Visit this link to register and see flyer below for more details.
Jeff Syracuse, Metro Council District 15, Mayor Cooper, Mayor's Youth Summit
You May Be Right Podcast
I think we’ll agree that our public discourse when it comes to difficult topics we may disagree on needs to improve. I am encouraged that the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy at The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has launched a new podcast called “You May Be Right”, co-hosted by former Governor’s Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam. Check out more info here and to sign up for updates when new episodes of the podcast are available. It will tackle tough topics like gun violence, climate change, and the national debt and feature conversations between Governors Bredesen and Haslam and guests with differing viewpoints including Paul Ryan, Al Gore, Erskine Bowles, Nancy Ann DeParle, and Arne Duncan.
Bill Haslam, Howard Baker Center, Phil Bredesen, University of Tennessee
The Vision for Donelson Station is Coming to Life
I am very excited to share that the vision for Donelson Station that the community put in place in 2009 as part of the “Downtown Donelson” Urban Design Overlay is finally going to happen. After the attempt I made in my first term to bring revitalization to Donelson Station, I learned a great deal and took a more streamlined and focused approach. This approach does not include MDHA involvement and just focuses on Donelson Station and the contiguous properties. Not only will Donelson Station be transformed into a regional transit center, but there are also ongoing discussions to create a new FiftyForward Donelson Station center and theater, plus additional retail, restaurant, and housing options. The press release that went out is below.
Donelson Station, Downtown Donelson, H.G. Hill Realty Company, Regional Transportation Authority, Southeast Venture
Community Meeting for Fairway Development Proposals
The HJL Properties family is looking to rezone and develop two neighboring properties and to protect them from high-intensity development. They are looking at neighborhood-centric development that maintains the appearance and quality of the neighborhood. The two development sites are 110 Fairway Drive and the combined lots of 121, 119, and 117 Fairway Drive.
Donelson Neighborhood News, Fairway Neighborhood, HJL Properties
New Donelson Library Site
Fencing is finally going around the new Donelson Branch Library site. We are slowly but surely getting there. Meanwhile, here’s a nice piece about Amber Lelli, the artist who will design the interior art piece in our new library that will hang from the second floor and be very visible as you walk into the library.
Donelson Council News, Donelson Library, Donelson Neighborhood News