Westin wins planning approval in rhetoric-laden hearing

Supporters, detractors of hotel lob verbal grenades

Email | Print By Richard Lawson

The Metro Planning Commission approved the Westin project last night 8-2, with some recommendations that addressed issues raised by opponents to the project and the planning staff.

While most commission members certainly liked the economic impact of the $105-million project, they expressed concerns about height and the façade materials, issues that were raised by the planning staff along with the development's window design not being consistent with the rest of lower Broadway.

It was kind of a fence-straddle, but the planners came down in favor of the project. The commissioners would like to see the issues resolved as the project moves onto the next step – Metro Council. The Metropolitan Development & Housing Agency still is dealing with some of the same issues as well in its part of the design review process on the project.

Brandon Rains with Springdale, Ark., developer The Barber Group, which is partnered with Denver-based Sage Hospitality Group on the 19-story project, said after the meeting that the design likely wouldn't change. Raines said it is at the right height. As for the façade, "We always planned to present a façade that folks liked," he said.

In some ways, the whole planning commission proceeding was a bit excruciating to watch. The planning staff's discussion on the importance of "human scale" and rhythm of the windows along lower Broadway seemed arcane relative to their basic argument that it is a massive project that would overwhelm the area and could obliterate Lower Broad's historic character.

The stated thinking is people walking down the street won't be able to relate to the building. It is questionable that average people, not trained in urban planning or architecture, walk down the street and wonder to themselves, "Gee, I just can't relate to that building because the windows aren't one foot by two feet like the old ones." As a colleague jokingly noted, the argument seems to revolve around some notion of historic Feng Shui, with the suggestion that the Westin project would knock Lower Broad's Qi of for a loop.

The planning staff wants the Westin developers to adhere to a 1982 study that came up with guidelines for windows and doorways based on the old Lower Broadway buildings at the time. Yet they don't want the design to replicate what exists now along Lower Broad -- just match it. But then again, there are commissioners and others who seem to want that replication. It's enough to make your head spin.

In the public hearing portion of the meeting, many had to have their say… yet again. The opinions for and against had been stated the previous evening at a public hearing organized by Councilman Mike Jameson where it was unlikely that anyone's minds were changed. But this time it was for the commissioners.

Wesley Paine, director of the Parthenon in Centennial Park, was among those opposed, stating the Westin project would harm Nashville's historic fabric. Of course, Nashville's Parthenon replica was once new and entirely unlike its surroundings, too. Now it's part of the city's historic fabric.

There was some melodrama. Jim Hoobler, a Tennessee State Museum staffer, told commissioners that the Westin project would be an "affront and assault on our heritage." He added: "If you vote for this, you are going to destroy our heritage."

Councilman John Summers called the project a "pig." It's fair to say that Summers will be one of the more vocal opponents when the project heads to the Council. That process should be a fun one to watch during yet another public hearing.