The long-proposed redevelopment of The Fairgrounds Nashville has been a contentious issue ever since then-Mayor Karl Dean rolled out a plan to radically transform the 117-acre site into a mixed-use corporate campus in 2011.
Roll forward to 2018 and the fate of the Fairgrounds, although still a thorn in the side for some, is in a much more definable and predictable place than it was during the Dean administration or in most of the years since.
kAmu:?6 56E2:=D @7 2 >2DE6C A=2? 7@C E96 $@FE9 }2D9G:==6 AC@;64E 2C6 36:?8 :C@?65 @FE] pD E9:D >282K:?6 H6?E E@ AC6DD[ |6EC@ r@F?4:= >6>36CD H6C6 AC6A2C:?8 E@ 42DE E96:C 7:?2= G@E6D @? 2 Safd\>:==:@?[ b_[d__\D62E |2;@C {628F6 $@446C DE25:F> 2?5 2? 2DD@4:2E65 `_\24C6 >:I65\FD6 56G6=@A>6?E]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 D@>6 }2D9G:==:2?D 4@?E:?F6 E@ AC@E6DE 3:8\4:EJ\DEJ=6 492?86D 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 E96 u2:C8C@F?5D[ E96 C62=:EJ :D E92E :E’D F?=:<6=J C656G6=@A>6?E :? D@>6 7@C> H:== 36 DE@AA65] p?5 :E’D 25G2?4:?8 :? 2? 6C2 492C24E6C:D65 3J EH@ 4@?G6C8:?8 EC6?5Di E96 C:D6 @7 }2D9G:==6 2D 2 ?2E:@?2= 56DE:?2E:@? 2?5 E96 4@CC6DA@?5:?8 6>6C86?46 @7 E96 4:EJ 2D 2 ?6CG6 A@:?E 7@C 86?EC:7:42E:@? E92E 4@>6D 23@FE 3642FD6 @7 >2DD:G6 56G6=@A>6?E]k^Am
kAm%96 BF6DE:@?D C6>2:?]k^Am
kAm(:== E96 7FEFC6 ?6H\=@@< u2:C8C@F?5D — 4@>A=6E6 H:E9 2? |{$ DE25:F> 2?5 >:I65\FD6 3F:=5:?8D H:E9 9@FD:?8[ C6E2:= 2?5 6?E6CE2:?>6?E @AE:@?D — >2?286 E@ @776C 2>6?:E:6D E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2E =2C86 H:E9@FE 4@?EC:3FE:?8 E@ 8C@H:?8 5:DA2C:E:6D :? E96 4:EJn p?5 42? E96 A=2? 7@C E96 u2:C8C@F?5D 24EF2==J D2768F2C5 >6>36CD @7 E96 4@>>F?:EJ H9@ >:89E 36 AFD965 @FE 3J E96 C656G6=@A>6?E @7 E96 D:E6nk^Am
kAm$A64:7:42==J[ E96 86?6C2= D@FE9 D:56 @7 E96 4:EJ ?62C E96 u2:C8C@F?5D :D 9@>6 E@ =@ED @7 H@C<:?8 4=2DD 7@=<D 2?5 :>>:8C2?ED] x7 AC@A6CEJ G2=F6D :?4C62D6 E92?<D E@ E96 C656G6=@A>6?E @7 E96 u2:C8C@F?5D[ E9@D6 4:E:K6?D 4@F=5 36 :>A24E65]k^Am
kAmxE :D[ ?@ 5@F3E[ 2 4@>A=:42E65 :DDF6]k^Am
kAm k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(9@ H:== 36?67:Enk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAms:DEC:4E `f |6EC@ r@F?4:=>6>36C r@=3J $=6586[ H9@ C6AC6D6?ED E96 u2:C8C@F?5D 2C62[ 92D D66? 4@?DE:EF6?ED 3:4<6C 23@FE AC@A@D65 56G6=@A>6?ED 2E E96 u2:C8C@F?5D 7@C J62CD] w6 D2JD E9:D E:>6 2C@F?5 96’D “ECF=J 6?4@FC2865” 3J E96 AC@A@D2= E92E H2D >@G:?8 E@H2C5 |6EC@ r@F?4:=’D A@DD:3=6 7:?2= 2AAC@G2= :? 62C=J $6AE6>36C] k^Am
kAm“x? E96 ?:?6 J62CD E92E x 92G6 366? :?G@=G65 :? E9:D 2C62 W(6586H@@5\w@FDE@?X[ :E D66>D =:<6 E9:D :D E96 7:CDE E:>6 E92E 6G6CJ@?6 D66>D E@ 36 @? 3@2C5 2?5 @? E96 D2>6 A286 :? E6C>D @7 E96 u2:C8C@F?5D[” $=6586 D2JD] “(6 2C6 AC@E64E:?8 6I:DE:?8 FD6D[ 2?5 H6 2C6 8C@H:?8 2?5 6IA2?5:?8 :ED FD6D :? 2 =@E @7 H2JD] (6 2C6 >2<:?8 2 4@>>:E>6?E 3J D2J:?8 E9:D :D 2 AC@A6CEJ E92E’D :>A@CE2?E E@ @FC 2C62 2?5 @FC 4:EJ[ 2?5 A6@A=6 D9@F=5 36 23=6 E@ 6?;@J :E]k^Am
kAm“x’> 2=D@ 6?4@FC2865 E92E D@>6 A2CE @7 E9:D :>AC@G6>6?E A=2? 92D 8@?6 E9C@F89 7:G6 5:776C6?E |6EC@ 3@2C5D 2?5 4@>>:DD:@?D 2E E9:D A@:?E[ 2?5 E96J 92G6 8@EE6? F?2?:>@FD DFAA@CE :? 6G6CJ D:?8=6 @?6 @7 E96>[” $=6586 255D] “%92E E6==D >6 E92E H6 2C6 @?E@ D@>6E9:?8 96C6[ 2?5 E92E H6 2C6 5@:?8 D@>6E9:?8 E92E 42? 36?67:E 2 =@E @7 5:776C6?E A6@A=6 :? 2 =@E @7 5:776C6?E H2JD]”k^Am
kAm|2EE96H r2C?6J[ @H?6C @7 $>@<:?’ %9:89D 2E e`` (6586H@@5 pG6][ :D 2=D@ FA362E 23@FE E96 ?6H G6CD:@? @7 E96 u2:C8C@F?5D[ 3FE 9:D 6?E9FD:2D> 4@>6D H:E9 2 42G62E]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 8@@5 E9:?8 7@C E96 4:EJ[” 96 D2JD] “|J @?=J 4@?46C? :D E92E E96 u2:C8C@F?5D DE2JD :?E24E 7@C 2== E96 5:776C6?E 8C@FAD H9@ FD65 2?5 6?;@J65 :E @G6C E96 J62CD]”k^Am
kAmr2C?6J @A6?65 $>@<:?’ %9:89D :? a_`c :? E96 72DE\492?8:?8 (6586H@@5\w@FDE@? 5:DEC:4E E92E D:ED 25;246?E E@ E96 u2:C8C@F?5D] w6 D2JD =2F?49:?8 E96 C6DE2FC2?E D66>65 =:<6 2 C:D< 2E E96 E:>6 D:?46 2?@E96C C6DE2FC2?E 925 C646?E=J 72:=65 2E E96 D:E6]k^Am
kAmqFE r2C?6J E@@< E96 82>3=6 3642FD6 96 36=:6G65 E96 2C62 @776C65 2 DEC@?8 FAH2C5 EC2;64E@CJ] p?5 D@ 72C[ 9:D 36E :D A2J:?8 @77] $>@<:?’ %9:89D :D E9C:G:?8]k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 E96 C62D@?D 7@C E96 C6DE2FC2?E’D DF446DD[ r2C?6J D2JD[ :D E92E G:D:E@CD E@ E96 u2:C8C@F?5D 7C6BF6?E=J DE@A :? 7@C 2 >62= @C D?24<] u2:C8C@F?5D\DA@?D@C65 6G6?ED >2J ?@E 92AA6? 6G6CJ 52J[ 3FE H96? E96J 5@ @44FC[ :E’D ?@E F?FDF2= 7@C E9@FD2?5D @7 A6@A=6 2 52J E@ 2EE6?5 92AA6?:?8D DF49 2D E96 }2D9G:==6 u=62 |2C<6E[ H9:49 @44FCD @?6 H66<6?5 2 >@?E9 2?5 2EEC24ED d__[___ G:D:E@CD 2 J62C]k^Am
kAm“%96 u2:C8C@F?5D 6G6?ED 2C6 8C62E 7@C 3FD:?6DD[” r2C?6J D2JD] “$@446C :D 8C62E[ 3FE H6 C6=J @? E96 @E96C 6G6?ED[ E@@]”k^Am
kAm~E96C 6G6?ED DF49 2D E9@D6 :?G@=G:?8 r9C:DE>2D ':==286[ u@DE@C:2 v=2DD D9@H[ yFDE q6EH66? uC:6?5D[ }2D9G:==6 #@==6C v:C=D 2?5 pC@ {F492 HC6DE=:?8 2EEC24E G:D:E@CD 3J E96 9F?5C65D[ D@>6E:>6D E9@FD2?5D]k^Am
kAm k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m‘uCFDEC2E65 2?5 @AE:>:DE:4’k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm}2D9G:==6 u=62 |2C<6E G6?5@C y6? #6:?2C5[ @H?6C @7 y6? %C62DFC6D 2E q@@E9 h`[ 92D 366? 24E:G6 2D 2? 25G@42E6 7@C 76==@H 7=62 >2C<6E G6?5@CD 2?5 92D A2CE:4:A2E65 :? 5@K6?D @7 4@>>F?:EJ >66E:?8D[ A=2??:?8 D6DD:@?D 2?5 DEC2E68J D6DD:@?D 4@?46C?:?8 72:C8C@F?5D C656G6=@A>6?E]k^Am
kAm“x’> 3@E9 7CFDEC2E65 2?5 @AE:>:DE:4 23@FE E96 ?6H A=2?[” #6:?2C5 D2JD] “x? E96 368:??:?8 @7 2== E9:D[ @FC >66E:?8D ,H:E9 u2:C8C@F?5D @77:4:2=D. H6C6 9@DE:=6 2?5 E96C6 H2D =:EE=6 ECFDE] %92E 92D D=@H=J 492?865[ 2=E9@F89 >2?J 2C6 DE:== H@CC:65 E92E H6’== 6?5 FA 92G:?8 2 =6DD6C 7=62 >2C<6E 3642FD6 @7 2== E96 7@4FD @? E96 @E96C 2DA64ED @7 E9:D A=2?] %96J 2C6 G6CJ ?6CG@FD 23@FE E96:C =:G6=:9@@5[ 2?5 2C6?’E 3C62E9:?8 E@@ 62DJ]k^Am
kAm“x? E96 6?5 E9@F89[ x E9:?< >2?J @7 FD 5@ F?56CDE2?5 E92E E96 u2:C8C@F?5D ?665D E@ 492?86 2?5 6G@=G6] qFE 492?86 :D 92C5[ 2?5 H6’C6 27C2:5 H6’== 86E 5C@H?65 @FE 3642FD6 @7 E96 9:896C\AC@7:=6 2DA64ED @7 E96 AC@;64E]”k^Am
kAm#6:?2C5 D2JD D96’D 2=D@ D<6AE:42= 23@FE E96 9@FD:?8 6=6>6?E @7 E96 A=2?[ H9:49 H@F=5 3C:?8 23@FE h__ C6D:56?E:2= F?:ED[ `_ A6C46?E @7 H9:49 H@F=5 36 =236=65 2D 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8]k^Am
kAm“x <?@H E96J 2C6 C62==J AFD9:?8 9@FD:?8 2?5 C6E2:= 2D 2 A2CE @7 E96 ‘82>6 52J 6IA6C:6?46[’ 3FE x E9:?< :E H@F=5 36 36EE6C E@ :?4=F56 6G6? >@C6 8C66? DA246 2?5 ac^f FD6D D@ E96 6?E:C6 ?6:893@C9@@5 2C@F?5 E96 u2:C8C@F?5D 2?5 ?6H DE25:F> 42? FD6 :E[ E@@]”k^Am
kAm&?56C E96 AC@A@D65 A=2?[ E96 7=62 >2C<6E 2?5 @E96C 6G6?ED H@F=5 36 9@FD65 :? ?6H=J 4@?DECF4E65 3F:=5:?8D @? E96 =@H6C 6=6G2E:@? A2CE @7 E96 u2:C8C@F?5D AC@A6CEJ[ ?62C H92E :D 4FCC6?E=J (2=D9 #@25[ 4=@D6 E@ }@=6?DG:==6 !:<6]k^Am
kAm k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mt?E6Ci p rqpk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm$=6586 D2JD 2?@E96C C62D@? H9J E96 4FCC6?E u2:C8C@F?5D >2DE6C A=2? 92D 2 492?46 E@ DF44665 “@? >2?J =6G6=D” :D 3642FD6 @7 E96 F?:BF6 E9:C5\A2CEJ ?68@E:2E:@?D DFCC@F?5:?8 :E] }@ DF49 ?68@E:2E:@?D @44FCC65 :? AC6G:@FD=J 23@CE65 A=2?D E@ C6G2>A E96 u2:C8C@F?5D]k^Am
kAm%9:D E:>6 2C@F?5[ 25G@424J 8C@FA $E2?5 &A }2D9G:==6 :D 24E:G6=J ?68@E:2E:?8 2 4@>>F?:EJ 36?67:ED 28C66>6?E WrqpX E92E H@F=5 25G2?46 6BF:EJ 2?5 36?67:E E96 ?6:893@C9@@5D DFCC@F?5:?8 E96 D:E6 H:E9 }2D9G:==6 $@446C w@=5:?8D[ E96 AC@;64E’D :?G6DE>6?E 8C@FA =65 3J }2D9G:==6 3:==:@?2:C6 y@9? x?8C2>]k^Am
kAmp rqp :D 2 4@?EC24E[ D:8?65 3J 4@>>F?:EJ 8C@FAD 2?5 2 C62= 6DE2E6 56G6=@A6C[ E92E C6BF:C6D E92E 56G6=@A6C E@ AC@G:56 DA64:7:4 2>6?:E:6D 2?5^@C >:E:82E:@?D E@ E96 =@42= 4@>>F?:EJ @C ?6:893@C9@@5] x? 6I492?86[ E96 4@>>F?:EJ 8C@FAD 28C66 E@ AF3=:4=J DFAA@CE E96 AC@;64E[ @C 2E =62DE ?@E @AA@D6 :E]k^Am
kAm“%96J 2C6 H@C<:?8 @? E9C66 >2;@C 2C62D @7 E96 AC@;64E — 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8[ H6==\A2J:?8 ;@3D 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 4F=EFC2= DA246D[” $=6586 6IA=2:?D] “p DEC@?8 >2;@C:EJ @7 |6EC@ r@F?4:= >6>36CD E9:?< :E’D 8@@5 E@ 255C6DD E96D6 :DDF6D] xE’D ;FDE 2 >2EE6C @7 86EE:?8 5@H? E@ 3C2DD E24<D 2?5 86EE:?8 E96 56E2:=D 7:?2=:K65]”k^Am
kAmr@>>F?:EJ 36?67:ED 28C66>6?ED 92G6 366? DF446DD7F==J ?68@E:2E65 :? @E96C 4:E:6D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ H96? E96 4@?DECF4E:@? @7 DE25:F>D H6C6 F?56CE2<6?]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 EJA:42= E9:?8 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJj H6 ;FDE 92G6?’E 6G6C 5@?6 :E :? %6??6DD66 3642FD6 H6 92G6?’E 3F:=E 2 DE25:F> 96C6 :? a_ J62CD[” $=6586 D2JD] “r:?4:??2E:’D |{$ ,8C@FA. 42>6 E@ 2? 28C66>6?E H:E9 2 D:>:=2C rqp 2 76H >@?E9D 28@]”k^Am
kAm k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{62C?:?8 7C@> E96 A2DEk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 u2:C8C@F?5D }2D9G:==6 tI64FE:G6 s:C64E@C {2FC2 (@>24< 25>:ED E92E E96 u2:C8C@F?5D C656G6=@A>6?E :D 2 492==6?86 E92E 42? 2E E:>6D 36 F?H:6=5J 2?5 7CFDEC2E:?8] pE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ D96 D2JD E96 G6CJ E9:?8 E92E >2<6D A=2??:?8 E96 72:C8C@F?5D 56G6=@A>6?E D@ E:>6\4@?DF>:?8[ 4=F>DJ 2?5 4@?EC@G6CD:2= 2E E:>6D — E96 D966C ?F>36C @7 DE2<69@=56CD :?G@=G65 — F=E:>2E6=J H:== >2<6 E96 AC@;64E DF446DD7F=]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 72:C E@ D2J E92E 6G6CJ@?6 E92E FE:=:K6D @C =:G6D ?62C E96 u2:C8C@F?5D :D 2? :>A@CE2?E DE2<69@=56C[” (@>24< D2JD] “%96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 @A:?:@?D @? H92E E96 :>AC@G6>6?ED D9@F=5 =@@< =:<6 2?5 9@H H6 86E E96C6 2?5 E92E 8@6D E@ 7:?5:?8 4@?D6?DFD]k^Am
kAm“r@?D6?DFD :? E9:D AC@46DD >62?D 6?828:?8 2 4C@DD D64E:@? @7 E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 DE2<69@=56CD 2?5 6BF2=:K:?8 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C :?AFE @? 4@\6I:DE6?46 2?5 E96 23:=:EJ E@ E9C:G6[” D96 255D] “x’> 6?4@FC2865 E92E A6@A=6 H9@ 42>6 :? ,E@ 4@>>F?:EJ A=2??:?8 >66E:?8D. H:E9 AC656E6C>:?65 36=:67D H6C6 H:==:?8 E@ =:DE6? 2?5 A2CE:4:A2E6 2?5 E96 >2?J H9@ =67E H:E9 2 >@C6 @A6? >:?5 H96? AC6D6?E65 H:E9 E96 724ED]”k^Am
kAm$=6586 36=:6G6D E96 >:DE2<6D >256 :? AC6G:@FD 2EE6>AED E@ C656G6=@A E96 u2:C8C@F?5D 92G6 A2G65 E96 H2J 7@C 2 A=2? E92E :D >@C6 C67=64E:G6 @7 E96 4@>>F?:EJ’D 56D:C6D]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 :D 2 D6?D6 E92E >2J36 H6 92G6?’E 366? 2D 5:=:86?E :? >2<:?8 DFC6 E92E H6 92G6 >256 8@@5 562=D 7@C E96 4:EJ :? AC6G:@FD 3:==D[” 96 D2JD] “%96C6’D 2 766=:?8 E92E H6 ?665 E@ 36 6IEC2 2H2C6 @7 H92E ?68@E:2E:@?D 2C6 2?5 H92E E96 E6C>D @7 28C66>6?ED 2C6] (6 92G6 36?67:E65 2 =@E 7C@> H@C<:?8 H:E9 E96 x?8C2>D 3642FD6 E96J 2C6 4@>>:EE65 E@ }2D9G:==6 :? 2 H2J E92E >2?J @E96C 8C@FAD ;FDE H@F=5?’E 36]k^Am
kAm“p =@E @7 A6@A=6 H2?E E@ D66 E9:D 92AA6? 3642FD6 :E D66>D =:<6 E96 36DE @AA@CEF?:EJ H6 92G6 E@ D6E E96 u2:C8C@F?5D E@ 92G6 2 DFDE2:?23=6 7FEFC6] %9:D :D E96 36DE D9@E H6’G6 8@E — 2?5 AC@323=J E96 36DE @?6 H6 H:== 86E 7@C J62CD[ :7 ?@E 564256D[ E@ 4@>6] ~3G:@FD=J[ A6@A=6 DE:== 92G6 BF6DE:@?D — 2?5 C:89E7F==J D@ — 23@FE E9:?8D =:<6 EC277:4 2?5 A2C<:?8] qFE[ D@ >2?J 5:776C6?E A6@A=6 2?5 8C@FAD 92G6 366? H@C<:?8 G6CJ 5:=:86?E=J E@ 86E E9:D E@ H@C<]”k^Am
kAm!9:= #J2?[ 2? 277:=:2E6 3C@<6C H:E9 ':==286 r@>>6C4:2= #62= tDE2E6 2?5 7@C>6C 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 |6EC@ s6G6=@A>6?E 2?5 w@FD:?8 p86?4J[ 92D 366? @? E96 7C@?E=:?6D @7 >2?J @7 E96 4:EJ’D 9:89\AC@7:=6 AF3=:4 AC@;64ED @G6C E96 J62CD]k^Am
kAm#J2? 9@A6D E96 AC@;64E H:== AFE 2? 6?5 E@ E96 u2:C8C@F?5’D :56?E:EJ 4C:D:D]k^Am
kAm“%96 u2:C8C@F?5D }2D9G:==6 92D 366? D62C49:?8 7@C :ED :56?E:EJ 36J@?5 H92E :E’D 366? 7@C D@ =@?8[” #J2? D2JD] “xE’D D@>6E:>6D 2FE@ C24:?8[ D@>6E:>6D 7=62 >2C<6ED[ D@>6E:>6D 8F? D9@HD 2?5 @E96C A6C:@5:4 6G6?ED[ 2?5 H92E 6=D6n %9:D ?6H |{$ A=2? 96=AD D@=:5:7J :E 2D 2 AF3=:4 DA246 H:E9 2 G6CJ 5:G6CD6 FD6C A@AF=2E:@?] (92E >@C6 42? J@F 2D< 7C@> J@FC 4:EJ E92? AF3=:4 DA246D E92E 2C6 7@C 6G6CJ3@5J[ 7@C 2== <:?5D @7 FD6CDn”k^Am
kAmk^Am
