Many major Nashville streets offer multiple personalities of sorts.
But there is something different — even oddly charming, in fact — about 12th Avenue, which has emerged in a high-profile manner during the city’s post-2000 boom. Everybody knows The Gulch on the street’s north point and the 12South commercial district on its south.
kAmx? 4@?EC2DE[ E96 C@F89=J `]d\>:=6 >:5\D64E:@? @7 `aE9 DA2??:?8 E96 :??6C\:?E6CDE2E6 =@@A E@ E96 ?@CE96C? 3@C56C @7 `a$@FE9 C6>2:?D 2 3:E A2E49J[ H:E9 D@>6 6>AEJ =@ED 2?5 3=2?5 3F:=5:?8D :?E6C24E:?8 H:E9 A@4<6ED @7 ?:46 =2?5D42A:?8 2?5 2EEC24E:G6 DECF4EFC6D] !F3=:4 9@FD:?8 :D 2 >2;@C 4@>A@?6?E[ E@@] (:E9 E92E C2?5@> 7@C> 4@>6D BF:C<:?6DD — 3FE 2=D@ @AA@CEF?:EJ]k^Am
kAm|2?J 56G6=@A6CD 2?5 C62= 6DE2E6 286?ED 2C6 <66?=J 2H2C6 @7 `aE9’D FAE:4<] %96J 6IA64E C6D:56?E:2= 2?5 4@>>6C4:2= AC@;64ED 2=@?8 E96 27@C6>6?E:@?65 DEC6E49 E@ F?7@=5 D:8?:7:42?E=J 5FC:?8 E96 ?6IE EH@ E@ 7:G6 J62CD] u@C 6I2>A=6[ |2:?=2?5 r@D] :D F?56CE2<:?8 E96 fh\F?:E p4<=6? @? `aE9 2A2CE>6?E 3F:=5:?8 2E E96 :?E6CD64E:@? 7C@> H9:49 :ED ?2>6 56C:G6D]k^Am
kAm“#:89E ?@H[ A2CED @7 E96 DEC66E 766= 2 =:EE=6 56D@=2E6[” D2JD ':==286 #62= tDE2E6 $6CG:46D #62=E@C s2G:5 s@CC:D] “qFE :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 364@>6 2? 6IE6?D:@? @7 %96 vF=49]”k^Am
kAms@CC:D D9@F=5 <?@H] ~?6 @7 }2D9G:==6’D >@DE 24E:G6 286?ED 3C@<6C:?8 FC32? AC@A6CE:6D[ 96 :D 92?5=:?8 D2=6D 7@C pC496C 2E `aE9[ ch D:?8=6\72>:=J C@H 9@>6D =@42E65 23@FE 7:G6 3=@4<D D@FE9 @7 E96 `aE9 2?5 s:G:D:@? $EC66E :?E6CD64E:@? :? %96 vF=49] %96 tG6C8C66? #62= tDE2E6 AC@;64E WA92D6 @?6 H2D 6IA64E65 E@ 92G6 366? 4@>A=6E65 3J AC6DD E:>6X D:ED @?=J E9C66 3=@4<D D@FE9 @7 %96 vF=49]k^Am
kAm%96 E9C66\DE@CJ C@H9@>6D 2E pC496C 2E `aE9 2C6 AC:465 2E Sdch[___ E@ Sech[___ — F?E9:?<23=6 5@==2C 7:8FC6D 7@C E96 DEC66E 2 >6C6 E9C66 J62CD 28@ — 2?5 @776C C@@7E@A E6CC246D H:E9 6IA2?D:G6 G:6HD @7 3@E9 5@H?E@H? }2D9G:==6 2?5 t]$] #@D6 !2C<] $:IE66? @7 E96 b` F?:ED F?56C 4@?DECF4E:@? 92G6 D@=5 H:E9@FE 36:?8 25G6CE:D65]k^Am
kAm%96 A2C< H:== 36 2 “9F86 2DD6E” ?@E @?=J E@ pC496C 2E `aE9 3FE E@ 7FEFC6 56G6=@A>6?ED[ s@CC:D D2JD]k^Am
kAm~?6 4@F=5 2C8F6 E92E E96 pC496C 2E `aE9 AC:46D 2C6 6I46DD:G6 8:G6? E96 AC@;64E’D AC@I:>:EJ E@ >@56DE=J AC:465 9@>6D 2?5 E96 t5869:== w@>6D AF3=:4 9@FD:?8 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kAmwF?E6C r@??6==J 5@6D?’E E9:?< D@] w:89\6?5 9@>6D[ A2CE:4F=2C=J E9@D6 DFCC@F?5:?8 ?62C3J t5869:== ':==286[ 2C6 2 724E@C]k^Am
kAmk^Am
kAm“(6 36=:6G6 2 9:89\BF2=:EJ C6D:56?E:2= 56G6=@A>6?E :? E9:D 4@>>F?:EJ 42? C62==J E9C:G6[” D2JD r@??6==J[ tG6C8C66? AC:?4:A2= 2?5 4@\7@F?56C H:E9 p2C@? (9:E6] “x’5 9@A6 E92E ,E96 DEC66E 2?5 :ED D:56 DEC66ED. DE2J 5:G6CD6 2?5 :?4=F56 @=56C 9@>6D 2?5 ?6H 4@?DECF4E:@?]”k^Am
kAmp 7:G6\>:?FE6 5C:G6 2=@?8 E96 2AAC@I:>2E6=J `]d\>:=6 DEC6E49 @7 `aE9 7C@> %96 vF=49 E@ pD9H@@5 pG6?F6 W2E H9:49 A@:?E `a$@FE9 DE2CEDX C6G62=D 2 9@586A@586 @7 3F:=5:?8D[ 76H @7 E96> 2C49:E64EFC2==J D:8?:7:42?E]k^Am
kAm%96 q62>2? pFE@>@E:G6 r@==:D:@? r6?E6C 2?5 &?:E65 |6E9@5:DE r@>>F?:42E:@?D AC@A6CE:6D 2?49@C E96 4@C?6C @7 `aE9 2?5 w2H<:?D $EC66E] uC@> E96C6 2?5 962565 D@FE9 2C6 >@56DE >:?:\C2?49 9@>6D[ ?@?56D4C:AE 4@>>6C4:2= 3F:=5:?8D[ r2CE6C{2HC6?46 t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@=[ 2 =:3C2CJ[ E9C66 D>2== 2A2CE>6?E DECF4EFC6D[ D@>6 >@56C?:DE 3F:=5:?8D 9@>6 E@ 49FC496D[ E96 |:5E@H? w:==D |6EC@ !@=:46 !C64:?4E[ q6=>@?E &?:G6CD:EJ DEF56?E 9@FD:?8 2?5 2 7:C6 DE2E:@?]k^Am
kAmx>A@CE2?E=J[ E96 x](] v6C?6CE w@>6D >:5\C:D6 2?5 t5869:== w@>6D — @?6 @7 E96 4:EJ’D @=56DE 2?5 =2C86DE DF3D:5:K65 9@FD:?8 4@>>F?:E:6D — D:E :? E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 DEC6E49] %96:C C6D:56?ED[ 56DA:E6 >@56DE :?4@>6D[ 2C6 4=@D6\<?:E[ 92G6 2? 24E:G6 ?6:893@C9@@5 @C82?:K2E:@? 2?5 H:== 46CE2:?=J H2?E 2 G@:46 :? H92E EJA6 AC@;64ED C6:?G6?E E96 2C62[ 6DA64:2==J C682C5:?8 C6E2:=]k^Am
kAm~? E9:D E96>6[ E96 |6EC@ r@F?4:= 92D 2AAC@G65 2 Sa_ >:==:@?[ `bg\F?:E H@C<7@C46 9@FD:?8 AC@;64E @? 4:EJ\@H?65 =2?5 =@42E65 2E E96 ?@CE962DE 4@C?6C @7 E96 :?E6CD64E:@? @7 `aE9 2?5 (6586H@@5 2G6?F6D] %96 2A2CE>6?ED H:== 36 C6?E65 @?=J E@ A6@A=6 H9@ D2E:D7J 46CE2:? 2??F2= :?4@>6 C6DEC:4E:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 E96 ?6H C6D:56?E:2= AC@;64ED 2?5 E96 28:?8 =@H\:?4@>6 9@FD:?8 8:G6D E9:D DEC6E49 @7 `aE9 2 46CE2:? BF:C<J 2?5 5:DE:?4E:G6 7=2G@C] qFE 2 <6J 6=6>6?E :D =24<:?8]k^Am
kAm“%96 DEC66E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> D@>6 >:I65\FD6 AC@;64ED[” D2JD |2C< s6FED49>2??[ AC6D:56?E @7 r@C6 s6G6=@A>6?E 2?5 7@F?56C 2?5 AC:?4:A2= @7 ':==286 #62= tDE2E6 $6CG:46D] “x 36=:6G6 E92E ?6:893@C9@@5 4@>>6C4:2= K@?:?8 H@F=5 36 ?66565 E@ 6IE6?5 E96 ,`a$@FE9. C6E2:= 5:DEC:4E ,?@CE9. E@H2C5D %96 vF=49] ~E96CH:D6 J@F 92G6 5625 K@?6D[ H9:49 5@6D ?@E 36?67:E C6E2:=] %@ 4C62E6 2? 6IE6?565 H2=<23=6 5:DEC:4E[ :E H@F=5 96=A E@ 92G6 D@>6 ,>:I65\FD6 3F:=5:?8. 4@?E:?F:EJ 2=@?8 E96 DEC66E]”k^Am
kAms6FED49>2?? :D H:56=J D66? 2D 2 =:?49A:? :? 56G6=@A:?8 `a$@FE9[ 92G:?8 @?46 @H?65 `` 4@>>6C4:2= 3F:=5:?8D :? E96 ?@H\3FDE=:?8 5:DEC:4E] w6 D66D E96 F?56C\56G6=@A65 D68>6?E @7 `aE9 pG6?F6 492?8:?8[ 3FE 96’D ?@E DFC6 H92E 5:C64E:@? E92E H:== E2<6]k^Am
kAm“u:G6 J62CD 7@CH2C5[ x H@F=5 :>28:?6 E92E %96 vF=49 H:== 6IE6?5 ,D@FE9. E@H2C5D E96 q62>2? =@E[ H9:49 D9@F=5 36 56G6=@A65 H:E9 >:I65\FD6 9:89\56?D:EJ 3F:=5:?8D[” 96 D2JD] “(92E 92AA6?D 56A6?5D FA@? 9@H E96 4:EJ 49@@D6D E@ C6K@?6]”k^Am
kAmy@9? w] t=5C:586 xxx[ @H?6C @7 tb r@?DECF4E:@? $6CG:46D[ 92D 2=D@ :?G6DE65 :? E96 2C62] w6 :D 56G6=@A:?8 %96 #@H 2E `aE9 $][ 2 `f\F?:E E@H?9@>6 AC@;64E =@42E65 2E `ca_ `aE9 pG6] $] 2?5 42EEJ\4@C?6C 7C@> E96 A@=:46 AC64:?4E]k^Am
kAm“(6 5@?’E ?665 @C H2?E ,`aE9’D >:5\D64E:@?. E@ 364@>6 2? 6IE6?D:@? @7 %96 vF=49 @C `a$@FE9] xE ?665D E@ 7:?5 :ED @H? :56?E:EJ[” t=5C:586 D2JD] “xE’D =:<6=J E@ D66 2 3=6?5 @7 4@>>6C4:2= 2?5 C6D:56?E:2= ,AC@;64ED.] %96 4@CC:5@C :D ,DF:E23=6. 7@C >:I65\FD6 3F:=5:?8D]”k^Am
kAmpE Sad_ E@ Safd 2 DBF2C6 7@@E[ %96 #@H 2E `aE9 $] :D?’E 6I24E=J 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8] qFE =:<6 r@??6==J 2?5 s6FED49>2??[ t=5C:586 36=:6G6D @?6 @7 E96 DEC6?8E9D @7 E96 DEC66E :D E92E :E 92D E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ @776C C6D:56?E:2= AC:46 E28 @AE:@?D]k^Am
kAm“x 5@?’E C62==J D66 :E 2D 2 S`__\2\A=2E6 5:??6C <:?5 @7 A=246[” t=5C:586 D2JD]k^Am
kAmt=5C:586 AC2:D6D |2J@C |682? q2CCJ 7@C E96 27@C6>6?E:@?65 H@C<7@C46 9@FD:?8 AC@;64E]k^Am
kAm“|2J@C q2CCJ 92D >256 2 D>2CE D6=64E:@?[” t=5C:586 D2JD] “%96C6’D 46CE2:?=J 2 3:8 ?665 7@C :E]”k^Am
kAmt=5C:586 AC65:4ED >@C6 :?7:== 7@C `aE9’D F?56C56G6=@A65 D:56 DEC66ED[ 6DA64:2==J $@FE9 $EC66E[ $@FE9D:56 !=246 2?5 (256 pG6?F6] %96D6 A@4<6ED 2C6 2=C625J D66:?8 D>2==6C C6D:56?E:2= AC@;64ED]k^Am
kAm“(92E J@F C62==J ?665 :D H2=<23=6 5@H?E@H? 2446DD ]]] 6IE6?5:?8 7C@> (6586H@@5 pG6?F6 E@ %96 vF=49[” t=5C:586 D2JD] “#6D:56?ED H:== H2?E :?E6C24E:@?] %96J’== H2?E E@ 86E @FE 2?5 23@FE]”k^Am
kAm':==286 #62= tDE2E6’D s@CC:D D2JD E92E 2D C6D:56?E:2= AC@;64ED C6249 2 4C:E:42= >2DD[ C6E2:= 56G6=@A>6?E H:== 7@==@H]k^Am
kAm“x? >2?J H2JD[ x E9:?< E96 C656G6=@A>6?E ,@7 `aE9. 4@F=5 92AA6? 72:C=J BF:4<=J[” 96 D2JD] “xE’D 2 4@?E:?F@FD ,DEC6E49.]k^Am
kAmr@>A2C65 E@ 2 A=246 =:<6 t2DE }2D9G:==6[ H9:49 AC@323=J 92D a_ D6A2C2E6 ?6:893@C9@@5D[ ,`aE9 :D. 2== :? @?6 A=246] ~?46 J@F =@@< 2E E96 DEC66E[ J@F 42? DE2CE E@ 6?G:D:@? 2 EC2?D7@C>2E:@?]”k^Am
