Green Hills Tower construction hits a speed bump

The Green Hills Tower construction has been delayed due to an appeal from the Green Hills Neighborhood Association.  Back in September of 2013, Southern Land announced its plans to build a 22-story tower on the corner of Richard Jones Rd. and Hillsboro Pike. The project was scheduled to begin construction in 2014. Ground was broken then, but in the spring of 2014, the Neighborhood raised concerns about the height of the tower saying it conflicted with the Green Hills urban design overlay. On March 27, the Metro Planning Commission approved Southern Land’s final site plan.  This plan depicts a 17-story tower, but on Tuesday Aug. 12 the Neighborhood announced it was taking the case to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. The tower will bring new housing, business and office space to the Green Hills area, and some local business are very excited about the increased population. “I think it’s just going to create more traffic, and we’re going to see more business as a result,” local retailer Zach Mulder said. While business owners are enthusiastic about the construction, some residents aren’t as pleased. “It’s nice that they have more residential building going on,” Royal Arms apartments resident Kelsey Reiman said. “But it really messes with the traffic. There’s already a ton of traffic because of the construction, and it’s only going to get worse with all the people living there.” Both the driving traffic and business traffic will increase due to the tower, but the final decision on just how tall the structure will be has not been determined. Southern Land said they plan to begin construction later this...

Lumination Newscast, Sept. 27, 2012

In this week’s installment of Lumination News, Jeremy Keck and Kelly Dean are behind the news desk to update you about what’s happening on campus. Nicolette Carney gives you the latest in political news, Brynn Watkins updates you on the weather forecast, Caitlin Selle has your entertainment news and Crystal Davis brings you up to speed on sports. Videos feature information about Lipscomb’s public hearing at a Metro Planning Commission meeting, technology developments with myLipscomb, Now That You Ask with John Seigenthaler, social club pledging, Rape Aggression Defense classes, “A Servant of Two Masters,” HumanDocs, Kingdom Politics at Acklen Church of Christ, and Nashville Spotlight on the 12th Avenue South area. LUmination Newscast 9-27-2012 from lumination Network on...
Metro rejects Parkwood Terrace plan, while approving rest of expansion proposal

Metro rejects Parkwood Terrace plan, while approving rest of expansion proposal

After hearing from upset neighbors and from university officials, the Metro Planning Commission Thursday night rejected Lipscomb’s proposal to change Parkwood Terrace apartments from residential rental property to university office space. The other three parts of the university’s amended institutional overlay proposal passed by a 7-2 vote, clearing the way for McFarland to expand west (beyond the required setback lines), for residential property next to Draper Jewelry to be cleared for a parking lot and adding more “campus-related building square footage within the overlay.” It was the change in the use of the apartment property that sparked most discussion. Both sides shared their opinions about the overlay proposal before the vote. Eight community members spoke in favor of Lipscomb, while 10 others from the neighboring area shared strong disapproval for the university’s proposed changes. Among those sharing their feelings was Elizabeth Betsy Thompson, 88, a Lipscomb high school and university graduate, who has lived in her home since 1935 and “very much wanted to speak” about the Parkwood Terrace proposal, which she said went counter to what she understood to be a university promise to the neighborhood. “It grieves me to see them want to destroy that subdivision,” she said, adding that she believes Lipscomb made a verbal commitment not to cross Belmont Boulevard. “All promises made sometimes don’t get in writing… that bothers me that Lipscomb is not living up to their word.” After hearing from both sides of the argument, commission members voiced their personal opinions on the matter and asked additional questions of Phil Ellenburg, Lipscomb’s general counsel, who represented the university at the hearing. “We’re obviously disappointed and wish it had come out a different way,” said...