Tennessee State Building Commission To Consider $200M Project For New TPAC
Image Credit: John Partipilo
By Sam Stockard [Tennessee Lookout -CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] –
The State Building Commission is set to give the nod for $200 million in state funds to construct a new Tennessee Performing Art Center at Nashville’s East Bank, moving out of the building at the corner of Deaderick and 6th streets.
Funding for the project, which is a key ingredient of Metro Nashville’s East Bank effort and $2.1 billion Tennessee Titans stadium project, is included in the state’s fiscal 2023-24 capital improvements list.
The commission is to meet Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Cordell Hull Building.
State officials have been angling to move the performing arts center for at least two years. It’s an integral part of former Metro Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s vision for the east side of the Cumberland River. TPAC was founded in 1980 and operates in the James K. Polk Cultural Center across from the War Memorial Plaza.
An analysis of Metro’s project by The Fallon Company shows the 20-acre tract contains areas for office space, TPAC and parking, which led to a reduction in the number of housing units to 745 from 1,500, only 200 of which would be considered affordable housing. Advocates for affordable housing have opposed the former mayor’s East Bank plan because of the lack of space for affordable housing.
New Mayor Freddie O’Connell, who opposed the Titans stadium project, is charged with handling a project he didn’t support.
The Building Commission also will consider approving the start of work on a $130.4 million renovation project for the Old Library and Archives and Supreme Court Building next to the State Capitol. The current state budget contains $7.3 million for the job.
The state will use a construction manager/general contractor, which will be involved in design because of the complexity and historic nature of the project.
In addition, the commission is to consider approving the early design phase of Lindsey Nelson baseball stadium renovation and expansion at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, at a total cost of $95.8 million. Some $85 million is to come through the Tennessee State School Bond Authority, and $9.3 million is coming from gifts to the university.
About the Author: Sam Stockard is a veteran Tennessee reporter and editor, having written for the Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, where he served as lead editor when the paper won an award for being the state’s best Sunday newspaper two years in a row. He has led the Capitol Hill bureau for The Daily Memphian. His awards include Best Single Editorial from the Tennessee Press Association. Follow Stockard on Twitter @StockardSam
We have so many needs in this state for the people suffering from the Biden inflation,high gas problems caused by Biden’s energy policies. Why do we need to spend 26 million a new stadium and TPAC building that benefits a select group of companies, when we could use this money to help all the families throughout TN.
We have so many needs in this state for the people suffering from the Biden inflation,high gas problems caused by Biden’s energy policies. Why do we need to spend 226 million a new stadium and TPAC building that benefits a select group of companies, when we could use this money to help all the families throughout TN. Big government at its best, I wonder how much bribe money was used to buy all of the votes for this appropriation to pass.
One million here another million there … pretty soon you’re talking real money. My money, the citizens money. Tennesseeans are having difficulty buying groceries and gas. Why does the Legislators think we can afford these projects? STOP THE SPENDING.