Election staff recommend 1281 Airways Park site for relocation; General Services outlines buildout timeline and security needs

Commission staff recommended leasing the third floor at 1281 Airways Park as the preferred new location for the Davidson County Election Commission, and Metro General Services described a compressed timeline and security measures needed to make the space ready for election operations.

Administrator of Elections Mr. Roberts told commissioners that General Services showed multiple potential sites — Airways Park, locations in Metro Center, Kermit Drive, and a site off Brawley Parkway near the airport — and that staff favored the 1281 Airways Park space because it is easy for the public to find, has a bus stop across the street and direct access from McGavock Pike, and is already wired by Metro IT for election operations. Mr. Roberts said the commission would likely occupy the third floor as the final leased space in the building and that Metro-provided wiring and building security are advantages.

Gerald Smith, director of Metro General Services, told the commission his team is coordinating design and construction and that the office’s buildout cost estimates remain under development. Smith said his office is prioritizing the reception area so petition pick-up could occur at the new site in mid-October even if the full office is not yet finished. He cautioned that no guarantees can be given because timelines depend on design, construction and supply-chain factors, but said his team is focused on meeting the election schedule.

Staff explained key operational requirements: secure, swipe-controlled access to restricted areas where voter registration records and absentee ballots are stored; space planning that accommodates a significant temporary staff increase during election cycles (staffing can double starting about three months before an election); and sufficient near-building parking for the public even if other Metro agencies occupy parts of the campus. Commissioners asked about signage, entrances and police parking; staff said they would work with General Services on directional and tenant signage and urged that vehicle parking for police, if the police occupy part of the campus, be placed in the farthest portion of the lot so public parking near the entrance remains available.

Why it matters: the current Murfreesboro Road facility is slated for demolition to expand the airport, requiring the commission to relocate before the next scheduled elections. Moving on a compressed timeline creates design, security and logistics constraints because petition pickup and early voting processes must be stable and predictable for voters.

Quotations: Mr. Roberts summarized why the site was recommended: “One of those being that it would be easily described to the public where we are, especially in relationship to our current space. There's a bus stop across the street, and…we're at a light, so it's easier to get in and out.” Gerald Smith said the design-and-construction team is “working to ensure you get in the space in a timely manner” though he added that “no one can offer guarantees” because of the variables involved.

The commission did not take a formal vote to lease a site at this meeting; commissioners directed staff to continue coordination with General Services, finalize cost estimates, and schedule follow-up meetings to review the architect’s estimates and funding path.