Committee approves temporary lease for Nashville Public Library studio at Nashville State

The Arts, Parks, Libraries & Entertainment Committee approved a resolution May 6 authorizing an intergovernmental agreement allowing the Nashville Public Library to lease studio space at Nashville State Community College temporarily while a permanent studio is developed.

Library staff told the committee the move is needed because the organization that has occupied the studio for about 20 years is now being charged rent after previously occupying the space for a dollar. "We used to be able to have that space for a dollar, and now we're having to pay rent to be in that space," library staff member Susan Dry said, describing the change in the host institution's policy and the short-term need for leased space.

The nut graf: the lease is intended to keep the city’s public-access television/studio operations running while a new permanent facility is planned; committee members pressed staff about where a future studio would be sited and how construction would be funded.

Committee discussion and context Committee chair opened public discussion before the vote and invited library staff to explain the agreement. Dry said the studio operator (identified in discussion as MECAT) has been based at Nashville State for roughly 20 years but is leaving under new terms, so the mayor’s office negotiated a temporary rental arrangement "until such time as we have a place to put them." Dry added that the city is planning a permanent studio space in the old Donson Library building and that the project is in design development. "There is funding to design the space. There is not funding to build it out," Dry said, and she told council members she believed general services would seek construction funding through the Capital Improvements Budget (CIB) in a future year.

Council member Bradford asked whether the Donson Library plan was still intended as the future site; staff confirmed the design phase is funded but the build-out is not. Committee members asked only clarifying questions.

Formal action and outcome The committee considered Resolution RS20205-11806 (listed on the agenda as "RS 20 20 5 dash 11 80 6" in the meeting record) authorizing the intergovernmental agreement. A member moved and a member seconded the motion; the chair called for a voice vote. Committee members responded "aye," and the chair said there were no oppositions or abstentions. The committee approved the resolution.

Why it matters The lease preserves continuity of the studio’s operations so the public-access programming and related activities can continue while the city plans a permanent facility. Committee discussion made clear the timeline and construction funding for the Donson Library build-out were not settled: design work is funded, construction funding is not.

Next steps and follow-up directions Staff said the mayor’s office negotiated the lease and will continue to manage funding and logistics; the committee requested to be kept informed of progress by email. The long-term studio build-out will require additional funding to move from design to construction and is expected to be considered in future CIB cycles.