Fallon Company lays out first-phase plans for East Bank parcels, pledges 300–325 affordable units

Sean Seaman, chief development officer for the Fallon Company, updated the East Bank Development Authority on the developer’s plans for the first phase of the East Bank master development, identifying Blocks C and G as the initial focus and describing housing, retail and timing for the work.

Seaman said the developer’s 30-acre portion of the project will concentrate first on Block C and Block G, with Block C divided into C1 (a full-service hotel) and C2 (a multifamily building) and G1 designated as a dedicated affordable housing building. "The first phase will include 325 in the dedicated affordable building. That's G1 — 300 to 325," Seaman said, describing the affordable building’s size. He also said C2 would include a 10% affordable set‑aside within the market-rate building.

The developer identified affordability levels and other program elements. Seaman said the dedicated affordable building is planned for households at 60% area median income (AMI), and the market-rate building will include 10% of units at 60–80% AMI. He also said there will be ground-floor retail on G1, including a day care, and the team is targeting neighborhood-serving uses such as grocer, drugstore and day‑care operators along Shelby Avenue.

Seaman described the near-term schedule and procurement steps. He said Fallon issued requests for proposals to architects and expected to interview candidates within a month; design and architect selection work is expected to occur over the next nine to 12 months. "The anticipation is that we would begin construction mid to late 2026," he said, adding that the team is targeting delivery of the first parcels by the end of 2028 or very early 2029, with construction windows of roughly 24–30 months depending on the use.

On local hiring and contracting, Seaman said the firm has a target that 25% of design and construction participation be from small, women‑ and minority‑owned businesses, with a preference for local Nashville firms. He said RFPs have been issued to about 12 firms, many of which include local offices or local co‑leads.

Board members pressed on affordability and operations. One board member noted current AMI levels and said 60% AMI may not serve the lowest‑income community members; Seaman responded that operators for the day care have not been selected yet and that the team intends to discuss operating models, including sliding-scale options, with prospective operators.

Seaman also said the developer expects to coordinate on parking and interim uses for parcels that will not be immediately developed, noting obligations to the Titans for event-day parking and interest in short-term activations to avoid long-term fenced or vacant lots.

Seaman said Fallon is continuing coordination with Metro staff and the authority on approvals, architect selections and the design of the public realm. He said the public‑realm framework plan recently adopted by the downtown code design review committee set the look and character for sidewalks, plantings and elevated walk connections such as the "Music City Mile" and the "Cumberland Walk."

Next steps: the Fallon team will complete architect interviews and selections, begin schematic design for Blocks C and G, and continue coordinating with East Bank staff and Metro agencies on permitting, infrastructure and community connections.