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P&H Properties lease for Commerce Center Park approved despite public opposition
Summary
The Metro Board of Parks and Recreation approved a lease with P&H Properties LLC to allow improvements at Commerce Center Park tied to a proposed hotel and museum project; the motion passed with one recorded opposed vote after public comment urging rejection under the board's no-net-loss open-space policy.
The Metro Board of Parks and Recreation approved a lease with P&H Properties LLC to allow improvements at Commerce Center Park (211 Commerce Street) and to accommodate an adjacent hotel and museum project; the motion passed with one recorded opposed vote.
The lease, described by presenters as part of the Dolly Parton SongKiller Hotel and Museum development, would permit construction of enclosed space and plaza improvements at the 0.304-acre park and would include an agreement for P&H to lease 2,900 square feet of 211 Commerce Street to Metro Nashville for use as a fire department station.
The approval followed a presentation by Savannah Wexler, who identified herself as the project manager for P&H Properties, and remarks from Bill Doyle of P&H. Wexler said the project team's designs add ADA access and "lots of color making it very inviting," and that the majority of the open space "remains public, as well as also available for special events for the parks board." Doyle said Dolly Parton's Life of Many Colors Museum will be part of the project.
During public comment, Steve Reiter urged the board to reject the lease, arguing it conflicts with the board's open-space policy adopted after earlier private leases. Reiter said, "if you spend millions of dollars in one of our parks, we'll sign a lease agreement ... and you can do what you want in that park," and he called the proposed terms "not consistent with your park policy." Reiter also criticized language in the draft lease that he described as requiring 60 days' notice for events on the plaza, saying, "That's not your park anymore. That's somebody else's park."
Commissioner Henley reported that the acquisition committee recommended approval after a discussion, noting the committee recorded one "no" vote and no abstentions. A motion to approve on the board floor was seconded and carried; the chair announced "1 recorded opposed" when the clerk called the vote.
Board members who spoke during the discussion suggested amendments they would like to see in the agreement: articulated hours of operation, signage to indicate the space is public, and a portion of concession and event revenues directed to the Parks Foundation or the General Fund. Those specific amendment requests were offered as recommendations on the record rather than formal amendments to the motion before the board.
The board's approval sends the lease forward for Metro Council consideration per the standard referral process. The report to the board stated the property is Council District 19 and that design materials were provided with the board packet.
Votes and committee record: the acquisition committee recommended approval with one no vote; the full board approved the lease with one recorded opposed vote.
Next steps: the lease will proceed to Metro Council for consideration as part of the city's review of property leases and land-use implications for park-adjacent development.
