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Nashville council approves TPAC lease and development agreement for East Bank performing arts facility, 8-0
Summary
The Metropolitan Government approved BL2025-1150 authorizing a development agreement and ground lease with the Tennessee Performing Arts Center to build a performing arts facility on a portion of the East Bank Stadium campus; two amendments addressing pedestrian bridge access and alleyway flexibility were adopted and TPAC will provide follow-up details.
The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County voted unanimously (8-0) to approve BL2025-1150, authorizing a development agreement and ground lease with the Tennessee Performing Arts Center Management Corporation to develop a performing arts facility on part of the East Bank Stadium campus.
The bill, read into the record by the meeting chair, included a lease and related campus operations and use agreements. The sponsor told the council the measure follows prior Section 2:30 and East Bank ad hoc committee discussions and moved the bill with amendments.
The council adopted two amendments before voting. Proposed Amendment 1, described by the sponsor, adds recital language stating Metro intends to keep the pedestrian bridge open, requires that adjacent Waseoto Park remain accessible during construction, and corrects a community meeting date from Dec. 3 to Dec. 4. That amendment passed on voice vote.
Councilman Parker moved Amendment 2 to allow limited flexibility in how Metro provides required alleyway access to the site. Parker said the agreement as drafted prescribes access off Davidson Street via Parcel F and that accomplishing that design would likely require extensive reworking of the pedestrian bridge; the amendment would permit alternative means of compliance if circumstances make the prescribed approach infeasible, while preserving the originally contemplated outcomes.
Tom Cross of Interlegal cautioned the council that the alleyway-access provisions were "heavily negotiated" and said it "doesn't appear that there's any other way to get access other than by raising the bridge deck and providing alleyway access underneath it off of Davidson Street," signaling practical limits to alternate approaches.
Jennifer Turner, president and CEO of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, told the council TPAC's project team was reviewing the amendment language and "would need our project team to weigh in a little bit further to give a more definitive answer"; she said TPAC could provide that response in time for the council meeting tomorrow.
Members also raised questions about whether prior agreements limited approval of sports betting on the East Bank; one councilmember noted TPAC "will not approve that without STAADCO approval," and members asked staff to confirm past understandings and report back.
After discussion, Amendment 2 passed (announced as 8 in favor, 0 opposed). The council then voted to approve the bill as amended; the chair announced the ordinance was approved 8-0. The meeting adjourned shortly after the vote.
The council directed staff and TPAC to provide requested clarifications (including the practical implications of the alleyway-access language and whether prior agreements affect sports betting approvals) at or before the next meeting. For more information and recordings referenced during the meeting, the Metro Nashville network directs viewers to nashville.gov.
