Trash to Treasure

Good afternoon, everyone. Council to weigh in on rezoning bill that will reshape the East Bank during tonight's meeting… TVA CEO announces retirement…Citizenship database checks for voter registration passed in TN… And much more!

Terrorism in America Join us Thursday, April 16th for a discussion with domestic terrorism expert Kyle Shideler as we dig into the federal government's response to the Charlie Kirk assassination and what it means for us here locally. (Buy Ticket)

New Council Watch Features We've added additional features to Council Watch. In addition to who's funding your councilmember, you can now see how they vote and who they vote with most frequently. (Take a Look)

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Building on PSC Metals’ legacy, the investment group hoping to redevelop the scrapyard along the East Bend is trying to turn trash into treasure.

From Megan Podsiedlik

Back in August, TEB LLC acquired the 47-acre scrapyard site for $245 million. Now, the group is looking for council’s approval to move forward with its plan to transform the site into a mixed-use neighborhood.

Getting there won’t be easy. Given the site’s industrial history, developers will have to test, clean, and certify the land before building housing or offices there. Managing flood risks may also present a hurdle for the group. But the conversation during tonight’s Metro Council meeting will be about zoning.

Investor David Byerley has been eyeing the site for almost 30 years. “In 1998 I first drove by this site,” said Byerley during a council meeting last month. “In ‘99 I attended a game, and I pointed over and said, ‘One day I want to buy that scrapyard.’”

Tonight is the final vote on a rezoning bill that could alter the East Bank forever. During the public hearing in March, Byerley attempted to assuage those skeptical about the development plan.

“I believe it should be a place for families,” said Byerley. “I have great friends that own bars on Broadway, and I'm all for it. I love great music and have a history of it myself, but I believe Broadway ends at the river.”

It’s anyone’s guess if the developers will come out ahead this round. Councilmembers have attached 20 amendments to the bill. Locals are also pushing back, afraid the project will ensure that downtown’s bar scene and skyline will, in fact, get dragged across the river.

The Coalition for Nashville Neighborhoods put out a statement in opposition to the bill:

This proposal pushes the excesses of “downtown” development further toward the East Nashville neighborhoods, with no consideration for the impact on neighborhood accessibility, excessive infrastructure demands and costs, and increased traffic congestion. This is the most consequential rezoning proposal of the current council term, yet it’s moving through the zoning process at break-neck speed, without sufficient input from the neighborhood interests that will bear the burden of dealing with the impact on development and construction for the next 2-3 generations.

While city leaders are happy to rid Nashville of the scrapyard, certain council members are hoping to pencil in some demands, including an environmental study, height restrictions, and other add-ons.

The majority of tonight’s council meeting will likely be devoted to discussions on the amendments proposed in the rezoning bill. You can tune in live starting at 6:30 p.m.

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✹ TERRORISM IN AMERICA

Domestic Threats to Americans Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the Trump administration declared its intent to counter domestic terrorism and organized political violence.

These efforts have been ongoing and recently bore some fruit, including major federal convictions and an upcoming international summit focused on countering the left-wing movement Antifa and other groups.

Join us to learn from an expert in the field on domestic threats to the American people, Kyle Shideler, and what the Trump administration's efforts mean for Nashville.

Buy Ticket

This event is for the benefit of The Pamphleteer, Nashville, and priced with that in mind. Bard-level subscribers receive free admittance.

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✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH

New Council Watch Features We've added additional features to Council Watch. In addition to who's funding your councilmember, you can now see how they vote and who they vote with most frequently. (Take a Look)

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HEADLINES

⚡ TVA President and CEO Don Moul to retire after less than a year. Moul was promoted to the position as the fourth CEO in TVA history back in April of 2025. He previously served as TVA's executive vice president and chief operating officer, beginning June 2021. (NewsChannel 9)
🗳 Bill requiring citizenship database checks for voter registration heads to the governor's desk. Yesterday, the Senate passed the bill authorizing county election administrators to verify Tennessee voters’ immigration status through a federal database on its final reading. (Lookout)
📜 A new TN law has eased up on two longstanding financial hurdles for people with felony sentences who want their voting rights back. The Republican-supermajority Legislature approved the Democratic-sponsored change, which now lets people prove they have complied for the last year with child support orders, such as payment plans. The legislation also unties the payment of all court costs from voting rights restoration. (ABC)

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Hosted by the Delphica Society, the event aims to raise money to support Zimmerman's legal fight against the Knoxville Symphony. (Buy ticket)

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DEVELOPMENT

Via Titans: New Nissan Stadium reveal: Speakeasy-style club honors franchise history at field level (More info)

Elevated fitness club opens in former Friedman's Army Navy Store (NBJ)
Downtown office building listed for $5.5M (Post)
Miami company pays $8.85 million for Dickerson Pike site that last sold in 2021 for $9.26 million (Post)