Mixed-Use Development Breaks Ground in Nashville

By Matthew Marin, Associate EditorNashville, Tenn. –Designed by Cleveland-based ka architecture, Velocity in The Gulch, an environmentally friendly, condominium development, located in downtown Nashville in an area known as The Gulch, has broken ground. Bristol Development Group and Marketstreet Enterprises developed the project.“In designing Velocity, we worked with our clients’ vision to create a walkable environment designed with the young professional in mind,” says Robert Weeks, project manager at ka architecture. “In doing this, we developed efficient layouts and construction techniques making it an attainable option for those urban-minded professionals who enjoy the liveliness of the city.” Velocity, a five-story building, contains 264 residential units and 21,000 square feet of retail space. It will offer one- and two-bedroom residences, attractively priced for young working professionals and first-time homebuyers. It is scheduled to be completed in 2009.“This project accelerates the vision for The Gulch as a dense urban neighborhood full of life and energy totally unique to Nashville.  We are delighted that Velocity is underway at record speed,” says Ashlyn Hines, principal with Bristol Development Group.In the construction of Velocity, Bristol Development Group is using green materials to ensure the development has a positive impact on the environment. Residents can include flooring constructed from 50 percent recycled material, terrazzo countertops manufactured using an environmentally friendly process and plumbing fixtures that offer 50 percent reduced consumption. Also, the building site is considered a “brownfield,” property once polluted by industry, but will now be cleaned and developed to the benefit of the environment. “With Velocity, we are creating a dynamic pedestrian district that will foster a sense of community for its residents and others visiting The Gulch,” says Jay Turner of Marketstreet Enterprises, the company leading the redevelopment of the neighborhood.Velocity is ka’s second residential project in Nashville’s Gulch area in the past three years. Currently, construction is underway for ICON in the Gulch also being developed by Bristol & Marketstreet, which is scheduled to be complete in Spring 2008. These two projects embody the urban revitalization to this area of Nashville.