New Apartments On Jefferson Street Part Of Nashville’s Push For ‘Workforce Housing’

Nashville’s public housing agency broke ground today on a 54-unit apartment building. It will offer low rents for families that earn around the median income.

In architectural renderings, the three-story apartment features balconies overhanging tree-lined sidewalks. And it’s designed with a mix of building materials — stone, metal and wood — that’s popular these days for upscale condos.  

The housing will occupy the corner of 10th and
Jefferson Street. This North Nashville corridor is historically known as an African-American business district, but well past its heyday.

“And it’s taken from the mid-60s to now for it to really start coming back,” said Nathaniel Harris, owner of Woodcuts Gallery and Framing a few blocks over.

Councilwoman Sharon Hurt, who also leads the
Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership, or J.U.M.P, said the project is part of that comeback.

“This lot has been vacant for quite some time and to have something here, I think, is going to be wonderful for the businesses that have been on Jefferson Street and that have sustained this community for many, many years,” Hurt said.

The one, two, and three-bedroom apartments will rent to families earning between $33,000 and $51,000 in annual income. 
That’s considered “workforce housing,” — a buzzword in town
getting more attention lately alongside efforts to house lower-income residents.

More:
WPLN’s continuing coverage of affordable housing

The project, by the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, began in early 2014 and will be finished in 2017, said Jim Harbison, executive director.

“For those of you that are residents of MDHA
, we are here for you. For those of you that are developers and contractors, who want an affordable component, come see us, we’ll find a way to help you,” he said at the groundbreaking ceremony. 
“MDHA is doing it’s best. We can’t get there overnight.”

More:
Nashville’s New Approach To Public Housing Takes Shape

Mayor Megan Barry also spoke at what was her second affordable housing groundbreaking since taking office.

“I love to see the variance of the housing stock. It’s not just studio — there’s a three-bedroom, so if you’re a family, you’ll be able to live here,” she said.