Housing Agency Tries To Acquire Music Row Property

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Metropolitan Development Housing Agency has filed papers in the Circuit Court in Nashville to try to take a piece of property for redevelopment on Music Circle East.

Music Circle East is part of Nashville's Music Row, an area near downtown Nashville that is home to businesses related to the music industry. The property is located in the Arts Center Redevelopment District.

For two years, the Lionstone Development Group said it tried to negotiate with owner Joy Ford and buy her property.

But Ford doesn't want to sell. Now, the group is going to court to try to get a court-ordered land acquisition.

Lionstone Development Group has been seeking the land as a part of a $100 million mixed-use development. The property is the only piece of property the developer hasn't been able to acquire.

According to MDHA, the agency has sought to negotiate the property sale without success.

MDHA carries forward redevelopment efforts in areas in Nashville deemed to be blighted and in need of redevelopment.

"This filing does not mean the land will be taken immediately," said Joe Cain, MDHA director of development, in a news release. "In fact, we hope we can still find a way to negotiate this matter and purchase the property. However to this point, multiple, generous offers to purchase the land by both MDHA and by the developer (five other developments groups have also tried to purchase the property for redevelopment since 2000) have been rejected. "

Cain said MDHA rarely seeks court-ordered land acquisition and "we do so very reluctantly."

"But it is clear we are at an impasse. So we feel we have no other choice but to proceed, given the community's decision to redevelop this area and given commitments by the current developers to either begin to move forward towards preliminary site work and construction or see the project abandoned," Cain said.