NASHVILLE, Tenn (WTVF) — A church congregation's plan to help its community is moving forward, but not without opposition. The Nashville zoning commission voted in favor of allowing Tusculum Hills Baptist Church to build a senior living center in a South Nashville Neighborhood, and area currently zoned for single unit housing.
Pastor Gunn says this has been the church's vision for years even before he became pastor. Just two years ago, the church bought land behind the building and with a complete parcel of land, the congregation began talking about the possibility of senior adult housing.
"A lot of people from the community have to leave the area when they leave their homes and so we want to provide this as an independent living facility," said Gunn.
The center would be built next to the church in the southeast Nashville community of Fairlane Park.
"180 units, four stories high would be the only facility of its type in our area so if anybody's opposed to it I wouldn't have any idea why," Gunn said.
"The progress that we have made could be disillusioned by the proposal of a mega structure within our community," said Jeff Sexton, the director of the Fairlane Park Neighborhood Association. He says the facility will be in the middle of a neighborhood zoned for single family housing.
"We're in danger of losing more affordable housing, this will create a negative impact," said Sexton.
The proposal will now head to Metro council for consideration.
