NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A proposed zoning change in the Glencliff and Woodbine neighborhoods has sparked a debate between local residents and city officials, with concerns ranging from the potential destruction of neighborhood character to the need for more affordable housing.
A petition to halt the zoning change has garnered over 50 signatures, with local residents voicing strong opposition to the proposal, which would allow for up to 40 apartments per acre. Alexa Little, the president of the Glencliff Neighborhood Group and initiator of the petition, expressed her frustrations, saying, “It seems like you are putting the cart before the horse.” Little, who has lived in the area for years, believes the proposed changes would fundamentally alter the nature of the community, leading to overcrowding and a loss of the residential charm that residents have worked hard to preserve.
Sherry McCall, a Glencliff resident, echoed these sentiments, arguing that the zoning change would harm the neighborhood. “Nobody’s excited about this,” she said. “It destroys the fabric of a neighborhood.” Residents are concerned that the development of large apartment complexes would increase traffic congestion, exacerbate flooding issues, and lead to a rise in property taxes, potentially displacing long-time, low-income families.
However, Metro Councilmember Ginny Welsch, who supports the zoning change, sees it as a necessary step to address the growing demand for affordable housing. “We’re losing a lot of our diversity because the housing stock here has not kept up,” Welsch stated. She emphasized the importance of providing a variety of housing options in the city, particularly in neighborhoods near major roadways and public transit routes. The proposal, Welsch explained, is aimed at creating urban, transit-oriented developments that would bring new businesses and investment to areas like Nolensville Pike.
Critics, however, argue that the zoning change would disproportionately benefit developers while offering little benefit to the existing residents. “That really benefits developers to come through a neighborhood and buy multiple properties in a row, knock it all down, and then be able to build a 40-unit apartment building,” Little said. Neighbors worry that the rapid pace of growth could outstrip the infrastructure needed to support it, with issues like traffic, parking, and flood mitigation going unaddressed.
Residents like Little also fear that the proposal would lead to a significant increase in property values and taxes, with some predicting a 50% rise in property tax rates. This, in turn, could push out many of the area’s low-income families, a group that the petitioners are determined to protect.
Despite these concerns, Welsch believes the change is overdue, particularly as family sizes continue to shrink and housing needs evolve. “We know that family sizes are going down, so what we find ourselves with is larger and larger and more expensive houses that are actually housing fewer and fewer people,” she said.
As the conversation continues, residents remain divided on the best path forward. While some argue for more density and affordable housing options, others fear the loss of the neighborhood’s identity and livability. The zoning change is set to be discussed at a community meeting on April 17, with the Metro Planning Commission set to review the proposal on April 24.
For now, the debate in Glencliff and Woodbine serves as a microcosm of the broader housing challenges facing Nashville, as the city grapples with how to balance growth and affordability without sacrificing the character of its neighborhoods.
