Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 5:22pm
By Joey Garrison
Karen Johnson was sworn into the Metro Council only a week ago, but she’s already making a plea that’s been at the forefront of concerns for Antioch residents for years: Bring a new community center and park space to southeast Davidson County — by far Nashville’s fastest growing area.
Johnson, the former school board member elected in August to fill the council’s District 29 seat appeared before the nine-member Metro Department of Parks and Recreation board Tuesday morning to highlight the urgency to bring recreational opportunities, community space and public investment to Antioch, specifically the area east of Murfreesboro Pike.
"We are the only area of Davidson County where we don’t have recreational outlets for our children and families,” Johnson told the parks board.
“We want to be able to provide a center or place where families will go safely and be able to recreate and have community meetings,” she said. “I beg of you to please do what is possible.”
To accommodate a new community center, Johnson requested the parks board consider purchasing what she described as approximately 100 acres at 171 Bell Road near the intersection of Nashboro Boulevard. She said the property, located near the Nashboro Village Apartments complex and a golf course, is currently for sale.
Johnson also asked board members to look at 2084 Smith Springs Road as an opportunity to acquire land that could go toward Mayor Karl Dean’s open space plan, which seeks to preserve thousands of acres of land that could otherwise be developed.
“This would be a good area to advance walking initiatives, exercising and enjoying space with their families,” Johnson said, adding the space is also well equipped to feature a dog park.
Antioch already has one community center at 5032 Blue Hole Road, but the building is far from the Bell Road parcels Johnson described.
Dean’s administration last year unveiled a plan for a revamped Hickory Hollow Mall, which included several new public utilities, anchored by a new community center and relocated fairgrounds expo center. A plan to lease the mall space fell apart when Dean backed away from his fairgrounds redevelopment plans.
Metro Finance Director Rich Riebeling said the city is now in conversations about acquiring — not leasing — the mall building last occupied by JC Penny to house a regional community center. Combined with a new Nashville State Community College satellite campus, he said its addition would help “rejuvenate” the struggling mall, which CBL & Associates Properties Inc. owns.
“We’re continuing to look at all the issues associated with real estate,” Riebeling said. “We’re moving forward with looking at potentially purchasing the Penny’s building.”
Riebeling said a proposal for the Hickory Hollow community center could go before the council this fall.
But even if the Hickory Hollow community center were to come to fruition, Johnson said the project would only partially meet the area’s demand, adding that the area to the east of Murfreesboro Pike needs aggressive exploration.
Tommy Lynch, the park department’s interim director, said Metro’s Parks and Greenways Master Plan has identified the need for three additional community centers in southeast Davidson County.
Lynch also said Johnson’s request for more open space is consistent with the department’s desires. He said officials are already looking at available open land in Antioch.
“Her request is totally in line with the open space plan,” Lynch said. “It’s been identified as an area for us to look for property.”
Given the area’s growth, parks board member James Lawson said the board should “seriously consider” making greater investments in southeast Davidson County.
“It is sorely needed,” Lawson said.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Percy Priest Lake cleanup scheduled for Sept. 24
The Tennessean
Bill Haas
The Nashville Clean Water Project will host another volunteer cleanup of Percy Priest Lake on Sept. 24.
The cleanup from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. aims to tackle 22 sites, cleaning up debris and garbage caused by the May 2010 flood, recent rainfall, and careless campers and people who dump their garbage along the lake. Organizers expect this year’s cleanup to be the largest in the event’s history.
The cleanup will be organized at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers headquarters at 37-01 Bell Road. Volunteers must register ahead of time at http://www.cleanpercypriest.org/ and will receive a free T-shirt and lunch. The event will proceed rain or shine, absent dangerous weather.
Bill Haas
The Nashville Clean Water Project will host another volunteer cleanup of Percy Priest Lake on Sept. 24.
The cleanup from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. aims to tackle 22 sites, cleaning up debris and garbage caused by the May 2010 flood, recent rainfall, and careless campers and people who dump their garbage along the lake. Organizers expect this year’s cleanup to be the largest in the event’s history.
The cleanup will be organized at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers headquarters at 37-01 Bell Road. Volunteers must register ahead of time at http://www.cleanpercypriest.org/ and will receive a free T-shirt and lunch. The event will proceed rain or shine, absent dangerous weather.
Come on out and Help!
2 suspects invade south Nashville home, steal money
WKRN Channel 2 News
Posted: Sep 06, 2011 7:39 AM CDT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A man woke up early Tuesday morning with two men inside his south Nashville home.
The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. at a home on Chilton Street, near Nolensville Pike.
Metro police said two men wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts entered the home and demanded cash from the man.
The suspects left with money, a cell phone and a TV.
The man was not hurt.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME.
Posted: Sep 06, 2011 7:39 AM CDT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A man woke up early Tuesday morning with two men inside his south Nashville home.
The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. at a home on Chilton Street, near Nolensville Pike.
Metro police said two men wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts entered the home and demanded cash from the man.
The suspects left with money, a cell phone and a TV.
The man was not hurt.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Karen Y Johnson - Council Woman District 29 - Newsletter
WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE LABOR DAY!
This District 29-E Newsletter will provide updates for District 29. If you have any information you would like to share with the district, please email me and it will be included. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you and our beautiful District 29.
District 29 Neighbors and Friends, SPECIAL NEWS UPDATE SHARED BY HICKORY HOLLOW MALL MANAGER ANGIE CARTER
My term as your District 29 council member officially began on September 1st. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you. I will work hard to provide you with information that will give you the opportunity to give feedback and to be involved where possible. I began my first day meeting with Metro Parks Greenway representatives in identifying areas in our district that we can enhance for walking and also areas for our pets. How exciting. I look forward to sharing with you information where we can work together to make our district the most desirable area in Davidson County to live.
District 29 Community Meeting
Our District's first community meeting has been scheduled for MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 at 6:30 pm LAKEVIEW DESIGN CENTER SCHOOL. Invited are representatives from MTA (Metro Transit Authority) and OEM (Office of Emergency Management). You will be able to learn of the grant money that is available to place tornado sirens in our district and ask questions and share what services you would like to see as well as give feedback on the newly added buslink for District 29. Please make plans to attend. I look forward to seeing you.
District 29 Office Hours
District 29 office hours will be held regularly every month in addition to our planned community meetings to give everyone the opportunity to meet and talk with me as your council member in multiple ways so that your ideas and concerns can be addressed. My goal is to serve you and to deliver to our district what you expect. My first office hours will take place in a special fashion with a Breakfast at Krystal's where neighbors in our community hold monthly breakfast club meetings. Please come join me and your neighbors for breakfast and conversation on Saturday, September 17, 2011 from 9:00 am until 11:30 am. A schedule of office hours and the locations will be posted on our district website which will be announced soon in the next newsletter and blog which is http://www.district29community.blogspot.com/ as well as facebook for each month.
Education, shopping to mix at Hickory Hollow mall By Joe Morris Updated 11:07AM
It’s been written off, even making its way onto a website chronicling dying shopping centers. But Hickory Hollow Mall isn’t finished yet.
An exodus of anchor tenants and smaller retailers in the last decade, coupled with negative coverage due to alleged gang activity on and around the premises, spooked shoppers and led to empty parking spaces.
In the last 12 months, however, the facility’s fortunes have taken a decided turn for the better, albeit in a bumpy fashion. After a few stops and starts, Metro Nashville is moving into the site in a big way, and Nashville State Community College is heading a multi-pronged educational component for other portions of the mall. Click here to read entire article.
Brush Pickup for District 29
Please remember our Brush Pickup for our area in Davidson County which is area 4 is scheduled to begin Tuesday, September 27, 2011. You can click here for the entire schedule.
Our District's new Beautification Commissioner will be taking office soon and will be announcing many great events and news regarding future services and opportunities for brush pickup and bulk item pickup. An announcement of our new Commissioner will be shared soon after this appointment is made by Mayor Karl Dean.
SAVE THE DATE - DISTRICT 29 COMMUNITY WIDE CLEANUP
Saturday October 22, 2011 from 7:30 am until 12:30 noon with a cookout to follow beginning at 1:00 pm. Information on set up, dumpster locations and schedule of activities will be shared in the next series of newsletters.
YOU'RE INVITED
To the Swearing in of Mayor Karl Dean, Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors and the entire Metropolitan Council
Friday, September 23, 2011
11:00 a.m.
Downtown Public Library
Over the summer, Hamilton Creek Apartments in District 29 held an art camp for “at risk kids “ages 5-13, where 23 children participated in the completion of a mural, “Young Voices, Big Visions,” led by the well-known Nashville artist, Jairo Prado. The project took place over a three-week period; with the focus of the mural being a reflection of the youth in their present community as well as their future self-portraits in the community. The children who participated in the summer camp and their families were also able to tour the Frist Center on Saturday, August 27, through an outreach partnership.
2011 TN State Fair September 9 thru 18, 2011 Support this 156 year old tradition!
To Read the Newsletter you can go to the following link. You also subscribe to the Newsletter and receive updates directly to your email address.
Email: JohnsonKarenY@gmail.com
Blog: District29Community.blogspot.com
Website: http://www.karenjohnson.org/
Telephone: 615-977-6721/862-6780
Our mailing address is:
2928 Moss Spring Drive, Antioch, TN 37013
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