Demolition is underway at The Fairgrounds Nashville, as unused buildings are removed to make way for the construction of a new Nashville SC stadium.
Nashville SC is planning to open a new stadium in the coming years, with the soccer-specific venue to be built at the Fairgrounds as part of a larger project that includes an adjacent mixed-use development led by team owners. Demolition was set to begin Monday morning on old, unused buildings that are sitting on the site that will be redeveloped through the stadium project.
The latest step to move demolition forward came last week, when a judge denied a request for a temporary restraining order from the coalition Save Our Fairgrounds, which wanted to prevent demolition from taking place as its lawsuit over the project plays out. More from The Tennessean:
At a hearing on Friday, Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle denied the move saying it would be irresponsible because Metro has to pay more than $6,500 a day to demolition and project contractors every day the project is on hold.
“What you want me to do is keep these old buildings that aren’t being used,” Lyle said.
Demolition contracts were fully executed by the Cooper administration on Feb. 14, and fencing around the old expo buildings has gone up. Fairgrounds officials told The Tennessean buildings were set to be torn down between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Monday.
“We are glad that Chancellor Lyle saw fit to not disrupt the demolition process. We look forward to that process beginning on Monday and to the next step in our partnership with the Fairgrounds and all of our fellow operators there,” said Zach Hunt, a spokesperson for the ownership group.
Through the ongoing lawsuit against the city, Save Our Fairgrounds is contending that the stadium would take away existing parking and interfere with current uses at the complex, and is seeking a permanent injunction to stop the project until it is put before voters in a referendum.
Demolition comes after Nashville SC ownership, led by John Ingram, and Nashville mayor John Cooper reached a modified agreement last month that allows planning for the new stadium to move forward. Cooper assumed office in October and held off for months on launching needed demolition work at the new stadium site. After considerable back and forth, Cooper and Nashville SC announced an agreement in mid-February that allows the stadium plans to move forward, which came after the two sides worked out amendments to the project.
Rendering courtesy Nashville SC.
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