Expanding Power Amidst Deep Concerns: Why I Can’t Support the Downtown CBID Consolidation
It’s no secret to anyone that Nashville is definitely on the rise, and a thriving downtown plays a huge role in our success as a city. Nashville’s growth has undoubtedly brought both new opportunities and challenges to the city, residents, and visitors.
Tomorrow, the Metro Council is considering an ordinance that would significantly expand the Downtown Central Business Improvement District (CBID), merging it with the Gulch CBID, which is set to expire at the end of 2026. This effectively extends the powers of the entity that manages it: the Downtown Nashville Partnership (DNP). The full text of the ordinance can be read here.
Basically, this ordinance aims to redraw and enlarge the downtown CBID’s boundaries. It would incorporate the Gulch area, leading to a larger district under the DNP’s management, all funded by special assessments on local properties. The idea is to create a “clean, safe, and vibrant” environment with services that add to what Metro Government already provides.
While I believe in the concept of a Business Improvement District, I cannot support this expansion given serious concerns about the Downtown Nashville Partnership’s recent operations. Here are a few:
1. Treatment of Our Unhoused Neighbors:
Nashville has faced a lot of controversy over how it handles homelessness, with the DNP at the center of it. There have been troubling reports of aggressive policing against unhoused individuals, including arrests made under the state’s laws. These actions often involve private security firms operating with minimal oversight. This raises ethical concerns about whether it’s right for a private group to act like a “shadow police force.” We need transparency and compassion in addressing homelessness, and expanding the DNP’s powers while it’s embroiled in such controversies seems like a terrible idea.
From WSMV4: ‘Shadow’ police force removing homeless from downtown Nashville, state trooper says
2. Influence on Urban Planning:
Our city’s future relies on smart urban planning, especially when it comes to transportation. The “Connect Downtown” initiative, led by NDOT, aims to improve downtown mobility. But there are concerns that the DNPs’ push for certain business interests may be slowing progress on key public infrastructure projects. If their influence is steering decisions away from what benefits everyone—like better transit or more bike lanes—we have a serious problem. These decisions should serve the public interest, not just a few powerful interests.
Read this blog post that I made with Walk Bike Nashville regarding DNP’s influence on bikeway decisions in Nashville and the vanishing cycle track on Ninth Ave North.
3. Safety Issues and Oversight:
The recent fire at the Downtown Nashville Public Library parking garage raised major alarm bells in our community. It caused significant damage, but it also brought up troubling questions about safety. The DNP is in charge of managing that garage, and investigations revealed some pretty serious allegations, including improper storage of dangerous materials by the cleaning company they hired. If the DNP can’t keep an existing public asset safe, how can we trust them with more power over a larger area?
From Nashville Banner: A Look Inside the Burned-Out Downtown Nashville Public Library Garage
It is premature and ill-advised to grant the DNP expanded powers when these significant issues remain unaddressed and unresolved. We need to demand greater accountability and transparency from any organization wielding such influence over our city.
Please join me in giving a public comment at the Metro Council meeting tomorrow. There will be a public hearing for this specific bill near the beginning of the meeting. The meeting begins at 6:30 and is held on the second floor of the Metro Courthouse at 1 Public Square.