Spirit of Nashville exhibit through Feb. 23

The Vanderbilt University Ingram Arts Center (above right, 1204 25th Avenue South) is hosting the beloved Spirit of Nashville print series now through February 23.

As described by Celebrate Nashville, the exhibit “will focus on the art and artistic techniques behind the series. Original sketches, paintings and reference photographs will be on display beside 35 limited edition signed prints.” For more information, call (615) 327-9894.

Come.sit.stay welcome party Thursday night (Feb. 1)

Pet marketplace come.sit.stay (4425 Murphy Road) will hold a wine, cheese and dog biscuit party this Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. Dogs are welcome, as long as they have an owner with them, and refreshments are free for you and your pet. Owner Robin Cohn told The Tennessean more about the store’s concept recently:

A wine, cheese and dog-biscuit party is being thrown on Thursday to celebrate the new Murphy Road location of come.sit.stay, the pet marketplace that used to be in Belle Meade. The store stocks pet beds, collars, sweaters and more. There’s even some doggie jewelry to be had. “A boutique seems a little uppity to me sometimes,” store owner Robin Cohn said. “I just refer to it as a pet marketplace. Some people would call it a boutique. I don’t care either way. Just come see me – and bring your dog.”

Come.sit.stay has recently relocated from Belle Meade to Sylvan Park. The store is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, check out the store Web site or call (615) 352-8600. [Image source: stiffsteiffs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk]

Produce Place featured in City Paper

The City Paper quoted Produce Place (4000 Murphy Road) owner Barry Burnette in yesterday’s issue in a story regarding organic produce. The Produce Place works hard to ensure that the products it carries are organic or are accurately labeled otherwise:

Barry Burnette, owner of Produce Place, said he must be meticulous about labeling. Some of his produce, for example, is grown at a Kentucky-based Amish farm that has used organic growing techniques for centuries. But the farm has not undertaken the costly and time-consuming process of obtaining USDA certification, so Burnette must label their goods “Pesticide-Free” rather than “Organic.”

The focus of the story is on the increasing popularity of organic produce and the risk that not all food labeled organic lives up to that standard. You won’t have to worry about that at The Produce Place.

Big changes on the way for Richland-West End

Today’s City Paper has a story regarding possible future development for the Free Will Baptist Bible College (fast facts) property next door to Sylvan Park in the Richland-West End neighborhood. The development is likely to permanently change the neighborhood, although it’s important to consider that any development other than the college remaining on its campus is going to have a substantial impact:

Perhaps in anticipation of neighborhood concern, a developer with a contract pending to buy the nine-plus-acre Free Will Baptist Bible College campus, has drawn up two plans for developing the high-profile site and is asking the local neighborhood association to take its pick.

Darren Cioffi confirmed yesterday plans to purchase the West End property near Interstate 440 for $16.75 million later this year. Cioffi said his company, Monument Property, Inc., and the other developers to whom he will later resell some of the land, will likely develop between $60-$100 million in housing on the campus, situated in the Richland West End neighborhood, where historic, single-family homes sell starting at about $700,000.

Last month, Cioffi sought the association’s support for rezoning the property, which is couched between Richland Avenue to the northwest and West End Avenue — across from Elmington Park — a move he said will allow him to preserve and restore four historic homes the college owns on West End. Without the rezoning, which would allow Cioffi to build some condominiums in existing buildings along Richland Avenue, he said he likely will sell the West End houses to other developers, who could demolish them and replace them with condominiums.

The rezoning, to a “Specific Plan” land use, would allow Cioffi to pad the Richland Avenue side of the property with a higher-than-now-allowed residential density, allowing him to build the condominiums he wants and to compensate for the money to be lost by saving the four West End Avenue homes and, also, a park the college owns at the corner of Richland and Craighead avenues.

These changes may not have an immediate effect on Sylvan Park, but they could lead to increased use of Bowling Avenue to access Murphy Road. Then again, in my personal opinion, several buildings on the campus stand out as inconsistent compared with the historic homes surrounding the campus, so homes built to match those styles may be an improvement. What do you think?

By the way, FWBBC voted last summer to relocate to a to-be-determined location no later than the fall of 1998.

Monument Property offers few details beyond this sales description regarding the property on its Web site: We are in the process of acquiring and developing the FWBBC campus on West End. A number of historic homes and many prime building lots on Richland Avenue and West End Avenue will be available. Please contact us if you are interested in a piece of this once-in-a-lifetime real estate opportunity. [Image: FWBBC]

MNPD to test police academy applicants Saturday (Jan. 27)

Have you ever thought about becoming a police officer? The Metro Nashville Police Department will begin testing for applicants to its Police Academy on Saturday, January 27, at 8:30 a.m. at the academy campus (2715 Tucker Road). Testing consists of a written exam and a test of physical abilities. Here are the official qualifications for serving as an officer:

Candidates must be at least 21, a citizen of the United States, have at least 60 semester hours from an accredited college or university, OR have at least two years of active military duty within three years of the application date, OR have two years of prior law enforcement experience, OR have at least five years of responsible work experience. All candidates must possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Candidates must not have been convicted of any felony or violations of law relating to force, violence, theft, dishonesty, gambling, liquor, or controlled substances.

If you are interested in being tested, call (615) 862-7341 for more information.

Downtown plan meeting tomorrow (Jan. 25)

The Nashville Downtown Partnership (150 Fourth Avenue North) will host a brown-bag lunch meeting on Friday, January 25 (tomorrow), at 1 p.m. to discuss a proposed plan intended to balance historic preservation with urban development. City planners will also be available to answer questions from the public from 11 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3 p.m. in addition to the meeting. The Metro Planning Commission is expected to make a decision about this plan on Thursday, February 22.

Climb Nashville featured in The Tennessean

The Tennessean has a touching article today about the owners of Sylvan Heights’ business Climb Nashville, which is located just outside Sylvan Park at 3630 Redmon Drive. Couples Drew and Casey Sloss and Carrie and Lance Brock relocated the indoor climbing center from Franklin to West Nashville a few years ago. Call (615) 463-ROCK (7625) if cabin fever has you ready to climb the walls or for more information.

Automated water meter reading project

Metro Water Services is beginning a new automated water meter reading project in West Nashville during the last week of February. Work crews from contractor Metro Meter Services will install radio transmitters to read household meters over the next six months. A written installation notice will be delivered to your home at least 24 hours before this work is performed, and water services will be unavailable for approximately 30 minutes while the installation is conducted.

The transmitters allow meter readers to receive meter information via handheld devices or personal computers installed in MWS vehicles. The transmitters are intended to ensure accurate reporting of water usage and improve efficiency in meter reading.

MWS will hold a community meeting this Thursday, January 25, at 6 p.m. at the Cohn Adult Learning Center (4801 Park Avenue). The meeting will be held in the Senior Renaissance Center, the same location as SPNA monthly meetings.

James Ray is serving as the project manager for this project. Feel free to call him at (615) 862-4770, ext. 359, if you have any questions or concerns or if you experience any problems during the course of the project.

Lane closures on Charlotte Avenue

The Tennessean reported yesterday that Metro Water Services has been replacing water mains on Charlotte Avenue between 26th Avenue North and 37th Avenue North, a common shortcut for drivers traveling between Charlotte and West End.

This work is expected to continue until March, and it results in periodic lane closures while crews are working. The crews position metal plates over their work areas to allow motorists to continue using the road when work is not in progress, and drivers frequently hit the brakes right before hitting them. Be prepared if a vehicle slows or stops suddently in front of you, and keep in mind that traversing Charlotte make take a few more minutes at times over the next few weeks.

Dick’s Sporting Goods taking shape

WonderDawg captured this image of the new Dick’s Sporting Goods taking shape in the Nashville West development. The store is expected to open this spring.