Real estate developer Panattoni reportedly has preliminary plans to demolish five buildings on 16th Avenue in the heart of Music Row to make way for a new office building. While Panattoni has previously developed buildings housing music companies such as the Country Music Association and BMG’s offices, the proposed office space would remove five historic homes from the historic area, including a guitar store, music studio, bar, and a wedding chapel.
The five buildings date back to anywhere from 1915 to 1925, and concerns have been raised that their demolition would hurt the character of Music Row. Developed in the 1950’s, Music Row rapidly became one of America’s go-to places for music recording and publishing. The area features notable music locations such as RCA Studio B where Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, Eddy Arnold, the Everly Brothers and more spent time recording tracks.
A meeting was held in Nashville on Tuesday to discuss the proposed development. Speaking to Patch, songwriter Terry Bruce conveyed the significance of the area, noting that 43 buildings have already been destroyed along Music Row since 2013.
“All of the songwriters that laid the pavement in this town, they went through there,” said Bruce. “That is something you have to preserve.”
Panattoni has said they are willing to find a compromise, and we hope that means Music Row will be able to keep its legacy intact.
Image via Airbnb.
