Residential permit parking is coming to the 800 and 900 blocks of Russell. Please read the following blog for more information:

How do you get a Parking Permit?
Residents who completed the Residential Permit Parking Petition prior to April 8 will be mailed a Parking Permit application form. Those who did not complete the petition by that date can find the application form on the Public Works webpage:
https://www.nashville.gov/Portals/0/SiteContent/pw/docs/permits/Residential%20Parking%20Permit%20Application.pdf or at the Public Works Office. Submit the application for processing to Diane Marshall. Her contact Information: phone (615-880-2455), email (diane.marshall@nashville.gov), fax (615-880-2012).  You have the option of obtaining your permit from her office at Public Works, 570 S. 5th Street. 
 
When does it go into effect?
Public Works will install the Residential Permit Parking signs for the 800 and 900 blocks around April 25th.  Enforcement will not begin immediately.
 
What are the conditions of our Residential Permit Parking?

• Residential Permit Parking will be in effect 7 days/week with parking restricted from 7AM to 9PM (non-resident 2-hour parking will be allowed during this time.).
  
• Residents who live in the 800-900 blocks of Russell Street will be able to purchase a permit for $10. (Permits are free for residents over age 65.) 
  
• Two guest permits per household, valid for a calendar year, may be purchased for $10 each. The Parking Permit application form does not include information on these Guest Permits because they were only recently approved. 
  
• Lost resident or guest permits may be replaced for $5.
  
• The Residential Permit Parking Program is in 12.42.010-110 of the Municipal Code

 
Residential Permit Parking was proposed because the residents on the 800 and 900 blocks of Russell Street were experiencing a scarcity of on-street parking and because off-street parking is not available for many.

The proposal was approved by the Traffic and Parking Commission on April 8, 2019. ​

Hello, Neighbors! We have some exciting news to share: Mayor Briley will be joining us for our January 29 neighborhood meeting for a discussion on our Edgefield neighborhood and community. All neighbors are invited to attend.
 
Mayor Briley wants to learn more about our goals and challenges as a neighborhood. This will be a 15-20 minute open discussion on issues and challenges facing HEN. All neighbors are invited to attend and bring topics to address; however, given the time allotted, the HEN board will moderate the discussion and do our best to be sure that all our ideas are heard.
 
Also, our overall agenda for the meeting will be as follows:

• Edgefield Neighborhood Discussion – Mayor Briley
• Crime Report – Commander David Imhof
• Neighborhood Announcements – Lois Layne
• Metro Council Report – Brett Withers

 
The meeting will be Tuesday, January 29, at 7PM at East Park Community Center. 

Approximately 20 neighbors attended the neighborhood November 27 meeting that was called to order by Lois Layne at 7PM. The following minutes provide a recap of the discussion:
 
East Precinct Report:
Community Affairs Sargent Mike Fisher gave an update on the police activity in our neighborhood. We had 104 incidents since the last meeting, with 59 being vehicle related. This isn’t unique to HEN; it’s happening across Middle Tennessee.  He recommended Ring (or a similar system) as a way to help deter theft. There have been approximately 75 firearms stolen out of vehicles in East Precinct this year. We have also had some residential burglaries and armed robberies in/around the neighborhood.

Also, be aware of your surroundings when walking, sitting in cars, etc. Mainly, put your phones down and be alert to what’s happening around you; please keep your doors locked when driving and sitting in your car waiting. And watch for packages being left on porches, especially during the holiday season.
 
Announcements:

• Our HEN Annual Holiday Party is Sunday, Dec. 9, at Chris and Pam’s (910) Fatherland, from 5PM to 7PM. Various neighbors offered to distribute flyers this weekend. Please bring a dish to share (can be anything).
• Anne Manner provided an update on the Warner Backpack and Food Drive. She noted that we helped the Tulip Street Legacy Fund with the backpack program. This year, Warner was successful in getting most of the supplies donated, so there’s no need for the neighborhood to provide backpacks or food. They are packing backpacks on Dec. 8, and Anne will post more information once she receives it.
• We have two street signs down – and the cost is approximately $6K per sign to replace, so the total cost is $12K. The board is considering different options like a large fundraiser. Another possibility is to replace them with something less expensive, or we could replace them with regular street signs from the city. If anyone would like to volunteer to take this as a project, then please let us know. We will address this in a future vote at the meeting.

 
Council Report:

• The rezoning issue at 521 Fatherland passed (8’ setback versus required 10’ setback). The neighbors living next to the lot seemed okay with the request.
• MHZC consideration of the proposal for a DADU (detached assessors dwelling unit) at 925 Fatherland was deferred until December. The staff recommendation is for disapproval.
• Brett Withers shared that the Council and Historic are in negotiations over  a grant which MHZC has received to hire a consultant to develop a pattern book of potential outbuilding designs that would be suitable for historic and conservation overlay neighborhoods. The design book could facilitate the process that homeowners go through to develop an acceptable outbuilding plan and reduce MHZC staff workload. 
• The proposed changes to Residential Permit Parking have been approved by Metro Council. Public Works is now working on how to implement the changes which include a change in guest permits which will allow residents to purchase two generic guest permits which would be good for a year. 
• The BZA Sidewalk Variance request for 819 Russell (and parking lot) is to keep the existing sidewalks. The current code requires four-foot planting strips and five-foot sidewalks. The current sidewalks do not have adjacent planting strips or meet the width requirement. We were interested to learn from Carol Williams that the brick sidewalks are not historic, but were built by Bill Boner with old bricks that came from another area of Nashville. 

Historic Edgefield neighbors met on Tuesday, September 25, at East Park Community Center. Following introductions of attendees, the following topics were discussed:
 
MNPD Report: Mike Fisher

• Sgt. Fisher left cards for neighbors and encourages us all to communicate with him, report issues, express concerns. It’s important that MNPD have “constant communication” -- whatever the problem is (except parking), like speeding, noisy houses, etc.
• Statistics since June: 35 of 95 incidents are vehicle burglaries. This is a problem all over the city, not just in our neighborhood: 3 unlocked vehicles in the 700 and 800 blocks of Fatherland with firearms stolen; 60 firearms stolen from cars this year around the city. Car thefts are “juvenile crimes of opportunity.” They are just out looking and will take advantage of what they found; they then go and commit armed robberies with them. There have been 6 personal robberies. Sgt. Fisher encourages “situational awareness” -- related to an armed robbery at the ATM, people on the phone, etc. Handful of aggravated assaults but almost all were among the homeless; 8 residential burglaries; victims coming home and finding someone had been in their home; 6 vehicle thefts - 3 of them had the keys in them unlocked.
• Other news: Thursday, Oct. 27, at Burger Up there will be the Tip a Cop fundraiser for Special Olympics; police volunteer and support the staff and guests from Special Olympics will share their stories.
• Neighbor concern: Homeless people in the park; legally there then there’s nothing to be done, BUT call if they are drunk and passed out, doing drugs, or breaking the law in some way. Call 862-8600 and/or email Sgt. Fisher. There’s just a general lack of resources to address the homeless situation.

 
Nashville Clean Water Project: Jana

• This organization is a wing of Water City USA - Adopt a Storm Drain Project. Nashville has 40,000 storm drains; these can’t be kept up and kept clean without help, and trash that flows into them ends up in the river.
• Neighbors can help by cleaning trash on your curbs prior to it getting to the drain; you can also go to their website and “adopt” a storm drain to monitor and keep clean.
• Report chronic issues, polluters on their website: www.nashvilleH2O.org.
• The 2nd Wednesday of every month they hold a meeting at East Park Community Center (October 10th at 5:30 is the next Board meeting). All are invited.

 
Warner Elementary School: Jon Wren

• Jon Wren is new to the admin staff at Warner. Warner is 1 of 5 schools to get a federal assistance grant to become a STEAM Magnet School. They have a new dance program and studio - all students have dance every week; new after-school arts club with Turnip Green; new after-school choir as well with plans to add a theater program in the next couple of years.
• This Friday: Warner is hosting their first-ever East Nashville Artist Meetup - coffee, donuts, tour of the school; trying to connect Warner to the neighboring community.
• October 11 / 5:30 to 7PM: There is a Greek themed cultural night - 20% of Warner is foreign born - Demos will cater and the owner will talk and share his story.
• October 25 / 5:30 to 7PM: There will be a Literacy Night - Alice in Wonderland theme; Warner is looking to partner with local artists and leveraging the metro arts Thrive program.
• December 17 / Time TBD: There will be choir Holiday Concert.
• Here are some ways to partner: 1st graders need pen pals (learning to write letters); students studying architecture: students will do walking tours of the neighborhood (come outside and say hello if they stop by your house!); Christmas backpacks; general volunteer opportunities at Warner that can be with or without working with children directly.
• They want to be good neighbors so please email John around any issues of parking or litter or whatever else.
• Per the discussion: “We don’t need money. We need people.” You can contact Jon at jonathan.wren@mnps.org or 615.291.6395. Please follow Warner Arts Magnet on Facebook or Twitter.

 
Finance Report: Lois Layne

• HEN board is trying to maintain a certain bank balance to avoid fees. Money from membership dues goes to holiday party, social events, printing type expenses, etc. We would like to use some of the dues money to help with neighborhood needs including. supporting Warner Elementary.
• We have a problem with our street signs getting knocked down - were purchased at a time when the neighborhood had more money to also insure; now a problem because it costs about $5000+ to replace each one -> can only replace when the driver’s insurance covers -> options to look for cheaper replacements, find lower cost insurance, fundraisers, -> need to explore the costs if Metro were able to install.

 
Council Report: Brett Withers

• Parking: we had a well-attended community meeting last month; Edgefield is divided on what to do – no common ground on residential permit parking. Brett asked the council office to send a letter/survey to the 8-900 blocks of Russell to gather more insight/info on the household, times coming/going etc. -> already sent a limited letter/survey but did not capture all of the residents. Traffic and Parking Commission is the decider on this issue - county-wide body.
• Guest Permit system is quite bad currently. Brett has filed legislation to change some of the program such as not requiring going down to public works every time you have a guest -> could you buy an annual guest pass, change role of Council member in making a recommendation without first having a staff recommendation - Legislation is on first reading. It will be considered October 8th Traffic and Parking Commission meeting at 3pm.
• Working on legislation saying if your building permit is dependent on a parking lot then somehow that parking must be for the users of that building, unlike the WeWork situation where parking was encouraged in the neighborhood rather than in the adjacent pay lot.
• Other related: Looking at whether shared office uses should have different parking requirements than traditional offices (again related to We Work issues); 927 Woodland was a warehouse building; the only parking is pulling directly off of Woodland and is not sufficient. They don’t yet have a tenant mix to determine what the parking needs/requirements would be; owners have filed a request for a variance to keep current parking (not adjust sidewalk and such to current standards). Brett does not support a further parking reduction dependent on the tenant mix.
• Saturday, Sept. 29, at 2pm at Holy Name Loaves and Fishes building on Main Street, they will be renaming the Parrish hall in honor of Charlie Strobel.

 
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, November 27, at 7PM at East Park Community Center. 

On Sunday, August 26, Historic Edgefield Neighbors met for their annual ice cream social and board elections. A large gathering of residents were on hand for the event, and here are the outcomes of the board elections:
 
Board Elections:

• Anne Manner was elected to a three-year term (2018-2021) on the board.
• Jenny Alexander was elected vice president (2016-2019).
• Anderson Williams was elected secretary (2016-2019).
• Randall Gilberd was elected treasurer (2016-2019).

 
Also, the following list includes our continuing board members and officers: Lois Layne, president (2017-2020); Jim Damato (2017-2020); Terri Dorsey (2017-2020); Brandon Dyce (2017-2020); Phillip Hill (term 2017-2020); Chris Lucas (2016-2019); and Steve O’loughlin (2017-2020).
 
Board Retirement: Sherne Marie McMillan (2015-2018) is retiring from the board. We appreciate her many contributions to the neighborhood, which include organizing a block party, hosting the newcomers brunch, and helping with the HEN booth at Night Out Against Crime. Thank you so much, Sherne Marie!
 
Next HEN Meeting: Our next neighborhood meeting is September 25 at East Park Community Center, from 7-8PM. The preliminary agenda includes: Metro Council report with CM Withers; crime update from MNPD; update on parking; storm drain adoption request; new Warner School liaison, Jonathan Wren; and a street sign repair update.
 
Neighborhood News:

• An informative meeting on Residential Permit Parking for the 800 and 900 blocks of Russell St. was held on August 13. CM Wither’s survey of the parking needs of those residents was due August 19th. A follow-up meeting has not been scheduled. 
• Work has begun on the Church Hotel at S. 9th and Russell. A large dumpster is located behind the church.
• A street sign was knocked down in a car accident at 9th and Woodland. The driver who caused the accident fled the scene; the other driver, whose vehicle crashed into the sign, has insurance so we are hopeful that it will pay for the replacement of the sign. 
• On September 5, the Board of Zoning Appeals will hear the appeal of owners of a proposed restaurant at 927 Woodland, which they want to open with inadequate parking spaces.
• A recent survey revealed that neighbors prefer to receive neighborhood news in personal emails. We need the email address of everyone who prefers to be contacted that way. Please send us an email at historicedgefieldneighbors@gmail.com so we can send you updates directly to your inbox (and we promise not to overuse them or share them with anyone).