Jefferson Street Workshops
5 min read: The Civic Design Center has partnered with J.U.M.P. to spearhead strategic meetings with businesses and property owners along Jefferson Street in North Nashville to spark community-centered development that is focused on preserving the culture, organizations, and residents of this neighborhood.
Jefferson Street Revitalization Workgroup planning exercise
J.U.M.P. and the Design Center have collaborated to develop a comprehensive collection of goals in partnership with the enthusiastic group that formed around Majora Carter's Urban Design Forum and workshop meeting in April 2023. This dynamic group was specifically assembled to facilitate meaningful and practical conversations with dedicated business owners and forward-thinking property holders situated along the Jefferson Street corridor. The primary objective of the Jefferson Street Workshop Series is to establish a framework for transformative action, spearheading ambitious initiatives that seek to revitalize and reimagine the potential of this historic area. By fostering a collaborative environment, the workshop aims to leverage the unique perspectives and expertise of all stakeholders, enabling the creation of a strategic roadmap that will guide the future development and growth of Jefferson Street, ensuring its long-term prosperity as a thriving civic and economic hub for the local community and beyond. Throughout the series, the following key goals have been identified as integral pillars driving this collective vision:
Creating short-term wins that build momentum
Funding tools for businesses and property owners interested in the Jefferson Street character and culture
Updated vision for Jefferson St based on existing planning efforts
Plans to leverage future local and federal investment
In our second series of workshop meetings held in November and December 2023, we embarked on a collaborative journey to build upon and further refine the goals we had previously established. Throughout November, we delved into an insightful exploration of the historical significance of Jefferson Street, immersing ourselves in its past to better inform our future endeavors. This paved the way for a thought-provoking planning exercise, which saw us mapping out and identifying the core districts that would greatly define the revitalization effort.
The presentation below is the slide deck used for that meeting:
The November meeting produced some highly intriguing and thought-provoking outcomes. In the session, we divided ourselves into two groups, each with their own designated space around the tables. Upon these large maps sprawled out before us, we defined the various districts within our city, pinpointing core areas that held great potential for improvement. Our collective efforts were channeled towards identifying, not only these core districts, but also potential quick wins that could swiftly be implemented within the coming months, envisioning a tangible and positive impact.
These are designs developed by two groups of attendees. Both designs create cultural zones, celebrate the colleges, and create new gateways for Jefferson St.
The group had a strong emphasis on the importance of celebrating Jefferson Street through various means, which included the creation of gateways that would enhance its visibility and serve as welcoming entry points. Additionally, the group recognized the need for additional park space along the street, as well as the significance of bringing the street's rich history into a modern context.
One of the key concerns identified was the lack of connectivity on Jefferson Street, which has been a result of the freeway that was constructed. The group highlighted the need for improved connections, such as facilitating easier access for students attending Meharry, Fisk, and TSU. Moreover, they stressed the importance of acknowledging Jefferson Street's historical significance as a vibrant Black cultural destination and creating connections with nearby parks like Monroe and Kossie Garner through the implementation of greenways.
To achieve some early and visible progress, the group proposed several quick wins. These included beautification efforts, such as the planting of trees along the street, the incorporation of distinct lighting elements that would enhance its ambiance, and the establishment of community gardens that would foster a sense of ownership and involvement among residents. Additionally, it was suggested that the inclusion of bike lanes along parallel streets like Heiman would greatly improve accessibility to Jefferson Street and enhance connections to the proposed districts along the Grammy Academic Mile.
Major Themes
During the brainstorming sessions, each group actively engaged in identifying key themes that they strongly desired to witness being implemented along the Jefferson Street corridor.
Beautification
Street Cleaning
Organizing Community clean-ups
Lighting
Determining placement
Improvements
Historic Markers
Black Heritage Walk
Street Scape
Plantings
Traffic calming
Commerce
Pop-up Markets
Makers
Farmers
Food
Local Vendors
Late Night Food Options
Community Crawl
Linking businesses
Transportation
Mobility Lanes
Greenways
Bridging interstate
Shuttle Service
Jefferson Street corridor shuttle that is focused on HBCU Students
Way-finding
Incorporate Black Heritage Walk
Enhanced crossings
Jefferson Street Revitalization Workgroup economic theories exercise
Our December meeting was a highly informative and engaging session that centered around one of the most crucial aspects of our work - economic development strategies for the corridor. Led by Tifinie Caphart, an urban planning consultant and business owner, we delved into economic theories and explored innovative ways to catalyze development along Jefferson Street. With Tifinie's expert guidance, we gained invaluable insights and practical knowledge, enabling us to approach our future endeavors with enhanced clarity and a renewed sense of purpose.
We also discussed financial tools for developers that could kickstart projects. We heard from Citizens Bank about resources they could provide to business owners. We also heard from MDHA about the Jefferson Street redevelopment district that could leverage public funds to build community-driven projects.
Read about the discussion in the following slide deck:
Workshop Results
Economic development theories the Workshop Group favored for Jefferson Street (as of 12/18/23)
Economic development tools the Workshop Group favored for Jefferson Street (as of 12/18/23)
Use the control arrows at the bottom left-hand side of the screen to see the workshop results.
If you are a business owner, organization leader, or community advocate please take a minute to answer the following questions based on ideas you have about the revitalization of Jefferson Street:
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