Thoughtful Expansion
By Savannah Dupper, Writing Coordinator
3 min read Vanderbilt Women in Business Extern, Savannah Dupper, reflects on our final event in the Guiding Principle series, Expansion in Civic Design. Read on to hear some of the takeaways. Follow @civicdesignctr on Twitter #ExpandCivicDesign to review the Live Tweets from the event.
Guiding Principles Pillar #4: ExpansionAs a community grows tall and expands wide, we must consider these key principles that focus on increased resources for an increasing population. Affordability, density, connection, and active public space are all critical to an evolving place.
equity in Expansion
Our CEO Gary Gaston alongside (from left), Lindsey Ganson, Kim Walker, and Dominique Anderson.
In a growing city like Nashville, rapid expansion can sometimes leave residents behind. When expanding any city, it is important to prioritize the well-being of its residents. Developing affordable and diverse housing options, setting aside space for nature and greenways, and building safer roads is paramount to successful growth.
Founder and CEO of Populace Community Strategy Dominique Anderson, Co-Founder of Abundant Life Adventure Club Dr. Kim Walker, and Walk Bike Nashville Director of Advocacy and Communications Lindsey Ganson have each advocated for these changes in Nashville. During their panel discussion, they provided their insight on stigmas surrounding affordable housing, the construction of safer roads and greenways, the importance of nature in urban areas, and what their ideal construction of Nashville would look like.
defining affordable housing
Supply housing options for diverse incomes and lifestyles that complement the neighborhood.
“Housing is an ecosystem. Everything from healthcare to education to transportation is about housing, and this showed itself during the pandemic when a lack of public spaces became more apparent.”
Dominique Anderson describes her experience advocating for affordable housing in Tennessee.
Dominique Anderson, Executive Director of the Tennessee Affordable Housing Coalition, spoke about the impact of gentrification and expansion on disadvantaged groups, many of whom are native Nashvillians. Anderson emphasized that affordable housing encompasses a wider group of people than one might expect, extending up to those earning 80 to 120 percent of an area’s median income. She addressed common stigmas about affordable housing, emphasizing that it is not for one group of people, and it is not detrimental to neighborhoods.
“As a community and as a neighborhood, know your voice.”
Anderson’s vision for an ideal Nashville with affordable housing includes the preservation of Nashville’s older neighborhoods with updated renovations that maintain their identity, people of various incomes and lifestyles living near each other, and more open green spaces.
Healing with nature
Expand park and greenway systems to be comprehensive and interconnected
“For those in the Black community facing barriers, it is not enough just to tell them to go outside. We go outside alongside them.”
Dr. Kim Walker and Abundant Life Adventure Club members meet at a local park.
Occupational therapist and co-founder of Abundant Life Adventure Club, Dr. Kim Walker spoke about the role of nature in emotional and physical well-being. With Abundant Life Adventure Club, Dr. Walker has brought together a community of more than 1200 black professionals in Nashville who go into the outdoors together.
“It should not be a luxury to have access to a park within ten minutes of your home. It’s important to create these pockets of nature, as nature is so vital in learning and development.”
Dr. Kim also discussed the importance of creating more green spaces in Nashville. Parks are vital spaces for people to gather and experience nature, Dr. Walker said. She praised a member of Abundant Life Adventure Club who has been battling stage four cancer and seen significant improvements to her health from spending time outdoors. Making green spaces more accessible to everyone will create health benefits and foster social connections within the community.
streets with significance
Celebrate streets as places that address neighborhood needs and facilitate community interactions.
“For the Dickerson Pike project, youth voices made a difference. We need to think about more elements we can add to our streets that are permanent and put people first.”
Director of Advocacy and Communications at Walk Bike Nashville Lindsey Ganson emphasized in her discussion that streets are more than pathways for moving cars, as they represent a significant amount of public space. She is focused on pedestrian safety issues in Nashville and was recently involved in a redesign of Dickerson Pike, which has been the site of several pedestrian fatalities throughout the past few years due to its lack of crosswalks and sidewalks.
Ganson and her team at Walk Bike Nashville collaborated with the Civic Design Center’s Nashville Youth Design Team to map pedestrian fatalities in Nashville and were able to get crosswalks painted at several large intersections on Dickerson Pike. However, Ganson argued that more improvements can be made, as the area still lacks adequate lighting and a walk signal. Going forward, accelerating improvements in pedestrian safety will require metro Nashville and developers to put residents’ safety first.
Dickerson Pike and Hart Lane before the intersection was renovated.
Dickerson Pike and Hart Lane after the intersection was renovated.
Watch the Full Program
My Takeaways
From the discussion, I found that aspects of Expansion are more interconnected than they appear. Issues including affordable housing, roads, and green spaces each contribute to the overall health and wellness of a community. I also was surprised to learn about the wide range of incomes that can be supported by affordable housing, and I thought Dominique removed much of the stigma surrounding affordable housing with her conversation.
Ultimately, Focusing on expansion that complements the existing culture and community of Nashville will be vital in preserving and celebrating the uniqueness of our city.
Do you agree to advocate for Expansion in civic design within your industry?