Abandoned railyard quietly reborn as the South's hottest neighborhood

Daily Mail​

6 days ago

A once-forgotten corner of Nashville, TN, is in the middle of an unlikely transformation — and locals can't get enough of it.
What was until recently a neglected industrial stretch on the edge of downtown has morphed into, a trendy enclave now considered one of Music City's most desirable neighborhoods.
It had last been of significance as a Civil War–era railyard. Now, The Gulch — as it is known — has become a luxury hub filled with sleek high-rises, rooftop bars, boutique hotels, and eco-conscious design.
'For a long time The Gulch was like a downtown for locals,' Nashville realtor Tim Bartlett tells DailyMail.com.
'It wasn't anything like now until about 2012 and that first little boom there where they built a handful of the condos.
'And then it started to fill out more and more and then it was just this really cool vibrant area with lots of local people that live there now that didn't originally want to live downtown because downtown could be kind of a nightmare.
'Now there's a Ritz-Carlton coming to The Gulch.'
It took two decades for the 110-acre urban oasis, tucked just southwest of Nashville's bustling Broadway strip, to turn from derelict to a modern oasis — even earning the coveted title of the South's first LEED-certified neighborhood and setting the standard for sustainable city living. LEED is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development.
The area's comeback story is legendary.
Once a near-abandoned stretch of rusting train tracks, the Gulch sat dormant for nearly half a century after WWII, ard earned its name due to the gulch that runs through it.
Then along came MarketStreet Enterprises, the developer behind its fabulous rebirth. Led by Steve Turner, Jay Turner and Joe Barker, they had a vision for the area and began reviving it in the early 2000s.
Today, it's a buzzing live-work-play neighborhood, minutes from cultural institutions like the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
It also has a completely different vibe from the neon-lit chaos of honky-tonk Broadway and it's endless tourists.
A median condo price in The Gulch is around $400,000, Bartlett said.
'Part of the reason they're so affordable is because there's so many single-family homes in Nashville and a lot a lot of people are likely to go townhome or single-family home,' he said.
Investors are also looking to get into The Gulch.
Luxury condo living is what Gulchers want and developers are listening.
The iconic 22-story 'Icon in the Gulch,' which broke ground in 2006, led the condo boom. It's since been joined by slick developments like Terrazzo, Twelve Twelve, The James, and the newest luxury building, Pullman Gulch Union.
The condos are holding their value well, with average list prices hovering at $945,000.
Condos that were purchased in 2019 for around $500,000 are now easily worth a cool $850,000.
At Twelve Twelve, a one-bed is currently listed for $539,000, complete with saltwater pool, dog park, and chic lounge areas. A lavish three-bedroom condo at Pullman is asking $2.665 million.
The area is only continuing to grow.
The Paramount, slated for 2027, is expected to outprice the ultra-modern digs already built.
There are boutique hotels, instagrammable murals, shops, live music venues, breweries, and restaurants with locally sourced menus offering biscuits and Nashville Hot Chicken.
The Gulch has just 1,850 residents and a median age of 30. Locals describe is as youthful, educated, and undeniably upscale.
'So many people are starting to migrate that direction and now you've got some really high end hotels that a lot of musicians stay at,' Bartlett says.
'From a residential point of view you'll get a nice 800 square-foot one bedroom for like $400,000,'
The Gulch is also good for every day living. It's walkable, eco-forward, and dripping in amenities. With over 80 eateries, bars and boutiques, plus resort-style pools, co-working spaces, and 24-hour security, the neighborhood leaves little reason to leave.
Yet, you're still in the city, with skyline views from rooftop lounges, boutique fitness studios, high-end spas, and designer hotel chains like W Hotels and Thompson Hotels nearby.
'You can walk downtown easily if you wanted to,' Bartlett says.
'You can get to Union Station and museums but within The Gulch is also really nice restaurants and great nightlife. There's three different rooftop bars with views there.'
Green space isn't forgotten either.
Noble Park, a 10,000-square-foot public retreat, boasts a stage, water features and café seating.
It's family friendly too. Locals are zoned for Hume-Fogg High School, ranked number 1 in Tennessee and 166th in the country according to US school rankings.
Getting around is easy too. There are over 2,000 parking spaces, bike-sharing via B-cycle, dedicated bike lanes, and a free Green Line bus, you can leave your car behind.
As Nashville powers through a building boom with mega-projects like Nashville Yards and the East Bank waterfront, the Gulch is the perfect place to escape.
Meanwhile, all of Nashville has seen a boom in population.
Americans have recently been abandoning Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City for the city, know for its affordability and music scene. The city's good enough for Taylor Swift, who kicked off her career in town.
Nashville is also drawing people for its open job market, and no state income tax.