🐯 A data center … by the zoo?!

☀️ Summer Road Trips With the Kids

School is out, and if you’re looking for road trip ideas for the family, we’ve got you covered. On today’s podcast, City Cast Nashville contributor Amelia Edelman gives us the lowdown on the best kid-friendly destinations within driving distance of Nashville, from science centers to hidden side-of-the-road gems. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🏞️ Why Isn’t This Greenway Getting Expanded?

In 2024, Nashvillians voted to allocate $800,000 to expand the Seven Mile Creek greenway and make improvements to the Whitfield Park playground, via participatory budgeting. While Metro Parks upgraded the playground, the greenway remains unchanged, frustrating South Nashville residents. A Parks spokesperson says the funds had to be reallocated when they couldn’t complete the greenway expansion before the funding deadline. [NewsChannel 5]

• Attend the Greenways and Open Space Commission meeting on June 10 to share your concerns. [NewsChannel 5]
• While Nashville’s spending on parks increased this year and now matches the national average, our annual ParkScore rating dropped due to a lack of improvements. [WPLN]

🏙️ Bill Provides Property Tax Relief to Lower Broad

A new state law created a tourism board that can use excess sales tax revenue from our downtown tourism development zone to provide property tax relief to those businesses within the three-mile zone. Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said he wanted to ensure businesses on Lower Broadway stayed open, but Nashville Property Tax Coalition founder Christian Paro and Mayor Freddie O’Connell are concerned about the bill targeting only downtown Nashville. [NewsChannel 5]

🏢 Developer Plans Data Center by Zoo

DC Blox, a company based in Atlanta, plans to tear down two office buildings by the Nashville Zoo to build a 69,000-square-foot data center. The developer has applied for initial Metro and state permits, which are currently under review. [🔐 Nashville Business Journal]

• With more data centers coming to Nashville, we asked the founding co-director of the Vanderbilt AI Law Lab to walk us through the technology’s potential impact on our city. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

Here’s what readers have said about the latest Nashville news. If you’ve got thoughts you want to share, feel free to email me, or hit reply to any newsletter!

On the Super Bowl

“I am annoyed about the Super Bowl coming to Nashville — more than annoyed, I HATE the idea. Why does Nashville want more and more money in its future that comes with hordes of tourists that already clog downtown?” — Sylvia D.

“Personally, I would rather they have the Super Bowl in Miami than in Nashville. Too bad our city didn't stand up to the Titans and tell them you write the check for the stadium.” — Bill W.

Margot Memories

“My husband and I started dating in October, and even though we got married roughly a year and a half later in May 2009, we have always celebrated our anniversary in October with a fine dining meal, and that first year was at Margot’s. We still have that first anniversary menu framed and hanging on the wall.” — Tracy G.

“We’ve had so many good meals at Margot over the years, but my favorite was when I took my mom there for Mother’s Day. I hadn’t thought to get a reservation, and Marche had a long line. We put our name on the list there and walked over to Margot just to see. They had a last-minute cancellation and squeezed us in! We had a table upstairs, looking down on the bar and entrance. Not only was the meal delicious, but we had fun people watching and enjoying time together. Thanks, Margot, for making our brunch special!” — Katrina G.

Celebrate 25 years of Margot Café & Bar, and say goodbye, on June 6.

Recommendations

Kate S. recommends Hillside Hangout in Mt. Juliet.

“Deir Café in South Nashville just opened up, and I can’t wait to see it grow. It offers a huge space to relax, including a small children’s drawing area and a prayer room, with great food and drink services. I hope this spot can become a beloved third space by many.” — Amanda W.

“My favorite place in my hood, Bellevue, is 615 Chutney! The BEST Indian cuisine, run by the NICEST human.” — Jeanette B.