🥃 Nashville’s best distilleries

🐅 Zoo Data Center Eminent Domain Passes

At Tuesday’s Metro Council meeting, councilmembers voted 27-5 to approve Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s eminent domain legislation, which would allow the city to purchase the property by the zoo where developer DC BLOX planned to build a data center. The city is arguing the land is needed for office space. [Nashville Scene]

• What’s next? Metro Nashville can now negotiate with DC BLOX to purchase the property at fair market value, assessed at approximately $37 million. The money would come out of the city’s general fund. However, this might lead to a protracted legal battle. The developer has pending zoning appeals that will be heard in December. If the appeals are successful, DC BLOX would be blocked from building a data center, without the eminent domain legislation being necessary. [Nashville Banner]

Other Metro Council Business

• In a unanimous vote, Vanderbilt University’s proposal to redevelop 40 acres of its campus into a mixed-use innovation district passed on second reading. Amendments to the bill include a cap on building height and a traffic calming fund. About 30 Nashvillians spoke during public comment on the proposal, with half opposing it, citing concerns that it would turn the area into another downtown. The bill will be considered for its third and final reading on Sept. 1. [🔐 The Tennessean]
• Metro Council also passed a proposed ordinance on its first of three readings that would allow the Metro Nashville Police Department to use drones during emergencies, but not in routine calls without Council approval and a public hearing. This follows a controversial MNPD pilot program testing drones in Madison. [WKRN; 🎧 City Cast Nashville]
• A bill that would mostly ban right turns on red lights in the city passed on its first of three readings, but it still needs to be considered by the Traffic and Parking Commission. [Nashville Banner]

🥃 Nashville’s Hopping Distillery Scene

Forget the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Tennessee has its own Whiskey Trail, and Nashville’s got a booming distillery scene right in our own backyard. On today’s podcast, Nashville Scene food and drink writer Chris Chamberlain shares the best distillery tours, tasting rooms, and hidden gems within driving distance of Nashville. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🗳️ Democrats Turn Out for Early Voting

While early voting in Tennessee increased by 30% compared to our previous midterm election in 2022, the increase was larger among Democrats than Republicans. In Williamson County, considered a Republican stronghold, early voting among Democratic voters increased by 65%. [WPLN]

• Still, almost 90% of registered voters have yet to cast their ballots in Davidson County. Get out there and vote, Nashville! Check here for your voting location. [Nashville.gov; Tennessee Secretary of State]

🛣️ Road Safety Improvements

After community feedback, the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure is finalizing its Vision Zero safety plans for Gallatin Pike, one of Nashville’s most dangerous roads. Safety improvements include crosswalk visibility enhancements, new crosswalks, and additional lighting. Construction and milling will begin in September, and NDOT anticipates the project will be completed by May 2027. [Nashville.gov]

• On Tuesday, I covered the debate over closing Broadway to vehicular traffic after the weekend’s tragic accident. Some Broadway business owners are chiming in to say closing the road to vehicles would hurt business. While Councilmember Jacob Kupin, who represents the area, says his constituents are asking for Broadway to be closed to vehicles, he argues it would be a bad move. [WSMV]

📲 TikTok’s Nashville Office Closes

TikTok is closing its 143,610-square-foot Music Row office after only two years, laying off all its Nashville staff. A TikTok spokesperson cited the need to streamline operations. Sen. Marsha Blackburn has been a vocal opponent of the social media app, calling it a danger to national security. Blackburn has criticized China, where TikTok is based, in several of her recent gubernatorial campaign ads. [🔐 The Tennessean; Nashville Banner]