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A resolution requesting the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority and the Metropolitan Department of Codes to provide written notice of any actions taken to demolish, relocate, or otherwise permanently alter the building known as Colemere located at 1400 Murfreesboro Pike.
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WHEREAS, the Colemere Mansion, originally built in 1893 by Colonel E.W. Cole, president of the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway, damaged by fire and rebuilt in 1930 by Col. Cole’s daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey Weaver, as designed by Russell Hart in a “Southern Colonial” mansion style; and
WHEREAS, in 1940, the City of Nashville purchased the house and surrounding property as part of the expansion of the municipal airport after which the house served as home to the Colemere Club, a civic organization from 1948 through 1974; and
WHEREAS, the Colemere Club hosted social, philanthropic, and political events including hosting, among many celebrities and local politicians, the Prime Minister of Ireland, the family of President Woodrow Wilson, and vice-presidential candidate Lyndon B. Johnson in 1960; and
WHEREAS, when the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (“MNAA”) was created ownership of the municipal airport property was transferred to MNAA; and
WHEREAS, in 1977 the New Orleans Manor opened a seafood restaurant on the site and operated for 31 years when, in 2008 Monell’s at the Manor opened its doors at Colemere as a family style restaurant beloved in the community, until its recent closure; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, the Tennessee Historical Commission determined that because of the historical significance to the Nashville community the Colemere Club building is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and
WHEREAS, Section 16.28.195 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws prohibits the Department of Codes Administration from issuing a demolition permit for structures eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places until the executive director of the Historical Commission approves the demolition permit; and
WHEREAS, because of the historic significance and nature of the house and property, in 2023, MNAA, through their contractor, sought a review of its plans to expand the runways on the airport property pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 which requires federally assisted projects that may impact historic structures or places to undergo a review by the designated State historic preservation agency; and
WHEREAS, the Tennessee State Historic Preservation Office, the entity tasked with Section 106 reviews, determined that the MNAA runway expansion plans, which indicated a project area near the Colemere site, would not result in an adverse effect to any historic buildings or structures and thus there were no objections to the runway expansion project as planned; and
WHEREAS, because of the sensitive historical nature of the Colemere mansion and the community concern for the preservation of the structure, the Metropolitan Council desires to be kept apprised of any action or review for action that may lead to the demolition, relocation, or other permanent alteration of the historic structure or its entrance gate and wall.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council (“Council”) hereby requests that the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority provide written notice to the Council of any request made to the State Historic Preservation Office for a review pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act as it may relate to the Colemere mansion and its entrance gate and wall located at 1400 Murfreesboro Pike.
Section 2. That the Council hereby further requests that the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority provide written notice to the Council 60 days in advance of any action taken to demolish, relocate, or otherwise permanently alter the Colemere mansion or its entrance gate and wall located at 1400 Murfreesboro Pike.
Section 3. That the Council hereby further requests that the Department of Codes Administration provide written notice to the Council of the receipt of any application for a demolition permit related to the Colemere mansion or its entrance gate and wall located at 1400 Murfreesboro Pike.
Section 4. That the Council hereby further requests that MNAA take affirmative action to relocate the Colemere mansion and its entrance gate and wall to a more suitable location.
Section 5. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.