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An ordinance providing the honorary street name designation of “Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Harris Way” for a portion of 17th Avenue North.
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WHEREAS, Nathaniel “Nate” Harris was a business owner and an advocate for black businesses in Nashville; and
WHEREAS, Nate Harris was raised in North Nashville, attending Pearl High School before graduating from Tennessee State University; and
WHEREAS, after a successful career as an engineer, Nate Harris returned to his childhood passion of woodworking and framing pictures for family and friends; and
WHEREAS, in 1987, Nate Harris opened Woodcuts Gallery and Framing in a dilapidated building owned by Fisk University. He planned to renovate and rehabilitate the building in exchange for the rights to operate his business at no cost; and
WHEREAS, Woodcuts Gallery and Framing served as an opportunity for artists, particularly young Black artists to display their work; and
WHEREAS, Nate Harris believed in the neighborhood he loved and put all of his savings into a business in the heart of North Nashville; and
WHEREAS, Nate Harris was vocal about the negative impacts of the construction of Interstate 40 bisecting North Nashville. He helped to found and served as the first president of the Jefferson United Merchants Partnership (“JUMP”) to build back Historic Jefferson Street; and
WHEREAS, in addition to serving as the president and a founder of JUMP, Nate Harris also served as the Chairman of the Arts at the Airport, on the board of Creative Artists of Tennessee, and on the board of the Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center; and
WHEREAS, Nate Harris and Woodcuts Gallery has been honored by JUMP, the NAACP, the Greater Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce, as well Décor and Upscale Magazines; and
WHEREAS, Nate Harris, who passed away on February 4, 2024, left behind a legacy of devotion to community betterment and economic empowerment; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council memorialize Nathaniel “Nate” Harris through an honorary street renaming on 17th Avenue North, adjacent to Woodcuts Gallery and Framing, the business he poured into; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 13.08 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws provides for the designation of honorary street names and signs without amending the Official Street and Alley Acceptance and Maintenance Map for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, and without requiring residents and businesses to change their address.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That 17th Avenue North between Jefferson Street to Meharry Boulevard is hereby designated with the honorary street name of “Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Harris Way”.
Section 2. This honorary street designation will not require any resident or business located on 17th Avenue North to change its street address.
Section 3. The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure is hereby authorized and directed, upon the enactment and approval of this Ordinance, to install the appropriate signage designating this section of roadway as “Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Harris Way” in accordance with section 13.08.025 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws.
Section 4. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.