Follow this link to read about Nissan's new eco-friendly HQ in Franklin:
It's great to have this trail-blazing company in Middle Tennessee...plans were also announced to partner with the State of Tennessee to produce a zero-emission vehicle.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Save Bell's Bend!?
Save Bell's Bend...what exactly does that mean?
For non-Middle Tennesseans reading this, I wish I had more time to explain about Bell's Bend but I actually need to be in the shower right now, getting ready for meetings.
I did want to take a few minutes to share that my email inbox has been filled lately with messages about "evil rich people" and "greedy developers" who want to pave Paradise and put up a parking lot...and condos...and office buildings...and retail.
Normally I am not one to speak out, but I just had to respond yesterday when I got yet another inflammatory message about saving Bell's Bend. Whanking on people who have money is just not the way to go, IMO.
I am sharing my response because I received quite a few favorable replies from people who saw my response on list servs and thought it presented a balanced viewpoint. I was surprised at the support I received, to be honest. It was suggested to me that I need to present this perspective to the group fighting the development, led by Dave Cooley, former deputy governor of Tennessee. Not being one to follow politics, I had never heard of Dave Cooley--my apologies, Dave.
So I am trying to figure out how to best do that. Have I suddenly turned into Barbara Hunter, community advocate? If so, that's definitely a new role for me and it goes to show that you never know what a day will bring...
So here is what I wrote on the Nashville Green Drinks group:
Dear All, I wanted to put out a heart-felt response to the email re: survey on the Nashville Business Journal. First of all, when my boyfriend and I opened up The Tennesseean one morning last winter and read about the Bell's Bend development we were: a) excitedb) curious as to where Bell's Bend was While we are passionate nature lovers (and I am a gardener as well) both of us moved here a few years ago from very large metropolitan areas that focused on doing business at a global level and being "world-class cities". While we enjoy Nashville, we felt it was lacking in some areas...areas which we were used to having at our fingertips, namely being a "world-class city". This is just our perspective; what we were used to and grew up with. And we did not know a thing about Bell's Bend or even where it was until April when a friend took us over there to the park, and we drove in the surrounding area. We were in awe over the beauty and serenity, and do want to see it preserved. Now that I've seen it, if I had my way I'd want it to remain untouched. But... I hope there can be a compromise since it's unlikely that plans will be totally scrapped, since the land has already been purchased and this is America; the land was up for sale, someone had a vision and bought it to fulfill their vision. Perhaps these developers will "build green" both for offices and homes. It's coming anyway that new office construction will be required to be built green. I know from attending the Green Building Council Nashville chapter meetings that our Metro government is on board with everything green. Hopefully community gardens and greenscape can be incorporated. There are lots of ideas and possibilities to bring all points of view and all needs together. Has anyone talked to these developers? Maybe they would like input from people who want to grow green, grow gardens, and grow communities based on shared values. Let's work together on this issue, and honor everyone's perspective and vision for this city. I am in the real estate field and while I guess there are some "greedy" developers out there, the ones I've met do what they do because they are visionary and passionate; the money they make is a result of their thinking and acting big. In my experience, people who are greedy usually fail over the long run so if these developers are operating from greed then there's nothing to worry about anyway! I also am a freelance writer and have written many articles for the Nashville Business Journal; they are good folks there and IMO have always presented fair and honest reporting. It is a business publication so it's natural that that's who they will write for. NBJ serves an important need in the community, IMO. There are a lot of definitions of "green" out there; my personal definition is living an aware, awake life based on honor and respect for all life on this planet. I don't think there any bad guys or good guys here, or right or wrong--just an opportunity for people of differing perspectives to come together in unity to create something wonderful. Thanks for the air time~ Barb
For non-Middle Tennesseans reading this, I wish I had more time to explain about Bell's Bend but I actually need to be in the shower right now, getting ready for meetings.
I did want to take a few minutes to share that my email inbox has been filled lately with messages about "evil rich people" and "greedy developers" who want to pave Paradise and put up a parking lot...and condos...and office buildings...and retail.
Normally I am not one to speak out, but I just had to respond yesterday when I got yet another inflammatory message about saving Bell's Bend. Whanking on people who have money is just not the way to go, IMO.
I am sharing my response because I received quite a few favorable replies from people who saw my response on list servs and thought it presented a balanced viewpoint. I was surprised at the support I received, to be honest. It was suggested to me that I need to present this perspective to the group fighting the development, led by Dave Cooley, former deputy governor of Tennessee. Not being one to follow politics, I had never heard of Dave Cooley--my apologies, Dave.
So I am trying to figure out how to best do that. Have I suddenly turned into Barbara Hunter, community advocate? If so, that's definitely a new role for me and it goes to show that you never know what a day will bring...
So here is what I wrote on the Nashville Green Drinks group:
Dear All, I wanted to put out a heart-felt response to the email re: survey on the Nashville Business Journal. First of all, when my boyfriend and I opened up The Tennesseean one morning last winter and read about the Bell's Bend development we were: a) excitedb) curious as to where Bell's Bend was While we are passionate nature lovers (and I am a gardener as well) both of us moved here a few years ago from very large metropolitan areas that focused on doing business at a global level and being "world-class cities". While we enjoy Nashville, we felt it was lacking in some areas...areas which we were used to having at our fingertips, namely being a "world-class city". This is just our perspective; what we were used to and grew up with. And we did not know a thing about Bell's Bend or even where it was until April when a friend took us over there to the park, and we drove in the surrounding area. We were in awe over the beauty and serenity, and do want to see it preserved. Now that I've seen it, if I had my way I'd want it to remain untouched. But... I hope there can be a compromise since it's unlikely that plans will be totally scrapped, since the land has already been purchased and this is America; the land was up for sale, someone had a vision and bought it to fulfill their vision. Perhaps these developers will "build green" both for offices and homes. It's coming anyway that new office construction will be required to be built green. I know from attending the Green Building Council Nashville chapter meetings that our Metro government is on board with everything green. Hopefully community gardens and greenscape can be incorporated. There are lots of ideas and possibilities to bring all points of view and all needs together. Has anyone talked to these developers? Maybe they would like input from people who want to grow green, grow gardens, and grow communities based on shared values. Let's work together on this issue, and honor everyone's perspective and vision for this city. I am in the real estate field and while I guess there are some "greedy" developers out there, the ones I've met do what they do because they are visionary and passionate; the money they make is a result of their thinking and acting big. In my experience, people who are greedy usually fail over the long run so if these developers are operating from greed then there's nothing to worry about anyway! I also am a freelance writer and have written many articles for the Nashville Business Journal; they are good folks there and IMO have always presented fair and honest reporting. It is a business publication so it's natural that that's who they will write for. NBJ serves an important need in the community, IMO. There are a lot of definitions of "green" out there; my personal definition is living an aware, awake life based on honor and respect for all life on this planet. I don't think there any bad guys or good guys here, or right or wrong--just an opportunity for people of differing perspectives to come together in unity to create something wonderful. Thanks for the air time~ Barb
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
