The Third Vision:
What We've Done So Far

I. Money Raised in ‘07 and ‘08:
(approx; not including TN Heritage Cons. Trust Fund)

$34,925  (36% from community residents)

$61,077 ( 64% from donors outside the community)

$96,000  TOTAL

Source of Donations:

 69% - Individual donations

 21% - Family foundations/funds

  6% - Sales of books, t-shirts, misc.

  4% - Businesses

 

 

II. Overview of ’07 and ’08 Accomplishments

 ·       Creation and publication of the book, Beaman Park to Bells Bend: A Conservation Community. Books have been distributed to community members, city officials (including the mayor and governor and city council members) and hundreds of others outside of our community and the state of ml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Tennessee.  The book formed the basis for our work with the Nashville City Planning Department in creating the Scottsboro-Bells Bend Detailed Design Community Plan. There is a copy of the book in the Main Downtown Public Library. Cost: $33,000.  Books sold for $15.00 to community members and $20.00 to others (approx. $5000 recouped from sales). 

·        Detailed economic analysis of developer’s projected economic windfall of May Town Center (MTC).  This report was presented to Councilman Matthews, the press and the Metro Planning Commission (MPC prior to the 7-24-08 MPC hearing and played a major role in their approval of our Community Plan and indefinite deferral of approval for the development. Cost: $15,000.

·        Conducted door to door survey to determine the percentage of residents living in the community who are opposed to or in favor of the proposed May development. A total of 243 signed ballots were obtained with 224 ((92.18%) 'opposed to', 10 (4.11%) 'in favor of', and 9 (3.70%) undecided.

·        Orchestrated public hearing before MPC, including testimonies of residents, elected officials, green building, real estate, planning and other experts, along with other interested citizens from outside the community.

·        Developed detailed list of unanswered questions regarding potential impact of MTC submitted to MPC members prior to 8/14/08 vote.

·        Obtained unanimous approval (10 to 0) from MPC for our Community Detailed Design Plan and indefinite deferral of inclusion of the alternative development. Organized the writing and delivery to MPC of 400 letters from all over the city on our behalf.  The MPC hearing and debate elevated the debate from a Not In My Back Yard issue to a genuine city-wide debate about the value of open space to the city of Nashville. Cost for lobbying and PR: $10,000; lobbying/legal counsel: $11,700

·        Created our website, bellsbend.org   Cost: $2500

·        Coordinated a trip for 17 to the Adirondack Park (AP) in conjunction with the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) to learn more about land preservation from those who have been successful for over 30-years in preserving 6 million acres in NY State. Obtained funding from the Blue Mountain Center in  the AP to provide free room and board and meals for the participants while at the APA Retreat. The group consisted of 9 community members, a metro planning commission member, the directors of Metro Parks and Greenways and the Planning Department, a journalist, and 3 members of the mayors Green Ribbon Committee. 

·        The first annual Bell Ringer Fund Raiser was held in 10/08 at the home of Jane and Bill Coble to encourage support from non-residents; raised over $18,000.

·        The first annual Beaman To Bells Bend: A Park 2 Park Celebration was held in 11/08 to invite interested people from around the city to experience first hand the many environmental and cultural resources of the Corridor.  This daylong celebration included workshops/presentations on Bells Bend archeology, farming and gardening tips, the endangered Whooping Cranes, our vision for the future of our community and many other topics.  Local members of The Chestnut Group (a national organization of artist painters) came out and painted. The celebration culminated in a free sunset Concert for the Corridor in Bells Bend Park by singer/songwriter Nancy Griffith and attracted over 250 people. This event was a follow-up to the 2007 Heritage Day.

·        An Historic Marker was approved for placement at the intersection of Ashland City Hwy and Old Hickory Blvd.. The marker will give a description of Scottsboro Community on one side and Bells Bend on the other side.  Cost: $2,500.

·       Metro Parks and Greenways in cooperation with Land Trust for TN (LTTN) and the BBB Conservation Community obtained a grant for $875,000 from the TN Heritage Conservation Trust Fund and the Federal Farm and Ranchland Protection Program in 7/08.  This money, along with additional funds provided by Greenways for Nashville and LTTN, will help pay for the transaction costs of 5 conservation easements, purchase of development rights for George West’s 118 acre farm on the Cumberland River in Bells Bend, and the beginnings of the creation of a cross country trail linking Beaman and Bells Bend Parks.

·        Dozens of news articles, including regular coverage in The Tennessean, a cover story in The Scene, a detailed account of the Adirondack Park trip in the City Paper and a New York Times article on the endangered whooping cranes.

·        Met with the Mayor and City Council Members in 12/08 to present our vision for the Beaman Park to Bells Bend Conservation Community.

·       Hired and paid an assistant $25/hr for 10 hours a week for a year to help us with the myriad details associated with the accomplishments of the last year. Cost: $12,000

·        Two members of our community were appointed to the Mayor’s Green Ribbon Committee, a group charged with making Nashville the “greenest city in the country.

·        Development of a PowerPoint presentation and 3 large wall maps for presentation to the Mayor, city council members, community residents, environmental groups,  and other organizations.  Cost for maps: $3935.

·        Development of a logo.

II.  New Projects Recently Launched or Currently “In the Works’

·       The Bells Bend Neighborhood Farms Project - the establishment of a network of small farms to feed and educate Nashvillians about the value of locally grown food.  Phase One of this project, now underway under the direction of Jeff Poppen, is to establish a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) cooperative, with additional food to be donated to local residents, low income seniors and low-income families whose children attend the local Bordeaux Elementary School. Cost: $35,000 ($20,000 from CSA shareholders)

·        Development of a designated recreational trail that runs parallel to Old Hickory Blvd. and links the 2 parks.

·        Economic Study #2 by the Ochs Center - An Alternative Use of the Beaman Park to Bells Bend Corridor: This study will provide an analysis of the potential economic and other intrinsic values of The Third Vision, including land uses compatible with maintaining the rural character.  Cost: $10,000.

·        Create an innovative land use policy at the state and/or local level for a rural preserve that will protect the rural character and natural, cultural, agricultural and outdoor recreational resources.

·        Establish an archeological excavation in the Bend via a collaboration with UT Knoxville..

·        The 2009 Meeting of the National Historic Preservation Association will meet in Nashville.  Our local Historic Commission will host the group and are planning a day-long “field session” to highlight the Beaman Park to Bells Bend Community,   our accomplishments, goals and future challenges.