There is a Metro Council Meeting at 6:30 pm. An agenda has been provided, and you can watch the meeting live via channel 3 or stream live on your electronic devices. Also, please do not respond to this email... You can reach me at [email protected].

Be As Water: A Victory for North Nashville and a Testament to Community Power

When I first moved to North Nashville, the lights under the I‑40 overpass on Arthur Avenue didn’t work. They never worked. Some even called it the darkest spot Out North. For years, neighbors like Amy & Derek Garten and Simone Boyd tirelessly advocated to get those lights back on. I remember back in 2017, our small community group created a plan and began working internally with what was then Public Works (now known as NDOT). We got a few of the lights working, but most remained dark.

Getting all of the lights operational took a few more years and a whole lot of persistence. However, Simone Boyd took it to the next level. She worked across city administrations and departments—partnering with five or six different Public Works/NDOT directors over the years. Ultimately, she helped bridge the gap between NDOT, which manages Arthur Avenue for the city, and TDOT, which oversees the Interstates for the State. That collaboration was critical because the underpass touches both jurisdictions.

This month, thanks to her leadership and our community’s unwavering commitment, the Metro Council passed RS2025‑1337, officially approving a public art installation beneath the Arthur Avenue overpass: Be As Water.

This $575,000 project, designed by artist Alex Braden, features a dynamic canopy of thousands of programmed LED lights. These lights, flowing like water, are set against a deep, reverent blue background—paying homage to the resilience, stories, and spirit of the North Nashville community that surrounds the underpass. It’s more than art. It’s placekeeping. It honors the elders, uplifts our shared narratives, and reimagines a long‑neglected space as one of celebration, reflection, and hope.

A heartfelt thank you to Amy and Derek Garten for their early and ongoing advocacy. And to Simone Boyd—your decade of tireless dedication made this moment possible. This installation will rival any other in the city—but what makes it truly powerful is where it is and who it represents.

Learn more about the project here: metroartsnashville.gov/arthur-avenue (https://www.metroartsnashville.gov/arthur-avenue).

What I've been up to:

• We celebrated a birthday since the last time I wrote you - Now, we are right in the middle of the - No, My Do It - phase! Toddler P can do it, no matter what it is; he doesn't need your help or my help. He is the most confident 3-footer I know... I love the independence, but I'm so very nervous when he tries to cut up his green beans, how Mommy does it!
• Prepping for family vacation - nothing special, just a week or so without daycare needs real preparation.
• New stop sign at 40th Ave N and Albion - It's been there for a little while, but some of you may not have seen it.
• 10th, 11th Aves N and Owen Street Resident parking update - We have filed the residential parking permit. I'm waiting to hear back from NDOT for the next steps.
• Working with NDOT on alley clean-up and dumping debris.
• Finally, we passed the city's budget last month!

What's Happening Tonight:  

There are roughly two and a half pages of boards and commissions appointments and confirmations.

BL2025-846 - An ordinance amending Title 2 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws authorizing the creation of a Downtown Central Business Improvement District and appointing a corporation to act as an advisory board to the district with the necessary powers and authority to carry out the purposes and intent of the district.

RS2025-1363 - A resolution accepting a grant from the Greater Nashville Regional Council to the Metropolitan Government, acting by and through Metropolitan Social Services, to provide delivered meals to eligible seniors in their homes and in congregate meal sites throughout Davidson County.

BL2025-829 - An ordinance to amend Title 17 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, the Zoning Ordinance of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by changing from RS5 to R6-A zoning for property located at 2806 Georgia Avenue

BL2025-895 - An ordinance to amend Title 17 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, the Zoning Ordinance of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by changing from R5S to R6-A zoning for property located at 2908 Delaware Avenue

Upcoming Meetings:

-- There are no community meetings scheduled at this time. Please be on the lookout for a few meetings I'm working to schedule. -- 

I invite all District 21 residents to reach out to me directly with any information or concerns in our community. Email is the best form of communication, but I invite you to call me as well. My contact information is below.

Contact information: Email - [email protected] / Phone: 615.946.9700

Best regards,

Brandon