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Council OKs property sale for new West Precinct
Mayor Karl Dean’s proposal to turn the former Bob Frensley car dealership on Charlotte Avenue into a new $14 million West Police Precinct and crime lab received overwhelming Metro Council approval Tuesday night.
Despite vocal opposition from some west Nashville Council members, the panel voted 34 to 5, with one abstention, to pass a resolution to acquire the property for $4.2 million. The refurbishing of the structure into police facilities will take additional funds, not yet approved by Council.
Council members Emily Evans, Bo Mitchell, Eric Crafton, Robert Duvall and Charlie Tygard each voted against the resolution, with some arguing the proposal hadn’t been adequately thought out.
“We don’t even have a site plan,” said Evans, who represents parts of Belle Meade and West Meade. “We don’t have any cost analysis done. We just have, ‘I’m moving it because I said so.’ ”
Crafton, who represents neighborhoods in Bellevue, tried to defer the resolution indefinitely, but had his motion overridden.
“The problem is the cost,” Crafton said. “It’s too much … I don’t remember this body giving a mandate to have to take a rundown, brick building, and spend twice as much to rehab it, when it’s cheaper to build from the ground up.”
The proposal had been championed by Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas as an opportunity to upgrade the current West Police Precinct building, while bringing new technology to the police force.
The new precinct and crime lab is expected to take 12 to 18 months to construct.
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Politics sure does make strange bedfellows. It looks like some in West Nashville might like to be a county unto themselves but then they would have to chose between Crafton and Tygard as Mayor. What a dilemma.
This is one transaction that should be investigated. How big of a contributor to the Karl Dean administration was Bob Frensley? The property has been for sale for over 2 and 1/2 years. The property is worth no more than 2 and 1/2 million dollars.To my knowledge there has not been an offer on this property prior to the metro 6 1/2 million dollar offer.
We don't need a lab or to pay 6 1/2 million for that property. I am with frank the deal smells.
Bob's had the City is his hip pocket for years. Don't expect anything to change with King Karl!
This Council has never seen an expenditure(especially a
large one) that they didn't like. It's pathetic to watch as so
many stand up at the meetings and talk about protecting the
taxpayers and being careful with tax dollars yet never ask
a pertinent question about anything! There are between
5-10 councilpersons that understand these bills and the
remainder sit on their chairs or walk around waiting on
their paycheck and of course their upcoming paid health
benefits. "What a way to run a railroad"!
We need to cut our council in half. There's so many of them, it's like hearding cats. And while we're at, we should take the springs out of those chairs they love to bounce up and down in. It makes them look like even bigger clowns.
A smaller council would mean a less responsive council. With small districts, it is easier for citizens to know their councillor and for the councillor to be accessible.
For instance, I see my councillor at least once a week around town. If I email on a subject, it gets a quick response.
IMO This council bunch would OK selling Metro, if that is what King Karl wants!
new
By: Kosh III on 11/18/09 at 7:15
A smaller council would mean a less responsive council. With small districts, it is easier for citizens to know their councillor and for the councillor to be accessible.
For instance, I see my councillor at least once a week around town. If I email on a subject, it gets a quick response
Yes Kosh; I believe fun or someone like fun has said "larger areas, less council" before.
It makes no sense. I like the one-on-one relationship with my council person who works a full time job in the day and spends a FULL time on council business. He's active and diligent and usually votes his constitutents' wishes. He rarely sucks up if ever to anyone.
IN RESPONSE TO Frank Browns Post:
"... The property has been for sale for over 2 and 1/2 years. The property is worth no more than 2 and 1/2 million dollars.To my knowledge there has not been an offer on this property prior to the metro 6 1/2 million dollar offer."
This is the same thing you posted on the Tennesseans site. How do you know that there were NO offers made on this property before the Metro offer? AND the property was assessed for 2.5 million.....no one's property is worth what the tax assessor says it it. The tax assessor doesn't have time to go in and properly inspect every property.....that's why it's called an "assessment' - it's an approximate value....not an actual value.
One more comment....Eric Carlton is against everything anyways...unless it's something HE came up with first (like the 'English Only' bill that was rejected). So, I don't put much stake in the things he supports or rejects.
Eric Crafton....sorry.
Also after the Bellevue Mall fiasco, I don't think Crafton and Tygard should have much of a say in anything about people wasting money on property. . . . .
Eric Crafton, how can the people in that district be that stupid?
I'm certainly glad some of you have responsive council members. I on the other hand have a lady council member that is a lap dog for the Mayor and all the Dept heads. Never replies to the simplest and courteous of E-mails and or suggestion concerning any bills up there. Loves to spend tax dollars and brag on what a great job every dept
head and employee is doing. Being a retired employee tends to give some that perspective I suppose!
Is this the Dodge dealership near the interstate or the Ford dealership near Charlotte Park?
A smaller council might work better than 40-some-odd people who are mostly morons. Certainly it would be more efficient. It looks like they are mostly playing pocket pool when I tune in for the meetings. Look at the way they are handling the MCC -"whatever you say, Mr. Dean".
I'm glad someone sees their council person once a week. To see one former council person of mine, I would have had to visit a local bar. Another one was caught shoplifting, and it wasn't Ronnie.
I cannot believe that not a one of you has said anything about the sale price. It wasn't for 6.5 million. It was for $4.2 million. And yes he did have offers, he turned down 2 that was for $4.5 million to sell the property to the city. And yes, I do know that for a fact. Joey had better do a better job of getting his facts straight if he wants to continue to write for any newspaper.
OPENMINDED303
I wonder what your motivation was for making the comment that there were two other offers of at least 4.5 million dollars? I certainly am not aware of those offers. I cannot imagine what individual or company would offer that kind of money for that particular property. Are you acting as a shill or can you identify the offers?