Dean wants neighbors to lead Livability Project

Mayor Karl Dean Wednesday announced the formation of the Nashville Livability Project after receiving a report on the impact of retiring Baby Boomers over the next 20 years.

The Livable Community Task Force spent a year studying the impact retiring Baby Boomers and other aging Nashvillians would have on the city and determined that Metro will need to make significant changes in how it houses, cares for and serves residents to accommodate the changing demographics.

Dean asked Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors, who led the task force, to oversee the Livability Project, which will coordinate the task force recommendations with Metro departments and community groups.

“The Nashville Livability Project gives us a way to focus not just on the immediate events proposed in this report. It also gives us a way to plan for the broader changes that will leave a longer-lasting imprint on the city,” Dean said in accepting the task force recommendations.

The task force spent 12 months studying the city’s preparedness for the “graying” of its citizenry. Neighbors told the mayor that it would take short-term fixes, long-term commitment and cooperation with a range of partners to ensure that “Nashville remains a great city not just for this generation, but for those years to come.”

In 2000, the number of Nashvillians ages 21-34 outnumbered those more than 65 years old by more than a 2 to 1 margin, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By 2018, the two age groups will be nearly equal in number, according to projections presented to the task force by Dr. Garrett Harper with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. He also forecasted that by 2018, Davidson County will experience a net gain of 31,000 people over age 65 and more than 13,000 will be over 75 years old.

The task force found that Nashville seniors will have increasing longevity, political influence, economic impact and social significance, and they will have higher education levels than current seniors. The task force also concluded that the need for health and community support services will increase.

Dean immediately announced plans to take on the report’s recommendations to focus on fitness by beginning a series of monthly walks around the city to draw attention to the benefits of exercise. He said the walking program will begin during Walk Nashville week starting Oct. 3.

The report recommended that the mayor initiate the Nashville Livability Project to create a timeline for implementing the proposals and work as an interagency group to better coordinate community planning.

Mayor Dean commended the task force, which presented him with a copy of its report, “Creating a Livable Community for all ages: The Nashville Livability Project,” at the FiftyForward Knowles Center on Wednesday.

“The report shows that we are ready in many ways, but there is more we can do,” the mayor said. “When I ran for office I made a point of talking about the many facets of a city. What I said then is what this report shows today — it’s all connected. We want Nashville to be a livable community for people of all ages.”

He asked the task force to work with the Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville Health Care Council and the Healthy Nashville Leadership Council to plan a conference in November to focus on health from an economic and economic development perspective.

Patrick Willard, advocacy director for AARP Tennessee and a member of the task force, said he was pleased with the mayor’s commitment to the needs of aging Nashvillians.

“Nashville needs to remain ahead of the curve as a livable city. So much of our work over the past 20 years has made the city more attractive for businesses, the creative class and families. We need to keep the momentum going for the future,” Willard said.