The Bellevue Mall officially closed its doors in May 2008 and sat largely vacant for a decade, leaving many residents disheartened. The property had been not just a major hub of commerce but also a community gathering place.
After years of stalled projects, the 87-acre site eventually transformed into One Bellevue Place, a multi-use development with restaurants, retailers, apartments, hotels, and senior living facilities. It also features a Metro community center and a 120,000 square-foot Preds Ice Center.
Now in its sixth year, this ambitious development has revitalized the fast-growing West Nashville neighborhood. It has spurred residential price appreciation, new developments, and commercial investments.
A similar phenomenon is occurring 24 miles along I-40 in Antioch, one of Nashville’s fastest-growing neighborhoods.
The Hickory Hollow Mall, a commercial anchor for Southeast Nashville since the 1970s, has been mostly vacant since the late 2000s and officially shut down in 2019. While the Nashville Predators and Nashville State Community College occupy parts of the property, previous revitalization efforts have fallen short. However, hope is on the horizon.
Last year, the city purchased the property for $44 million and unveiled plans to transform it into a lively mixed-use, walkable center and regional destination, according to the Planning Department’s executive summary. With Antioch's population more than doubling between 2000 and 2020, such a bold initiative is welcomed.
In another part of the city, Rivergate Mall, which opened in 1971 as the largest mall in the state of Tennessee, welcomes the arrival of a new proposed project. The proposal will demolish the old Macy’s building and create hundreds of residential units, a hotel, green space, and much more.
As housing demand in Greater Nashville rises, projects like these are critical to providing the amenities Nashvillians need to thrive. The success of the former Bellevue Mall redevelopment shows that investing in our neighborhoods through economic initiatives and housing development yields positive results. From job creation and quality of life improvements to residential price appreciation, investing in our people and re-imagining today’s needs for existing spaces is always a good idea.
