NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — To most musicians in Nashville, it’s hard to focus on their craft with sky-high rent prices.
There is relief coming, however, with the first phase of an affordable housing effort: The Opaline.
The Music City thrives on the backbone of talent. But what happens when talent hits a roadblock by the concern on being able to afford rent?
For singer-songwriter Sunshine James, it’s a roadblock to make music in the Music City.
“It’s chaos and it’s month to month,” he said. “Not signing leases and hopping couch to couch and just taking every situation that I can.”
This after James said he sacrificed everything he had to be here. He said he was broken up with by the girl he planned to marry when he lived in Phoenix because he chose music.
“I wasn’t ready to give this up,” said James.
He ended up moving to Nashville six years ago. He said since then, housing prices continue to go up at an alarming rate.
The Nashville’s Unified Housing Strategy reports since 2019, home prices have jumped 40%, while household incomes have only climbed 19%.
“We have no job security,” said James.
He points out he has gigs on Broadway, like Lucky Bast*rd Saloon, but it’s not enough to pay for rent with all the other expenses.
Executive Director of the Arts and Business Council of Greater Nashville Jill McMillan Palm said they did a study asking artists if they planned to stay in Nashville, and if not, why not. The top three reasons cited were affordable housing, access to affordable professional creative development space and a perceived lack of support at the city and state level. (Photo: FOX 17 News)
Jill McMillan Palm is the Executive Director of the Arts and Business Council of Greater Nashville. She said they did a study asking artists if they planned to stay in Nashville, and if not, why not.
“The top three reasons cited were affordable housing, access to affordable professional creative development space and a perceived lack of support at the city and state level,” said McMillan Palm.
It’s information her non-profit offered to company Holladay Ventures to bring affordable housing to Nashville. Currently, the space on 3533 Dickerson Pike is being cleared out for the project.
The Opaline will have 251 rental units, offering studios all the way up to three bedrooms, ranged $1,100 to $1700, for families at 60% of area median income. There will also be space on the first floor for artists to practice their craft, a childcare facility and a WeGo Transit center right in front. The property management company would be Elmington.
Evan Holladay is the CEO of Holladay Ventures and is behind the idea.
“It’s been a lot of work, but we’re so excited to see this finally start coming out of the ground,” he said.
He said funding came from the city, the state and other private companies.
For James, the complex would be the lifeline he and other musicians desperately need.
“It’d be a huge help for a lot of very talented people to help them stick around,” said James.
Holladay said the rental units will be ready by 2028. The applications will open in 2027, but you can sign up for information.
There is no timeline on the next phases of the bigger concept “Artist Hill” for affordable housing. We will keep you updated.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source fox17.com ’
