Nashville Neighborhoods: East Nashville

How many of you have traveled to the charming and historic area on the east side of Nashville? If not, there is no better time to check it out. If you are looking to rent, the west side and downtown can be quite expensive. East Nashville may offer an alternative to those who wish to lead the coffee shop lifestyle. I lived in East Nashville this past summer and would like to offer my assessment of the area which has made huge progress in recent years.

The area of Nashville northeast of the Cumberland River is known as East Nashville. It is almost like an island, with Gallatin Road cutting it in half from north to south. Most of the area to the west of Gallatin Road is run down, poverty stricken, low income housing. The businesses in the area reflect the economic situation in the neighborhoods. Loads of discount tobacco stores litter the streets. Most of the gas stations have attendants locked behind protective cages reflecting the crime in the area.

However, the east side of Gallatin Road paints a very different picture. At the intersection known as Five Points (Woodland St., 10th Ave.) many trendy bars, ice cream shops, art galleries, and restaurants exist. Seemingly in the middle of a poor area, renovated Victorian era housing painted in bright colors are trying to revive a once forgotten about area. Although inconsistent, many blocks in the Eastland St. neighborhoods have already become a beacon of things to come.
Many young couples are buying cheap run down housing, and flipping the property. Flipping is the technique known and most recently featured on home improvement programs such as "Flip That House". It is a way of investing a small amount of money, and selling the house for a profit. This is going on full force in certain neighborhoods east of Gallatin Road.

One neighborhood where progress can be seen is at the intersection of McGavick Rd. and Riverside Dr. These four corners used to harbor four abandon businesses just a few months ago. Now, the new East Nashville Music Center has moved into a new plaza with a used book store and a pizza restaurant. Adjacent to the Riverside Plaza, a coffee shop- The Sip Cafe offers fair trade coffee and an outside patio around back. Across the street there is a restaurant in its early stages called The Veggie Cafe. It is currently operating out of a temporary trailer, cooking up some outstanding vegetarian and vegan cuisine. As you can see things are changing around here, one block at a time.

For someone who enjoys a quieter existence than the traffic of the Vandy area, or south of Nashville, the east side of Gallatin Road is a diamond in the rough. Scattered around Eastland Ave. there are more upscale and trendy dining spots than one would expect. There is even an elegant wine and cheese bar around the corner from Woodland Park. It is also worth mentioning that bordering the entire south and east side of the "island", is Shelby Park and the Shelby Greenway.

The park contains hundreds of acres of preserved wetlands that approach the Cumberland River. Two golf courses, a driving range, many softball and baseball diamonds complete the parks recreational facilities. The Shelby Greenway is twenty mile loop of trails that stretch from the southern tip of east Nashville to the area directly across from the Opryland. Most of these trails are paved and kept in impeccable condition. Some of the trails are dirt and gravel. This is a hidden gem that must be discovered by all Nashville residents.