WWCR and the May Town project

[firepoint525]

Just curious, how does anyone here think WWCR would be affected by the May Town Center, if it is ever approved and built?

Now for the disclaimers.

I realize that the May Town Center has not been approved yet, and may never be, and even if it ever is, it would be a couple more years (after it gets the "thumbs up") before it is even up and running. And it would likely be another (minimum) 10-15 years after that before the "sprawl" likely to result from it would even begin to encroach upon WWCR's property. I also realize that WWCR is about four or five miles upstream from where the May Town Center is currently being proposed to be built.

I have long thought that the Ashland City highway corridor represents the next frontier for "development" in metro. There are signs along the highway now advertising property for sale. And the highway itself was constructed with "expandability" in mind. That wide shoulder you see on the highway there (you know, where you often see cops have pulled speeders over--and it IS a speed trap, by the way!), which looks like a very generous bicycle lane, was designed to eventually become the sixth and seventh lanes of that highway, once the developers succeed in turning highway 12 into another Gallatin Road or Nolensville Road! (And you can look for the speed limit along there to be reduced if that ever happens! )

I have always thought of WWCR as the "stealth" station! People 10,000 miles away listen to them, but people just down the road from them don't seem to even know that they exist! (Except for when WWCR's signal interferes with their TV reception! ;D) It seems to me that if May Town Center is ever built, then WWCR's "cover" will be blown! They seem to thrive on their anonymity, but if all that foliage is ever cut down, people will suddenly be able to see them from miles away! ;D

 

[deltas69]

have to say i had never heard of WWCR..so i bounced over to their website..all that power would make tim the tool man taylor envious...give me that with MY format and i could..dare i say it..(dare ,dare)..rule the world.... ...

 

[firepoint525]

Granted, the "old" WWCR ("Car 56") on Concord Road in Brentwood has gotten more discussion here than the shortwave WWCR, but even that was my topic! ;D

Too bad the old WWCR did not have the 540 frequency like WDXN in Clarksville did, or they really could have been "Car 54"! ;D

 

[K4WRF]

The WWCR/WNQM site is way north of that location wedged between Ashland City highway and the Cumberland River. More specifically; behind the junk yard, past the railroad tracks, at the end of the road, in a windowless compound, across the river from the Tennessee State Penitentiary, in a flood plain where the erosion of the river is claiming about a foot of their property per year.

Given those hostile social and civil conditions, ain’t never gonna be a development of any kind out there.
All of course, I.M.V.H.O.

Best,

w/

 

[firepoint525]

The latest artist renditions of the project now show the bridge crossing the river on Cockrell Bend Industrial Blvd. just beyond the Charles Bass Correctional Facility, and right before the state pen! So basically, to reach the May Town Center, you would exit Briley Parkway at Centennial Blvd.! : I realize this might make for the shortest possible route from downtown, but it would make more sense to link up the Scottsboro leg of Old Hickory Blvd. with the Bellevue leg of OHB.

Taking Centennial Blvd. and Cockrell Bend Ind. Blvd. to reach May Town would require driving through some of the most unsightly industrial areas of Nashville (with the exception of the scrap yard near LP Field!).

And I saw these artists' renditions on the May Town Center's own website at http://www.maytowncenter.com.

 

[K4WRF]

I wonder how many remember the old ferry (Judge Hickman, iirc) that crossed the river at the end of Old Hickory Boulevard just south of that location? Made that crossing on a weekly basis while making FCC required field intensity measurements on WMAK back in the days. That process became a real pain when they closed down that ferry crossing. I can fully understand why those people that live out there are vehemently opposed to that project.
Long time ago now. :'(
w/

 

[firepoint525]

You're referring to the old Cleece's Ferry, right? Well before my time living here in Nashville. That area is just a boat dock to me. Apparently at one time they had the idea of eventually linking Old Hickory Blvd. on the Bells Bend side with OHB on the Charlotte Park side, hence the name "Old Hickory Blvd." for the road on both sides of the river there. However, at some point in the last few years, metro council changed the name of the road on the Hillwood side to Annex Ave., although I think it would have made more sense to extend the Hillwood Blvd. name into that area. It passed right in front of the old Hillwood Plaza.

The earliest artist's renditions I saw of the Maytown project had the bridge crossing the river in that area. And I'm guessing that the new proposed interstate 40 interchange would have been at Annex Avenue, too (exit 202 or 203, perhaps?). Anyway, that would have been an extremely bad idea, as there is not much room for widening Annex Ave. in that area, and the Charlotte Park area is a residential neighborhood, and I don't think they could handle the extra traffic in their neighborhood.

The bad news for Bells Bend residents is that, under current zoning, a developer could come in and subdivide the entire 1500 acres, and not set aside any of it as green space!

Bells Bend residents better be careful what they ask for. The alternative could be much worse! And something will come to that area! Mark my words!