In July 2016, Nashville was one of 10 cities awarded a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). MDHA served as the lead grantee, with Martha O’Bryan Center as the co-grantee.
The $500,000 grant will fund a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plan for Napier Place, Sudekum Apartments and the surrounding area.
In the development of Choice Neighborhoods, HUD has focused on directing resources into four core goals:
People
Support positive outcomes for families who live in the target development(s) and the surrounding neighborhood, particularly outcomes related to residents’ health, safety, employment, mobility, and education.
Education
Support the on-going development of and access to comprehensive educational initiatives that impact all families that reside within the target neighborhood, with focus ranging from early childhood education and grade school programming, to high schools, colleges and adult education.
Housing
Transform distressed public and assisted housing into energy efficient, mixed-income housing that is physically and financially viable over the long-term.
Neighborhoods
Transform neighborhoods of poverty into viable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to well-functioning services, high quality public schools and education programs, high quality early learning programs and services, public assets, public transportation and improved access to jobs.
To achieve these core goals, communities must develop a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy, or Transformation Plan. This plan will become the guiding document for the revitalization of the public and/or assisted housing units, while simultaneously directing the transformation of the surrounding neighborhood and positive outcomes for families.
To successfully develop and implement the Transformation Plan, MDHA will work with Napier Place and Sudekum Apartments residents, public and private agencies, community and philanthropic organizations, community members and residents from the surrounding area and stakeholder groups to gather and leverage resources needed to support the strategic and financial sustainability of the plan.
Final Transformation Plan Submitted to HUD
On June 27, 2018, MDHA submitted the Final Transformation Plan to HUD as a part of the two-year planning process funded through the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. The Final Transformation Plan plan can be attributed to the great involvement from resident, community members, non-profit organizations and Metro agencies. Since the launch of Envision Napier and Sudekum in November 2016, the community had provided input towards the plan at more than 60 meetings, public Town Halls, workshops and community engagement.
Some of the highlights on the Final Transformation Plan include:
- Mixed-use, mixed-income community of up to 2100 apartments, including a one-for-one replacement of all 821 subsidized units
- New 4 acre park in the center of the community
- Proposed new Regional Community Center (lining up with Metro Parks strategic plan)
- Expanded Early Learning, After-School and Summer programming
- Comprehensive Community Safety Plan with neighborhood watch and merchants association
- Expansion of health care services through Neighborhood Health Clinic, which includes establishment of full-service pharmacy, pediatric care, inoculation services, female reproductive services and wellness education
View the Final Transformation Plan
Prior to the submission of the Final Transformation Plan, MDHA submitted a Draft Transformation Plan to HUD in December 2017.
In October 2022, MDHA reengaged Napier Place and Sudekum Apartments residents to update the People Plan with a refreshed resident needs assessment. Starting in March 2023, MDHA staff worked closely with resident ambassadors to re-survey residents at the two properties.