Frequently Asked Questions

Resident Brief

Martin & Merritt Development

Meeting with Council Member Terry Vo - Pro-Project Constituent

Perspective

Date: June 24, 2025

Project: SomeraRoad Mixed-Use Development at Martin & Merritt, Wedgewood Houston

Meeting Purpose: Advocate for project approval and address Council Member Vo's concerns

Document Purpose and Usage

CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT CIRCULATE

This document is intended to provide baseline knowledge to facilitate informed discussions during the meeting with

Council Member Vo. It should not be circulated and is not meant to serve as talking points.

Executive Summary

The Martin & Merritt development is poised to revitalize a neglected 4-acre site, aligning with Nashville's housing and

infrastructure goals. With a 2:1 community support ratio, robust engagement, and full planning staff approval, this project is

a model of alignment with Nashville Next policies, promising significant public benefits.

Key Message: This project turns community concerns into solutions by leveraging private investment for public

infrastructure, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization.

Strategic Context & Opportunity

Immediate Neighborhood Benefits

Infrastructure Investment: $1M+ in private funds for public sidewalk construction, creating half a mile of new

walkways.

Safety Improvements: Mitigation of hazardous "mudslide" conditions on Martin Street during rainfall.

Blight Removal: Transforms a fenced vacant trailer park, currently an eyesore, into a community asset.

Economic Catalyst: Anticipated 200,000+ annual visitors to spur local business growth.

Policy Alignment Victory

Nashville Next Compliance: Meets T4 Urban Mixed-Use and Urban Neighborhood Evolving requirements.

Smart Growth Achievement: Transit-oriented development within 5-10 minutes of four WeGo lines.

Housing Production: Adds 150 units, addressing Nashville's housing shortage.

Urban Infill Success: Optimizes underutilized land, countering urban sprawl.Addressing Council Member Vo's Specific Concerns

Hotel Scale and Management

Vo's Concern: Hotel increased from 126 to 160 keys; Aperion management quality issues.

Our Response:

Industry Reality: Aperion requires 150+ keys for viability; 160 is a compromise, not an expansion.

Economic Necessity: Hotel revenue funds infrastructure improvements and affordable housing.

Management Accountability: Developer has mechanisms to enforce lease terms and address management issues.

Community Benefit: Hotel generates tax revenue and jobs, supporting local businesses.

Talking Point: "The hotel component is the economic engine that makes community benefits possible - without viable

hotel operations, we lose the infrastructure investments our neighborhood desperately needs.

"

Current Tenant Issues (BC Fitness)

Vo's Concern: Noise violations and property damage from current tenant.

Our Response:

Temporary vs. Permanent: Issues stem from an interim tenant, not the final development.

Developer Action: SomeraRoad is actively addressing lease violations.

Future Operations: Final hotel partner will operate under a different, higher standard.

Legal Process: Tenant issues require legal procedures, not immediate solutions.

Talking Point: "We can't let temporary tenant management issues derail permanent neighborhood improvements that

will benefit our community for decades.

"

Community Engagement Process

Vo's Concern: Insufficient recent community meetings on final plan.

Our Response:

Unprecedented Engagement: Two-year process with over 12 community meetings.

Documented Support: 97-signature petition and majority of unique constituent letters in favor.

Quantified Community Voice: More than 2:1 written support ratio indicates clear neighborhood preference.

Responsive Design: Reduced residential units by 25%, with significant height and setback modifications.

Ongoing Communication: Developer committed to additional meetings during the deferral period.

Top Community Questions

1. Infrastructure Crisis Solution

"Our neighborhood lacks basic pedestrian infrastructure. This project delivers half a mile of sidewalks through private

funding—something Metro hasn't been able to provide. Without this development, when will Martin Street get sidewalks?"

2. Economic Development Engine

"Local businesses need foot traffic to survive. This project brings 200,000+ annual visitors and 150+ new residents to support

our local economy. Opposition risks losing this economic catalyst.

"

3. Blight Elimination Opportunity

"We have a 4-acre blighted site with barbed wire fencing that's been an eyesore for years. This project transforms it into

community assets with public space, preserved historic buildings, and neighborhood retail.

"

4. Policy and Process Success

"Planning staff recommends approval because this project follows all rules and policies. The extensive community

engagement process resulted in significant modifications. With more than half of unique constituent letters supportingthe project and 97 petition signatures, the community has spoken clearly. Further delays risk losing the economic viability

that makes community benefits possible.

"

5. Transit-Oriented Development Model

"This is exactly the kind of development Nashville Next envisions—dense, mixed-use, transit-accessible. It reduces car

dependency and supports sustainable growth patterns.

"Strategic Questions to Ask Council Member Vo

Process and Timeline Questions

1.

2.

3.

"What specific changes would make this project acceptable to you, given that it already meets all planning

requirements?"

"How do we balance the concerns of immediate neighbors with the broader community support demonstrated

through petitions and public comments?"

"What timeline do you envision for resolving current tenant issues, and how does that impact the overall development

approval process?"

Policy and Precedent Questions

1.

2.

"If we defer projects that meet all policy requirements due to operational concerns about current tenants, what

precedent does this set for future development?"

"How do we ensure that perfect doesn't become the enemy of good when we have significant community benefits at

stake?"

Community Support Evidence Questions

1.

2.

"With more than half of the unique constituent support letters being positive, and our petition now at 97 supporters,

what would it take for you to believe the neighborhood is overwhelmingly supportive?"

"How do we quantify and measure genuine community support versus vocal opposition when making development

decisions?"

Community Benefit Questions

1.

2.

"What alternative proposal would deliver equivalent infrastructure improvements, blight removal, and economic

development benefits?"

"How do we weigh temporary inconveniences against permanent community improvements like sidewalks, public

space, and local business support?"

Potential Compromises and Solutions

Management Accountability Framework

Performance Standards: Establish specific operational benchmarks for hotel management.

Community Liaison: Regular reporting mechanism to council office and neighborhood groups.

Enforcement Mechanisms: Clear escalation procedures for operational issues.

Enhanced Community Benefits

Additional Public Space: Explore expanding public amenity components.

Local Business Support: Commitment to local hiring and procurement preferences.

Infrastructure Timeline: Expedited sidewalk construction schedule.

Ongoing Communication Protocol

Regular Updates: Quarterly community meetings during construction and initial operations.

Direct Access: Dedicated contact for neighborhood concerns.

Transparency Commitment: Public reporting on community benefit delivery.

Meeting Objectives and Success Criteria

Definition of Successful Meeting

A successful meeting will achieve progress toward project approval through one or more of the following outcomes:

Tier 1 Success (Optimal Outcome):

Council Member Vo commits to supporting the project at the July 24 Planning Commission meeting.

Agreement on specific conditions or modifications that ensure her support.

Clear timeline for any remaining issues to be resolved.

Tier 2 Success (Acceptable Progress):

Council Member acknowledges the overwhelming community support evidence.

Agreement on a collaborative framework to address her specific concerns.Commitment to working with supporters rather than maintaining opposition.

Clear definition of what would constitute adequate resolution of her concerns.

Tier 3 Success (Minimum Viable Outcome):

Open dialogue established with commitment to ongoing communication.

Specific next steps identified for addressing outstanding issues.

Agreement that community support metrics are legitimate considerations.

No additional barriers or concerns introduced beyond those already stated.

Success Measurement Criteria

Community Support Recognition: Vo acknowledges the 97-signature petition and majority support letters.

Policy Compliance Acknowledgment: Recognition that project meets all planning requirements.

Constructive Path Forward: Agreement on specific actions to resolve concerns.

Timeline Clarity: Defined milestones and expectations for resolution.

Stakeholder Alignment: Commitment to collaborative rather than adversarial approach.Priority Questions for Council Member Vo

Critical Decision-Making Questions

1. Community Support Threshold Question

"With more than half of the unique constituent support letters being positive, and our petition now at 97 supporters, what

would it take for you to believe the neighborhood is overwhelmingly supportive?"

Purpose: Establish objective criteria for measuring community sentiment.

2. Resolution Framework Question

"What specific changes or conditions would make this project acceptable to you, given that it already meets all planning

requirements and has planning staff approval?"

Purpose: Identify a concrete path to approval.

3. Timeline and Process Question

"What is your timeline for resolving the current BC Fitness tenant issues, and how does that timeline impact your position

on the overall development approval?"

Purpose: Separate temporary operational issues from permanent development approval.

4. Policy Precedent Question

"If we defer projects that meet all policy requirements due to concerns about current tenant behavior, what precedent does

this set for future development in our district?"

Purpose: Focus on land use policy vs. operational management issues.

5. Alternative Solutions Question

"What alternative proposal would deliver equivalent infrastructure improvements, blight removal, and economic

development benefits for our neighborhood?"

Purpose: Establish the unique value proposition of this project.

Secondary Strategic Questions

6. Representation and Process Question

"How do we balance the concerns of immediate neighbors with the broader community support when the majority of

constituent feedback is positive?"

7. Economic Impact Question

"How do we weigh temporary construction inconveniences against permanent community improvements like sidewalks,

safety enhancements, and local business support?"

8. Management Accountability Question

"What specific oversight or accountability measures would you want to see implemented for hotel operations to address

your management quality concerns?"

Key Messages to Reinforce

Community Choice: "This isn't about choosing between development and no development—it's about choosing between

planned, community-engaged development with benefits versus continued blight and missed opportunities.

"

Economic Reality: "The hotel component isn't optional luxury—it's the economic engine that funds the infrastructure

improvements and community amenities our neighborhood needs.

"

Process Success: "Two years of community engagement and planning staff approval represent the collaborative

development process working as intended.

"Urgency: "Every deferral risks losing the economic viability that makes community benefits possible, especially in the

current construction cost environment.

"Post-Meeting Action Items

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Document Commitments: Record any specific developer commitments or compromise proposals.

Timeline Clarification: Establish clear milestones for addressing concerns.

Communication Plan: Set up regular check-ins between now and the July 24 commission meeting.

Community Updates: Share meeting outcomes with supporting neighbors and businesses.

Coalition Building: Engage additional community voices to reinforce the support message.

Key Supporting Stakeholders

Primary Advocates

Greg Watson - 607 Moore Avenue

Background: Recent Chicago transplant, spoke at Planning Commission hearing.

Key Message: Sidewalk safety crisis advocate—

"There's no sidewalks, none. And when it rains, it's like just a mudslide

coming down.

"

Community Role: Organized 97-signature neighborhood petition in support (growing from original 83).

Talking Points: Infrastructure safety, local business sustainability, transit connectivity.

Meeting Role: Lead spokesperson on infrastructure benefits and community support documentation.

Duane Cuthbertson

Background: Planning Commission speaker, neighborhood resident.

Meeting Role: Advocate for policy compliance and development process.

Key Message: Project meets all planning requirements and follows the proper community engagement process.

Marcia Storrison - Multifamily Resident Across from Project Site

Background: Retired professional living directly across the street from the proposed development.

Unique Perspective: Most directly impacted resident who supports the project.

Key Message: Immediate neighbor endorsement counters the "closest residents oppose" narrative.

Meeting Role: Demonstrate that proximity doesn't automatically equal opposition.

Talking Points: Blight removal benefits, improved neighborhood character, safety improvements.

Chrissy Chambers - Townhouse Behind Standard Assembly

Background: Neighborhood resident familiar with area development patterns.

Perspective: Residential community member supporting mixed-use development.

Meeting Role: Represent the residential neighborhood voice in favor of the project.

Key Message: Compatible development that enhances rather than disrupts the neighborhood.

Earnest Morgan (Alternate)

Role: Backup spokesperson if primary stakeholders are unavailable.

Meeting Participation: Available for additional community voice if needed.

Stakeholder Meeting Strategy

Greg Watson: Lead with infrastructure and safety benefits, present petition signatures.

Marcia Storrison: Counter proximity-based opposition with direct neighbor support.

Duane Cuthbertson: Emphasize policy compliance and proper process.

Chrissy Chambers: Represent broader residential community perspective.

Coordinated Message: Demonstrate diverse neighborhood support across different housing types and tenure.

This brief represents the perspective of constituents supporting the Martin & Merritt development project. All information

is based on public Planning Commission records and community engagement docuLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit?