PUBLIC LAND
Private development is not meeting the needs of Nashvillians. Rents are too high. Wages are too low. Displacement is rampant.
We need change.
NOW OR NEVER
The city of Nashville is preparing to make key decisions about building affordable housing on public land. Because it is free, controlled by us, and abundant, public land represents a real opportunity to create the kinds of development we need. But it has to be done right.
OUR PUBLIC LAND PRINCIPLES
To actually meet the needs of Nashvillians, public land needs to go through a transparent, people-centered, and community-controlled development process.
- Public land is ours. It belongs, and should always belong, to all communities. We should determine how to best use our land to meet our needs.
- Housing is a human right. No matter what we look like, who we love, or where we’re from, we all need a safe and affordable place to call home. The development of public land must guarantee this right for current and future generations.
- Diversity is the foundation of inclusive and thriving communities. Affordable housing developed on public land must integrate communities of all backgrounds, sizes, ages, and incomes to foster solidarity, not segregation.
4. All people deserve to live in high-quality affordable homes. No exceptions. The development of affordable housing on public land, whether it be new construction or renovation and rehabilitation, must meet the highest standards for beauty, accessibility, and sustainability.
5. People should not be displaced from their homes. On public land we can pair tenant protections with anti-displacement policies to benefit homeowners and renters alike. We can create stable communities.
6. We can develop public land and solve other big problems at the same time. To accelerate change, decrease barriers and limit costs, we must pursue federal investments that intentionally support high worker standards, racial and economic justice, and climate resiliency.
