Aerial’s North Lights to target creative class, take cues from Miami’s Wynwood Walls

Nashville-based Aerial Development Group is eyeing a spring 2018 groundbreaking for an arts-influenced mixed-used project for West Trinity Lane.

To be called North Lights, the project will offer 190 multifamily units, 90 townhomes, 16 single-family cottages, 11 single-family homes and up to 25,000 square feet of space featuring of local retail and restaurant businesses.

Of note, murals and street art will be a key component of the development, which will span about 22 acres. The multi-parcel site is located within the 500 block of West Trinity Lane and addresses both that street and Old Matthews Road (see here courtesy of Google Maps).

Britnie Turner, Aerial CEO, said North Lights will draw inspiration from Miami’s Wynwood Walls Art District (see here). As such, Aerial will invite artists to be part of the architectural and space-making process.

“Similar to the way Steve Jobs wanted to merge human touch with technology, we want to merge art into architecture and environment,” Turner said. “It’s living in flow, not a separation of living space and creative expression. The buildings will be simplistic in architecture and color, giving residents an inspiring blank slate to cultivate their craft and create authentic works of art. Artist’s murals will completely cover the multi-family and commercial buildings, and we will be partnering with the neighborhood to form street art throughout the development.”

Turner said that after construction is completed, an art competition will be held. Later, a festival will offer Nashvillians a chance to see the murals for the first time.

“North Lights will allow for new art to be curated continually for the rest of the community’s existence,” she said.

Turner said the project, influenced in part by Mayor Megan Barry initiatives, will incorporate health and wellness features, reasonably priced housing, public green space, green buildings and artist housing. Also, North Lights will be designed as a transit oriented development.

“North Lights is designed to provide attainable housing through a variety of options, allowing the creative class to not only be able to afford to live in Nashville, but also to exist in their most creative state,” she said.

Aerial is co-developing the multifamily building with Nashville-based Imagine1 Co.

The architect is Centric Architecture (with Gina Emmanuel leading). Hawkins Partners is handling landscape architecture and land-planning duties. Catalyst Design Group will be the engineer. All three are Nashville based.

Turner said Aerial is looking to co-develop various component of North Lights with other local developers who share the vision of an arts-oriented project.

“Every developer knows the Trinity Lane area is Nashville’s new hottest frontier,” Turner said. “We are looking to get this project off the ground quickly and are interested in partnering with other developers/builders that align with the vision.”

