Nashville tourism leaders are warning a perceived "out of control" homelessness problem has hurt convention businesses in other cities as they get behind a proposal that would close a downtown Nashville park where many homeless people gather.

They're also pointing to issues involving the homeless in downtown Nashville, including an alleged assault of a convention attendee earlier this month at Church Street Park.

The visitor was allegedly assaulted in the face with a "weighted milk jug" by a homeless person, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. CEO Butch Spyridon and Chairman Ronnie Smith wrote in a letter to Mayor David Briley.

The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. cited the example to explain their support for a proposal backed by Briley to transfer the park to prominent developer Tony Giarratana and build a replacement park and new homeless service center elsewhere downtown.

"San Francisco just lost a major medical conference due to perceived 'out of control' homeless issues, specifically, threatening behavior and mental illness on display," Spyridon and Smith wrote. "Industry and meeting planners are taking notice nationally. The issue will have a negative effect on the city's hospitality success if not addressed."

Parks board committee to consider plan Friday

The Church Street Park Acquisition Committee is taking up the land swap proposal Friday morning ahead of a full Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation vote Tuesday. The proposal needs Metro Council approval to move forward.

In the letter, the tourism officials pointed to Nashville's significant tourism growth in the past eight years that has made the sector the second largest in the city and state.

The land swap deal would allow Giarratana to build a condo tower where the park stands. He would invest $5 million in street and sidewalk upgrades on Anne Dallas Dudley Boulevard.

Metro is issuing $25 million in general obligation bonds to construct a new building that would include 100 permanent supportive housing apartments for homeless people and a services center on Second Avenue North, staffed by homeless outreach organizations.

As part of a deal with Giarratana, the city would use an estimated $2 million in annual tax revenue from the new tower on Church Street to cover debt service for the homeless services center. Giarratana would also offer project development and construction oversight of the housing and services center "at no charge."

Councilman: 'Conversation deserves more than stories about milk jugs'

At-Large Councilman Bob Mendes, who is among council members pushing for greater oversight related to city property deals, criticized the tourism officials' emphasis on tourism dollars.

"That letter talks about moving homelessness around downtown for business reasons," Mendes said. "Nashville needs better solutions than that. This conversation deserves more than stories about milk jugs and lost conventions."

Spyridon said the alleged incident with a milk jug occurred Oct. 16 at Church Street Park. There has also been an increase in panhandling, and visitors corporation members have asked the organization to be more active on homelessness issues, Spyridon said.

Metro Nashville Police Department was not immediately able to locate a report on the alleged incident based on the limited information provided.

The visitors corporation supports the land deal because it removes the "failed park" in a heavily trafficked area, but also because it provides more services for homeless individuals, Spyridon said.

CVC seeks to be 'part of the solution'

"Sticking our head in the sand and just complaining is not OK," Spyridon said. "On the other hand, we want to be sympathetic to the plight of others and try to help on the solution side. ... It's not just get rid of them, it's how do we become part of the solution?"

Spyridon said the land swap deal would end up relocating homeless individuals from Church Street Park, but it would also enhance services addressing homelessness.

"We need people coming up with solutions," Spyridon said. "It can be done right, it can be impactful."

While Spyridon acknowledged that the homeless population in San Francisco is significantly bigger than in Nashville, he said cities should be proactive at confronting issues before they become larger challenges. "What's going on is not good and it's not getting better," he said.

For Nashville homeless advocate Chad Hindman, the business argument to move homeless populations carries less weight than the basic needs of local citizens. He welcomes more housing units and a services center, but said he does not want those additions overstated as a solution.

"My fear is that they are overselling that," Hindman said. "It's another example of, 'here are some scraps.'"

Reach Jamie McGee at 615-259-8071 and on Twitter at @JamieMcGee_. Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236, jgarrison@tennessean.com and on Twitter @joeygarrison.