Getahn Ward

gward@tennessean.com

Effective last week, water and electricity services for 1418 Church St. were transferred to Deja of Vu of Nashville.

Jerry and Kellie Bryson sold the Events @ 1418 building, which they had owned since 2005, for $3 million.

Ordinance moving through the Metro Council seeks to remove adult entertainment as a use permitted by overlay in mixed-use intensive zoning districts.

On Oct. 4, a public hearing is expected in Metro Council on that apparent move to block Deja Vu from that block of Church Street.

The owners of Deja Vu Showgirls Nashville have paid $3 million for property near lingerie store Hustler Hollywood on Church Street with plans to relocate the strip club there, according to Metro records.



An ordinance moving through the Metro Council, however, seeks to block the strip club from moving to 1418 Church St. Passed on first reading Tuesday and deferred to Oct. 4 for a public hearing, the ordinance seeks to remove adult entertainment as a permitted use through overlay in that block, where planned new developments include a hotel, apartments and commercial space.

Deja Vu's owners bought the 0.14-acre Midtown property with a nearly 10,000-square-foot building on it from Jerry and Kellie Bryson. The owners of Main Event Productions LLC have operated their full-service catering and events company from what's known as the Events @ 1418 building while living in one of three condo units on the property and renting out the other two units.



The Brysons declined to comment on the sale of the property, which they had owned since 2005. Effective last week, water and electricity services for 1418 Church St. were transferred to Deja Vu of Nashville, according to Metro Water Services and Nashville Electric Service records.

Deja Vu has been seeking a new home since its longtime Demonbreun Street location was sold earlier this year to investors that plan a massive redevelopment project. Under that deal, Deja Vu had to find a new home and relocate by late July or early August 2017.



Downtown Metro Councilman Freddie O'Connell and at-large Councilman Bob Mendes introduced the ordinance, which the council passed on first reading last week.

O'Connell said the deferral to an Oct. 4 public hearing was intended to allow time for Metro Planning to weigh in on what is technically a zoning bill.

"For me, this is really what I hope is the start of a bigger conversation about adult entertainment in Nashville because we now have capacity for residential and family-friendly activities in Midtown and the urban core in a way we didn't have 15 or 16 years ago," O'Connell added. "People weren't interested in building multifamily residences in Midtown when the overlay was created. If these businesses are going to continue to operate, we can find space for them that isn't in anybody's backyard. And we're adding a lot more backyards in District 19 right now."

The ordinance O'Connell and others introduced suggests that high-density residential developments aren't compatible with adult entertainment and proposed removing adult entertainment as a use permitted by overlay in mixed-use intensive districts.

Business owner Lee O. Molette II, who plans a mixed-use project with apartments and commercial space near the property Deja Vu bought, said the strip club wouldn't be a good fit or positive reflection of growth and development of that Midtown area.

"With a community church, less than 100 feet away and over $50 million in upscale development planned for this area, I am pleased to support Metro Council members Freddie O’Connell and Bob Mendes in the pending legislation filed to prevent adult entertainment and/or sexually oriented businesses from this area’s overlay," Molette said.

Having businesses in Midtown that attract a vibrant and livable community means ensuring that adult entertainment and sexually oriented businesses aren't allowed to negatively impact communities where people live, work and play, he added.

"As much as the residents, businesses and developers in the Gulch area are anxious to see them (Deja Vu) leave, we are just as anxious to see an additional restaurant, coffee shop or a bed and breakfast come to Midtown instead," Molette said.

Reach Getahn Ward at 615-726-5968 and on Twitter @getahn.