ULI Spring Meeting, Nashville (May 2026)

WDC in Nashville - Women Leading Neighborhood Revival and Restoration Sunday May 3 – 2:30 PM to 7:00 PM

We explored in East Nashville to explore how women have rebuilt the community in the wake of natural disasters and restored its identity. We connected with local leaders advancing small‑scale development, retail entrepreneurship, live entertainment, and the thoughtful revitalization of Five Points. We discovered the neighborhood’s evolution, future opportunities for transit‑oriented multifamily housing, and the ongoing balance between historic preservation, limited housing inventory, and affordability for artists and long‑time residents. Our program was hosted by Hawkins Partners and feature Kaitlin Dastugue of Civic Design Center, Gina Emmanuel of Centric Architecture, Tracey Ford of EOA Architects, and Kim Hawkins of Hawkins Partners Inc.

Many thanks to our program hosts Hawkins Partners, SNAP and amazing Nashville planning team!

Working Schedule

  • 2:30 PM Welcome + Registration at Hawkins Partners
  • 3:00 PM Interactive Presentations
  • 4:00 PM East Nashville and Five Points Tour
  • 5:30 PM Reception + Closing Presentation
  • 7:00 PM End

WDC in Nashville - Women Setting the Stage With Creative Activation      Monday May 4 – 2:30 PM to 7:00 PM

We visited Nashville’s fast developing Wedgewood-Houston (WEHO) neighborhood, an industrial district transitioning into a walkable, mixed use community with vibrant arts and retail businesses. We discovered how women leaders founded SNAP 45-years ago to preserve WEHO’s residential character and continue to shape its development with new multifamily housing, unique alley ways and adaptive reuse of former industrial buildings. Known for its murals, galleries, and raw energy, WEHO is an evolving area, holding onto the creative grit that defines it. Our program was hosted by SNAP (South Nashville Action People) and feature its Board Member Caroleen Wilkes of STRAATEGIES, Elam Freeman of Ojas Partners, Mary Miller of HDLA, and Anna Yoder of HASTINGS Architecture.

Many thanks to our program hosts SNAP, Hawkins Partners and amazing Nashville planning team!

Working Schedule

  • 2:30 PM Welcome + Registration at SNAP Wedgewood Houston Community Center
  • 3:00 PM Presentations, Conversations and Q&A
  • 4:00 PM WEHO Project Tour
  • 5:30 PM Reception + Final Presentation
  • 7:00 PM End