RCA Studio A Named Among Nashville’s Most Endangered Historical Properties

30 Music Square West. Photo: Stephanie Saujon

RCA Studio A and historic Printer’s Alley are among this year’s “Nashville Nine,” a list of nine structures or areas considered to be the most endangered properties in Davidson Country. The list was announced Tuesday morning (Sept. 23) at RCA Studio A.

Speakers at the announcement included Nashville resident Mike Wolfe (of American Pickers), Historic Nashville president Melissa Wyllie, Nashville Nine Committee Chair Brian Tibbs, and Ben Folds co-manager Sharon Corbitt-House. Nominations were presented by members of the community, with committee members acting to narrow nominations down to the nine properties considered most endangered in the Nashville area.

“Historic Nashville believes historic preservation is an essential part of our community,” said Wyllie. “This year, the community has said loud and clear that, as a city, we need to find a way to grow that also preserves the historic places that make Nashville unique.”

Representatives were on hand from Save Studio A, which announced www.savestudioa.com is up and running, ready to welcome persons passionate about saving the studio and finding an alternative to Bravo Development’s plan to turn the building housing the studio into condominiums.

“They are coming in here and tearing buildings down and building whatever their vision is [for RCA Studio A and the Nashville area], not what the community’s vision is,” said Wolfe. “We have to give a voice to what we want our vision to be.”

Bravo Development’s Tim Reynolds states that the event does not alter development plans. “We have already investigated every way to preserve the property but could not find a feasible solution. We have offered the property for sale to those in the community who are interested in preserving it or who are in the preservation business. However, to date, no one has stepped forward with an offer.  I would encourage those who desire to preserve 30 Music Square West to channel their energy and efforts into raising the necessary capital to purchase the property. At the end of the day, whether the property is renovated or not, it must produce a positive cash flow. This property has remained on the market for a quarter century without a buyer and is now operating at a loss. No investor or owner can continue to operate a property at a loss, and it is not reasonable to ask Bravo Development to do so.”

The 2014 ‘Nashville Nine’ list includes:

1. Albert Samuel Warren House, located at 1812 Broadway (built around 1888)
2. Belair Mansion, located at 2250 Lebanon Road (constructed from 1832-1838)
3. Coca Cola Bottling Plant, located at 1525 Church Street (built in the 1920s)
4. Hamilton Church Cemetery, located at 3105 Hamilton Church Road (built around 1831)
5. Hillsboro High School, located at 3812 Hillsboro Pike (built in 1954)
6. Printers Alley Historic District, located at the 200 block of 3rd Ave. N. and 4th Ave. N., and 300 block of Church Street. (represents buildings built from 1874-1929)
7. RCA Studio A, located at 30 Music Square West (built in 1964)
8. Sunnyside Outbuildings, located at 3000 Granny White Pike (built in the early 19th century)
9. Trail West Building, located at 217-221 Broadway (built early 1900s)

For a full history on each structure on the list, visit historicnashvilleinc.com.