The lack of affordable housing in the Gulch is being seen as a challenge by some. The Laurel House Lofts are currently the only affordable housing building in the Gulch, although several of the other residential buildings have plans for affordable units within each one.  Unfortunately the Gulch district has run out of TIF that was utilized in the building of many of its high-rise residential units. Affordable housing projects like the Laurel House Apartments are largely dependent on tax credit financing.

 

Paul Johnson with the Housing Fund, whose offices are located in Laurel House, said the rent at Laurel House is $625 and cannot be increased. However, for residents living on fixed incomes the issue becomes parking fees and property tax increases as the Gulch is continuing its build-out.

 

Other challenges for the Gulch include lack of parking, connectivity issues to Downtown and other neighborhoods, and the concern that the Gulch may become a ‘lifestyle community’. Dirk Melton of MarketStreet Enterprises acknowledged that it is a challenge to create a true mixed-use community that “local Nashvillians will embrace and treat as their own neighborhood."