‘How do we grow together?’: Hermès opening in Wedgewood-Houston amid neighborhood’s rapid growth

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood is quickly becoming a place for apartment living, food and fashion. In fact, one of the world’s most exclusive brands, Hermès, announced plans to set up shop next to the SoHo House.

Over a decade ago, much of Wedgewood-Houston was a storage lot and industrial buildings.

“It was empty lots everywhere here,” explained WeHo resident Mark Shvartsman. “The T3 building wasn’t here; we had to go through all the construction.”

Now, Wedgewood-Houston, also known as WeHo, has created a new name for itself as one of the most “up and coming” neighborhoods in the U.S. by TravelMag.

“There are bars and restaurants,” Shvartsman said. “It feels like a very cool, hip place to be. They put the soccer stadium up the street, so on soccer days you have people walking up and down this street, and it feels like a very happening place.”

The online magazine TravelMag highlighted the neighborhood’s diverse things to do and the number of young professionals moving to the area, in demand of a one-bedroom or studio apartment, as the reason for its placement.

However, with growth comes construction. According to some in the area, the new businesses and apartment complexes have brought in new residents while pushing others out.

“There used to be, I think, some lower-income housing,” Shvartsman said. “That’s gone. It was like trailer parks but they bought that out. There has definitely been people pushed out of Nashville, in general, for sure.”

“You do need to make sure that the people who have been here do not feel like they’re just being pushed away,” Middle Tennessee resident Kecia L. Jones expressed. “How do we grow together?”

Metro Councilmember Terry Vo told News 2 she has worked with various developers to maintain Wedgewood-Houston’s affordable housing.

“Local businesses here are down 25, 30% of their revenue,” said Vo. “I think that’s very problematic, and I really hope people will hear that and come and visit the local businesses here.”

“Remember who built Wedgewood-Houston, it was the artists,” Vo explained. “And so I really hope that we continue to keep pushing for those individuals and for the working class. They deserve to live near the schools that they work at. They deserve just as much as anyone else.”

Vo said the balancing act in WeHo will continue with a lean towards the neighborhood’s beginnings.

“I think, for me, the balance is how do people and businesses come into the neighborhood really respect and honor the history, and listen to the people that came before us,” Vo said.