What it’s like when an entire Nashville apartment community must move

Tasha A.F. Lemley

Pastor Glenda Sutton enthusiastically welcomes former Berkshire residents to their new home at Birchstone

Residents of Berkshire Place Apartments in East Nashville are finally moving — years after they were first told their units would need to be vacated and either renovated or torn down.

Last summer, they say they were asked to pack their bags to relocate to Birchstone Village — a brand new, 228-unit affordable housing property in Madison that’s been in the works for roughly four years. Because of the pandemic, a complicated mix of a half-dozen sources of funding and tax credits — plus applications and waiting periods — developers say finalizing the project has been a juggling act.

But it went live in early February.

This Is Nashville’s managing editor, Tasha A.F. Lemley, followed along with the process, learning what’s at stake when an entire community must move. Listen in by clicking the link above.

Tasha A.F. Lemley

Ms. Sylvia Wiggins sends some praise for her new apartment at Birchstone Village

Tasha A.F. Lemley

Ms. Joqueisha Williams says she and her two special needs children have long been ready for the move from the ailing Berkshire Apartments to a brand new unit 7 miles north at Birchstone Village in Madison

More: Nashville Developer Commits To Supporting Low-Income Tenants In Relocation To Madison