Artist rendering of renovation project.NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
A segment of historic downtown Nashville that has virtually looked the same for decades is scheduled to undergo renovations.
Fifth Avenue North, which is considered the epicenter of downtown between Church and Union streets, is known for its movie theatre and civil rights sit-ins at lunch counters in the 1960s.
The area currently features an arcade, several art galleries and urban living condos.
Upon completion of the project, the area will include new sidewalks, street lights and a canopy of lights high enough to be seen from Broadway.
"We'll be able to expand the art community, but also use that as an economic tool to help revitalize this block of the city and hopefully start connecting all of these art venues," explained downtown building owner Ron Gobbell.
Work on the sidewalks is expected to begin in upcoming weeks.
The renovation project, which is being paid for by Metro Publics Work, is expected to take about six months to complete.
