An Asphalt Problem
For years, a small paved area sat in front of East Nashville’s Dose Coffee, blending into the streetscape– but like many inherited design features in older areas, it was generating bigger problems than met the eye.
Drivers used it for illegal and hazardous curb-running during traffic backups, and it funneled stormwater runoff into the street, contributing to localized flooding.
The lot on which this corner sat predates Metro Nashville’s Low Impact Development standards, which were put in place in 2021 to reduce flooding and infrastructure damage after heavy storms. Now, new developments have to install stormwater control measures (like permeable pavement or tree wells) that absorb 80% of the first inch of rainfall.
Outdated land use like this is a common sight in South Inglewood: 33.9% of the neighborhood is covered by impervious surfaces like asphalt, leaving few places for rain to soak into the ground.
South Inglewood has also experienced a ~2.5% loss in tree canopy in recent years — equivalent to almost 4 acres. These issues combined paint a picture of a neighborhood that is increasingly struggling with climate issues like flash flooding and urban heat.
A Project Rooted in Relationships
Depave projects frequently begin with conversations with community members who know their neighborhood best. In May 2025, Anna Dearman (a South Inglewood resident and Walking & Biking Manager at NDOT) identified the paved corner outside at Riverside Drive and McGavock Pikeas a potential site for a new green space.
She connected the Cumberland River Compact with Dan Heller of Heller Properties, who has been investing in Riverside Village and exploring ways to improve safety and accessibility– especially for pedestrians and cyclists.
By asking a simple question– What else could this space do?– Anna, Dan, and the Compact began to give shape to the Riverside Village depave project. They realized that depaving the corner could:
- Align with Dan’s ongoing commitment to improve the pedestrian environment in Riverside Village
- Compliment NDOT’s Multimodal Mondays initiative, which encourages residents to reach Riverside Village by walking, biking, transit, or micromobility in exchange for discounts at local businesses
- Further the Compact’s goal of improving water quality in nearby Cooper Creek, a tributary of the Cumberland River.
Rather than accepting the asphalt as permanent, the partners embraced a simple idea: if a space isn’t helping the neighborhood, maybe it can offer something better. This paved corner could instead capture rainfall, support pollinators, and serve as a visual cue that arriving here on foot or bike should feel natural and accessible.
Powered by Community and Corporate Support
Garney Construction, an employee-owned company and long-term supporter of the Compact, contributed financial support and skilled volunteer hours that allowed this depave project to move from concept to reality.
The Compact has a longstanding relationship with Garney, who have regularly volunteered at tree plantings and stream cleanups across Davidson County. Partnering on a depave project through the Compact’s corporate team building program was a logical next step, as it let Garney’s employees apply their construction expertise while making measurable environmental change.
Garney’s superintendent, Justin Hayes, led the crew on construction day. With input from Compact staff, they excavated the asphalt down to 12 inches and added new soil, preparing the site for planting. Several Garney staff members spoke highly of the project, including one who brought his 14-year-old to see the work firsthand. As Justin said, “We’re used to building things up. It was special to take something away and make room for what’s coming next. It felt good to do this as a crew and as families.”
A Small Site with a Big Impact
The beauty of this project lies in what didn’t change: not a single parking space was lost. Depave projects remind us that the way things are isn’t always the way they have to be. After Garney removed the asphalt, the Cumberland River Compact Field Team installed a gravel rim around the project area and planted a carefully selected blend of native grasses and flowers, including little bluestem, crested/blue flag iris, purple coneflower, yellow tickseed ‘uptick,’ and white-wood aster. As these plants fill out this spring, they will bring vibrant color and rich texture to the intersection, transforming a lifeless space into a rain garden bursting with color.
By reimagining an overlooked sliver of pavement, the Compact, Garney Construction, and Heller Properties embraced the idea that even the smallest changes can unlock meaningful improvements in safety, stormwater management, and neighborhood identity. This transformed space will now capture an estimated 10,736.69 gallons of rainfall annually, protect pedestrians, and signal that Riverside Village is investing in its future — one square foot at a time.
Impactful change in the community doesn’t require a lot of acreage — it only requires imagination and the desire to come together for a common goal.
Interested in bringing the depave initiative to your neighborhood? The Compact offers free consultations for potential sites. Fill out the depave consultation form to start a conversation.