The clash between Cheekwood Estate and Gardens and a group of its Belle Meade neighbors over traffic and parking plans isn’t going away anytime soon.
A month ago, Cheekwood officials warned that a flurry of legal action demanding work stop on a $25 million parking pavilion presents an “existential threat” for the historic estate and botanical garden. The Belle Meade Highlands neighborhood group, dubbed Neighbors for Safety, filed suit June 30 following a legal appeal with the Metro Board of Zoning Appeals.
Cheekwood’s efforts to construct a $25 million parking pavilion and comply with a city mandate to transition overflow parking off city-owned property by the end of 2027 hang in the balance, as officials say construction must proceed as quickly
as possible to meet the deadline. Meanwhile, the neighborhood group demands Cheekwood first come up with a solution to address a high volume of traffic through the neighborhood.
Now, Neighbors for Safety is making another demand: immediately pause blasting work on the parking pavilion until either the pending lawsuit or zoning appeal is heard and resolved.
That’s according to a July 21 letter from the group to Cheekwood officials, voicing concerns about how blasting could affect neighboring homes.
“Blasting is the one aspect of this project that cannot be undone,” the letter reads. “If neighboring homes are damaged before the courts determine whether this project may lawfully proceed, the damage to our homes will be permanent.”
The neighbors are asking Cheekwood to wait a “short time for the legal process to run its course.” But that is further complicated by another, separate lawsuit from the descendants of Luke Lea — the man who deeded the land that became Percy Warner Park to Nashville in 1927.
That suit, which is unrelated to Cheekwood's parking pavilion project, aims to block a potential access road to Cheekwood from Highway 100 that could run through a portion of the public park bordering Cheekwood to the south.
That suit has remained in limbo since September 2025.
Cheekwood, for its part, said it’s legally permitted for its construction of a new parking facility, including the current blasting phase. To get a blasting permit in Nashville, applicants are required to complete a site inspection and acquire proof of insurance.
“Blasting operations began today without issue,” a July 21 statement from Cheekwood reads. “Safety is our highest priority, and work is being carried out by experienced professionals in accordance with all applicable regulations and safety protocols. We will continue to communicate with nearby residents as the project progresses and remain committed to being a responsible, transparent neighbor.”
In its letter, Neighbors for Safety is arguing that if Cheekwood is confident it has the legal authority to proceed, “there is no meaningful prejudice in waiting for those issues to be decided before taking an irreversible step that could permanently affect the homes of your neighbors.”
It's not clear whether any of those homes are actually at risk of damage.
A resolution of the zoning appeal is likely to be the first piece of the puzzle to fall into place, as Nashville’s Board of Zoning Appeals is expected to hear the case in August. If the board's ruling falls in favor of Neighbors for Safety, it will effectively halt construction progress in its tracks.
The nonprofit warns that costs to maintain the property won’t go away if Cheekwood's forced to close to the public. Cheekwood President and CEO Jane MacLeod said it costs $46,000 a day to keep the gates open, all while approximately 65% of Cheekwood’s annual operating revenue depends on gate admissions.
“It is important to contextualize this daily cost because Cheekwood, unlike many similar nonprofits, was originally formed without an endowment,” a statement from Cheekwood reads. “Our operating model, which goes to great lengths to make Cheekwood a place where everyone can feel welcome, relies on the public.”
Austin Hornbostel is the Metro reporter for The Tennessean. Have a question about local government you want an answer to? Reach him with questions, tips and story ideas at ahornbostel@tennessean.com.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Cheekwood clash continues as neighbors demand pause on blasting work
