Gulch business group/Metro "unit" lobbies Metro CM Gilmore for convention center

This afternoon, 24 hours before the event, Dist. 19 CM Erica Gilmore sent out an announcement to her constituents about the community meeting she is co-hosting with Dist. 2 CM Frank Harrison at the North Nashville Police Precinct regarding the proposed convention center.

Less than an hour later, a board member with the Gulch Business Improvement District, a non-profit that promotes business in the Gulch, replied to CM Gilmore expressing the organization's support for the new convention center:

Thanks for the invite.

I am on the board of the Gulch Business Improvement District and we discussed this matter collectively as a board last month and we definitely support the new convention center and believe it is a definite asset to our city.

What is your and Councilman Harrison’s position on the new convention center?

Thanks,

Michael Lindseth
NextGen Properties, LLC

According to a June 2009 audit of the Gulch Business Improvement District, the organization is considered a "component unit of Metro" due to its fiscal dependence on Metro government. GBID was established "to administer special assessment revenues collected by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County ... under a memorandum of understanding with Metro."

Lindseth's reply to Gilmore was also copied to CM Harrison, CM Jason Holleman, State Senator Thelma Harper and a host of Gulch business leaders. That group included:

• Dirk Melton of MarketStreet Enterprises, which takes credit for forming the obviously well-connected GBID
• Tommy Pierce, founder of A+ Storage
• Brenda Buffett of Buffett Design Studio
• Burgin Dossett, VP of Crosland Tennessee
• David Bohan of Bohan Advertising
• Loretta Owens, Executive Director of The Housing Fund, which developed the Gulch's Laurel House Apartments; current CM Erik Cole is a board member

Not sure yet whether CM Gilmore replied to the Gulch business/Metro "unit" interest group.


UPDATE: More from the 2009 audit regarding GBID's dependence on Metro government:

The Organization receives substantially all of its revenue from its agreement with Metro through local government special assessments. Should Metro discontinue this arrangement, the Organization would no longer be able to continue its operations without obtaining alternative sources of revenue.