Buckhingam Cos. breaks ground, names Midtown project

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Seigenthaler Public Relations

A rendering of Aertson Midtown. The two-acre mixed-use project, located in Midtown, broke ground today.

Indianapolis-based developer Buckingham Cos. broke ground this afternoon on its two-acre, mixed-use project in Midtown, which will open in phases with an expected completion in late 2016.

The 17-story, 600,000-square-foot development will include 350 apartments, a 180-room full-service Kimpton hotel, 630 parking spaces and 35,000 square feet of ground-level retail space, which could include an urban grocery store, according to Buckingham Cos.

"Today's ground breaking is the culmination of the dedication, insights and responsiveness of many talented individuals," Scott Travis, senior vice president of development at Buckingham Cos., said in a release. "We have been humbled by the excitement and enthusiasm for this project, not to mention the involvement and contributions of those who know Nashville best."

The company also revealed the project's name: Aertson Midtown, which is a tribute to it's nearby neighbor Vanderbilt University; Jan Aertson was the great-great-grandfather of Cornelius Vanderbilt.

"Aertson Midtown pays homage to a legendary family that set in motion its own lineage of thinkers, creators, givers and artists—much like those who can be found in the midtown neighborhood today," Travis said in the release. "Aertson Midtown will be a transformative hub of living and entertainment in Nashville and we believe it will create its own lasting legacy as a cultural and creative gathering place for the city."

Aertson Midtown is being developed and built by Buckingham Cos. in collaboration with Nashville-based Crain Construction Co. The architect for Aertson Midtown is Torti Gallas and Partners, based in Washington, D.C., and the engineering contractor is Littlejohn Engineering Associates of Nashville.

The project is located at the intersection of 21st Avenue South, Broadway and Division Street.