NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — During a meeting with city officials Thursday, Metro Council members learned ten buildings on 2nd Avenue in downtown Nashville have been deemed unsafe, many of which are no longer fit for occupancy, following the Christmas Day bombing, according to Councilman Bob Mendes.
Those facts were evident as members of the media were given their first chance to walk on the road that is now almost unrecognizable. Just a block away from the ruins of the intentional bombing is Broadway, packed with New Year's Eve tourists.
Investigators have not released any analysis of the bomb's components, but the RV's explosion was powerful enough to leave a crater in the pavement where it was parked.
In the days following the bombing, Mayor John Cooper said a total of 41 buildings, which housed businesses, sustained damage from the blast and he expected that number to grow. Some buildings are shells of what they used to be and others have only missing or shattered windows.
Metro Codes Administration Director Bill Herbert told council members his team has inspected every building for safety and structural integrity. They believe a total of seven buildings are not safe for occupancy and three are not safe due to risk of falling glass. Chief Drake told them at least two buildings could collapse at any time, according to Councilman Mendes.
Every other structure has been deemed by Codes to be safe for use and occupancy. Orange signs were placed on each "unsafe" building to restrict occupancy.
Metro Fire Chief William Swann answered questions and told council cadaver dogs hit on something in the buildings at risk of collapsing, and there could be remains from bomer, Anthony Warner, still in the debris. He said that makes clean-up in those areas challenging as they move forward.
Metro Water Servies Director Scott Potter also took questions and concerns surrounding the plan for addressing the needed sewer replacements in the area. He said it will be a large undertaking and could potentially expand well outside the bombing site or 2nd Avenue.
Mayor Cooper told council members that the city needs to be committed to not just replacing the buildings, but also replacing the "look and feel" of the historic area, according to Councilman Mendes.
Read Mendes' full Twitter thread of the meeting.
Council got an email around noon that Mayor and Chief Drake would give the Council a briefing at 3pm..not sure whether media was alerted.
— Bob Mendes (@mendesbob) December 31, 2020
