Furious Nashville locals say they are being pushed out of their city as wealthy residents and major businesses continue to move to Tennessee from blue states.
Nashville, once known for its country music scene, has seen a population boom in recent years, and large corporations like Oracle have decided to move their headquarters there.
Attracted by lower property costs and taxes, Amazon also announced it would establish major operations in downtown Nashville, and New York money manager AllianceBernstein said it would move its headquarters to the city, the Wall Street Journal.
In just 23 years, the Nashville metropolitan region has gone from 1.3 million residents to 2.1 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, increasing property values and the cost of living.
Still, although real estate in Nashville has become more expensive, it remains relatively low compared to other major U.S. cities. The median home sale price at the end of February was $414,012, compared to the national average of $327,667.
Furious Nashville locals say they are being pushed out of their city as wealthy residents and major businesses continue to move to Tennessee.
Earlier this month, Oracle founder Larry Ellison announced plans to move the software giant’s corporate headquarters from Kansas to Nashville.
According to a 2021 report from The Tennessean, the company paid $254 million for just over 60 acres of riverfront property in Nashville.
However, just five years ago, a median home in Nashville cost $290,983.
Remacia Smith, who grew up in Nashville, told the Wall Street Journal that she was recently forced to move to the suburbs with her five children.
“It almost doesn’t look like Nashville anymore,” he said. ‘Wow, Lord, I wish people would stop moving here.’
Meanwhile, lifelong resident John Michael Morgan, for his part, told the outlet that he worries about Nashville maintaining its essence.
“Nashville has always been a big city that felt like a small city,” Morgan said. “Now we’re a big city that feels like a big city.”
Earlier this month, Oracle founder Larry Ellison announced plans to move the software giant’s corporate headquarters from Kansas to Nashville.
In just 23 years, the Nashville metropolitan region has gone from 1.3 million residents to 2.1 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Broadway in downtown Nashville, Tennessee
Real estate agent Jack Gaughan told the WSJ that he expects prices to rise due to increased demand from the arrival of Oracle workers.
Ellison said the decision was based on a push by the company to gain a greater presence in the healthcare industry.
According to the Nashville Health Care Council, Tennessee’s capital has more than 900 companies with 550,000 employees working in the health care industry. HCA Healthcare and Change Healthcare are among the large companies based in the growing city.
“It’s the center of the industry we’re most concerned about, which is the healthcare industry,” the CEO said.
‘It’s a great place to raise a family. It has a unique and vibrant culture. As we surveyed our employees, a large number of employees, Nashville ticked all the boxes.
Lower Broadway, a renowned entertainment district for country music
Downtown Nashville seen above from behind Nissan Stadium
Construction cranes on high-rise condo buildings in downtown Nashville
‘We want to be part of the community. Our people love it here. And we believe it is the center of our future.”
According to a report by The Tennessean, in 2021, the company paid $254 million for just over 60 acres of riverfront property in Nashville.
The Tennessean reported that the move to Nashville is expected to create 8,500 new jobs by the end of 2031.
The project is also expected to generate nearly 11,500 ancillary jobs and 10,000 temporary positions during construction.
Ellison said plans for the riverfront campus include a community clinic, a concert hall, a hotel and a restaurant.
Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Kristen Louelle Gaffney, who is married to NFL star Tyler Gaffney, is leaving Los Angeles for Nashville, citing progressive policies and high taxes.
The mother of three said she is tired of shelling out tax dollars that do little to alleviate the housing crisis and has no intention of supporting Mayor Karen Bass’s LA4LA program.
Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Kristen Gaffney is leaving California after the mayor of Los Angeles launched a campaign asking the wealthy to help fund housing for the homeless.
Gaffney, who is married to NFL star Tyler Gaffney (pictured), is moving to Tennessee with her family amid the growing number of homeless people in California.
Bass called on the “more fortunate” to help fund “affordable” long-term housing for its homeless population of 46,000 amid the growing epidemic.
“Frankly, I feel a little taken advantage of when I, too, had to fight and create my own opportunities through hard work and education,” Gaffney, a San Diego resident, told Fox.
‘Why should anyone have a piece of my hard work?’
Gaffney, who counts Olivia Culpo among her close friends, complained that California residents are already doing enough to help without seeing much progress.
“The more we claim, and I use the word claim very strongly, that we are helping these people, the situation seems to get worse,” he added, placing the blame on Governor Gavin Newsom, as well as Joe Biden.
You’ve already taken enough from us and you’re only showing me that it’s getting worse.
‘Homelessness in Los Angeles, there is nothing like it. I’ve been to the East Coast, I’ve been to the West Coast, I’ve been to the Bay Area. “This is the dirtiest thing I have seen in our cities.”
California’s 2023-24 budget provided $3.3 billion for various housing and homelessness programs, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
