50 Families at J.C. Napier Homes to Be Moved as Demolition Starts Next Summer

The Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) plans to displace roughly 50 families in the first phase of the Envision Napier redevelopment project, with demolition set to begin on the corner of Lewis and Cannon streets next summer. Edward Henley, a developer on the project, shared the timeline during a community meeting in late October. The project, also known as the Napier Sudekum Transformation Plan, will redevelop Napier Place and Tony Sudekum Apartments into a mixed-use community featuring a 1-for-1 replacement of 821 federally subsidized units.

Nicole Vaughn, a community leader, noted that the word "displaced" carries weight for residents. She stated that MDHA promised not to use that term when the project was first introduced in 2017, saying the agency told residents to "build then tear down." Vaughn said she alerted District 17 councilmember Terry Vo to the immediate relocation of these 50 families, which led to the October meeting where MDHA representatives answered resident questions.

Curtis Thomas, MDHA's Director of Planning and Development, explained that the original planning phase involved 60 meetings over 20 months, including resident-only sessions and town halls. He emphasized that these meetings were designed as safe spaces for residents to ask detailed questions without a large audience. Jamie Berry, MDHA's Chief of Staff, said the current timeline is slower than the similar Envision Cayce project, which has completed nine residential buildings since 2013. Berry attributed the delay to the high turnover of residents in the community over the past decade.

MDHA received Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency in September, a move that will allow construction for phase one to begin. The agency finalized the phase one plan last week and shared a mock-up of the final project. Berry said letters will be sent to impacted families later this month. A relocation team has been hired to help families with the move, which will be at no cost to residents. Some families will be moved to other units within the community, and all displaced residents will have the chance to move back into the redeveloped units when they are available.

Community advocates express concern that residents are not receiving enough direct communication. Sterling Wright, who grew up in the J.C. Napier Homes, said many residents are unaware of the changes until he knocks on their doors. He noted that monthly safety meetings often have more police officers than residents. "How are the residents really knowing what's going on?" Wright asked. He added that MDHA needs to prioritize communication to show it cares about the community's history.

Vaughn said residents are coming to her group, Napier Kitchen Table, in a state of panic and confusion. She argued that community partners need to be included in the conversation to help break down complex information for residents who may struggle with literacy. "There's just a lot of unknown and that is frustrating for people," Vaughn said. She hopes MDHA will incorporate community meetings early next year to address concerns about transportation, school placement, and the move itself.

Councilmember Terry Vo said she aims to bridge the gap between MDHA and the Napier community. "We are finally making traction on the Transformation Napier project," Vo said. She hopes the latest update provides an opportunity for MDHA to re-engage with residents through direct conversations about their expectations and the path forward.