Cayce Transformation

Smith Gee Studio (SGS) led the master planning for Cayce Place, Nashville’s largest public housing redevelopment. Partnering with EJP Consulting Group, SGS played a key role in community engagement, organizing dozens of stakeholder meetings, resident focus groups, and a design charrette that drew nearly 150 participants. This inclusive process helped build trust and collaboration among residents, the Public Housing Authority, and surrounding neighbors.

Through this engagement, the team established clear project goals: 1-for-1 unit replacement, zero displacement, and the deconcentration of poverty. The resulting plan is bold and forward-thinking—aiming to transform Cayce Place into a sustainable, mixed-income, mixed-use community that serves as a welcoming gateway into historic East Nashville.

So far, the redevelopment has delivered over 500 new housing units and a charter school. Building on this momentum, SGS was later commissioned to support key next steps, including rezoning, and creating detailed design guidelines.

YEAR:

2014

LOCATION:

Nashville, TN

ARCHITECT:

Smith Gee Studio

CLIENT:

Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA)

SERVICES:

Master Planning

AWARDS:

  • TN Chapter of American Planning Association (TAPA), Outstanding Plan for Large Jurisdictions, 2016