News
Nashville, Tenn. (March 17, 2026) — First Evangelical Lutheran Church has announced that it is offering for sale a 0.76-acre property located at 121 & 125 8th Avenue South, creating a rare opportunity for high-rise development in the heart of Downtown Nashville.
Situated just steps from Broadway, Bridgestone Arena, and Music City Center, the site occupies a highly visible corner within one of the city’s most active tourism, entertainment, and convention corridors. The property currently operates as a surface parking lot and is positioned within Nashville’s SoBro district, where zoning allows for vertical development potential. As-is, the site can accommodate development up to 30 stories, and the church is actively seeking bonus height entitlements that could allow for up to 60 stories. The parcel being offered for sale is adjacent to the church’s historic sanctuary, which will continue operating from its current building.
Church leaders say the decision to explore the potential sale follows a period of prayerful and thoughtful evaluation about how best to sustain the church’s mission and ministry for the long term while caring for both current and future generations. No development plans have been finalized, and the church remains in an early phase of listening, learning, and evaluating potential paths forward for the property.
“As Nashville continues to grow and evolve, the church must also adapt,” said Pastor Travis Meier of First Evangelical Lutheran Church. “This opportunity will enable the church to strengthen our missions and programs to meet the ever-growing needs within our community.”
Church leadership emphasized that congregants remain central to the process, including ongoing discernment and transparent communication as leaders explore the future of the property. In any potential outcome, the church is committed to ensuring adequate parking and access while thoughtfully stewarding the resources entrusted to it. Should a sale ultimately occur, any proceeds would be reinvested to support the church’s mission, preserve its historic facility, and strengthen its ability to serve future generations.
The church has engaged Foundry Commercial to market the property. Foundry’s Nashville-based Investment Advisory Group, which specializes in investment sales and capital markets advisory, is leading the offering and brings deep relationships with developers and investors across the country. The firm’s Mission Property Group, which focuses on faith-based, educational and nonprofit organizations, is also involved in the process, drawing on more than four decades of experience advising non-profit institutions through complex real estate decisions.
“This is a truly unique opportunity in the heart of one of the nation’s most dynamic downtown markets,” said Ally Lanahan, Senior Vice President at Foundry Commercial. “Our team is honored to work alongside the church to thoughtfully explore what the future of this site could hold.”
As the church continues its discernment process, Foundry Commercial will guide the real estate aspects of the offering and serve as the primary point of contact for inquiries related to the property. Interested parties may contact Ally Lanahan, Rick Helton, or Andrew Maxwell at 615-997-0010 or via email at ally.lanahan@foundrycommercial.com, rick.helton@foundrycommercial.com, or andrew.maxwell@foundrycommercial.com.
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