Providence Park
A Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity Community.
Providence Park is a model affordable housing community in southeastern Nashville—Davidson County—developed by Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity (NAHFH).
The 43-acre site, located between Harding Place and Interstate 24, was made possible through a generous land donation from Centex Corporation. It represents the largest land donation ever given to NAHFH during its 21-year history and one of the largest to Habitat for Humanity International.
This 140-home subdivision is a showcase of the positive impact homeownership and the establishment of a community can have on individuals, families, neighborhoods and cities.
The name Providence Park has a historical significance to the area, taken from “Lake Providence Church” founded by Reverend Larry Thompson in 1868. Following the Civil War, former slaves lived on the Sam Overton plantation seven miles south of Nashville along Nolensville Road. Rev. Thompson selected this name because he saw the “providence of God” at work to bring him to this community of newly freed slaves and free men who were praying for a minister to come and help them establish a church.The name is fitting for this place since new Habitat homeowners, who have worked and persevered, see the fruits of their efforts as “an act of divine providence.”
The homes in Providence Park are single family, three- to four- bedroom frame/brick homes between 1,000–1,400 square feet with 1½–2 baths. A variety of attractive exterior facades of materials including brick and wood trim are available. The average appraised value is between $111,000–115,000, very comparable to those appraised recently in the Harding Place and Interstate 24 area. Before construction even begins, NAHFH has to raise $30,000 per lot for land costs in addition to the funds required to build each home.
The residents of Providence Park represent a diversity of races, religions and ethnic backgrounds. Outreach to prospective homeowners targets a mix of income levels in NAHFH’s effort to create a sustainable neighborhood.
NAHFH has developed a five-acre park within Providence Park with the support of local corporations.The addition of this park has enabled NAHFH to build a model neighborhood for affordable housing.The park serves the community by providing a place for neighbors to gather and enjoy nature. The park includes walking trails and play areas that are handicap-accessible. Normally these amenities would only be available in prestigious, upscale developments. With the donation of the park to Metro Parks, NAHFH increased the green space in Nashville’s southeast community. The heavily wooded area of Providence Park was planned with 30 percent open space, far more than the 15 percent required. The density, projected at 3.22 lots per acre, provides an expansive neighborhood atmosphere. Architectural styles accommodate the existing income and demographic diversity of the surrounding neighborhood.
Providence Park residents manage their homeowners’ association with Habitat’s assistance. The Association oversees and controls the lot maintenance and the exterior appearance of the homes and ensures the growing value of the neighborhood through the neighborhood’s protective covenants.
The development of Providence Park was planned in three phases. According to individuals within the Metro School Board and other sources, the development of Providence Park and the gradual introduction of students into the area schools has not had a significant impact on the local school system. In fact, many ofthe new families in Providence Park were previously renting in the Paragon Mills area. The school population in this area is expected to stabilize and perhaps decline slightly over the next few years.
NAHFH families are well prepared for the responsibilities of homeownership, home maintenance and community participation. They benefit richly from the support and shared experiences of fellow Habitat homeowners,and they bring a strong sense of community spirit to their neighborhoods.
The Park in Providence Park includes:
- Fully-accessible walking trails
- Two play areas for children
- Pavilion for small gatherings
- Open lawn areas for recreation
- Wooden pedestrian bridge
