The Metro Planning Commission will vote on Thursday whether the developers of a proposed mixed-use property in SoBro can build as tall as 40 stories. Currently, the NashvilleNext policy doesn't allow structures of that height in that area. Grand Rapids, MI-based Northern Capital Investments and Boston-based Congress Group plan 420 apartments and condos, 225 hotel rooms and parking, designed by SCB, at Second Avenue S and Demonbreun Street.

There is opposition to such tall towers. Law firm Bass Berry & Sims has tasked land-use attorney Tom White, architect Gary Everton, and ex-planning chief Rick Bernhardt to make a case against towers, the Tennessean reports. Among other objections, they will probably assert that buildings are required to slope down in height as they approach the Cumberland River, and cite the need for preservation of low-scale historic brick buildings and not distracting from the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. [Tennessean]