Mayor Freddie O'Connell's administration intends to file eminent domain legislation today, which would allow Metro to take ownership of the property near the Nashville Zoo where a data center is planned.

Why it matters: It's a bold move by O'Connell, who is seeking to thwart the controversial data center development before it gets off the ground.

What he's saying: "We're filing this condemnation legislation because Metro has a legitimate need for this property," O'Connell said through a spokesperson. "I have carefully followed the concerns from the community and the Zoo and also remain deeply concerned about the proposed use."

State of play: The property is currently owned by the prominent development firm MarketStreet Enterprises, which has a contract to sell the land to the data center company DC Blox for $23 million.

• The sale is set to close in early July.
• DC Blox has already begun applying for permits for its 69,000-square-foot data center, which has been the subject of gargantuan public backlash.
• The zoo expressed concerns that the data center would upset, and perhaps even harm, its animals, especially those sensitive to sound. Over 500,000 people signed a petition opposing the data center. DC Blox contends its data center can coexist with the zoo without causing problems.

How it works: According to the plan, Metro would condemn the MarketStreet property, purchase it at fair market value and then use it in a way that benefits the public.

• If the legislation is passed by Metro Council, the mayor's office would typically enter into negotiations with the property owner.
• Metro rarely uses eminent domain to take privately owned property for such large purchases. The mechanism was used to acquire the land downtown to build Music City Center.

Between the lines: Metro Council is already pursuing two pieces of data center-related legislation. One would impose a temporary moratorium on data center projects.

• Another would ban large-scale data centers and create guardrails for new data center projects.

Yes, but: DC Blox's project was in the pipeline before that legislation was introduced.

• DC Blox said last week it intends to press forward with the project despite the community pushback.
• "Metro has not identified a lawful public use that would justify taking this property by eminent domain," DC Blox attorney Doug Sloan tells Axios. "Using condemnation power to interfere with a private purchase agreement and to stop a lawful private transaction raises serious legal questions under Tennessee law."
• A MarketStreet representative did not respond to a request for comment.

Friction point: Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston and a lawyer on behalf of the zoo filed separate appeals with the Board of Zoning Appeals seeking to overturn an initial administrative zoning decision by city officials.

• The city has categorized the use as "general office," but Johnston and the zoo contend that is not correct.
• According to Planning Department data, there are already 11 data centers in Nashville. None have been the subject of such BZA appeals.

What's next: Metro Council must sign off on the eminent domain legislation. That means it could be considered as late-filed legislation on July 7.

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Former Gov. Bill Haslam and hospitality executive Colin Reed headline the influential civic leaders who will serve on the state's powerful new Nashville tourism board.

Why it matters: The board will be in charge of deciding how to spend millions of dollars sales tax dollars from the downtown tourism development zone (TDZ), which was created to help finance the Music City Center.

• The Joint Capital Tourism Board will spend the money on recruiting new tourism events and public safety initiatives.

Driving the news: The new state law creating the board gave top state officials the power to appoint board members. Gov. Bill Lee named his former aide Butch Eley and Haslam to the board.

• Lt. Gov. Randy McNally appointed former State. Sen. Dr. Steve Dickerson and Hospitality and Tourism Association CEO Sara Beth Urban.
• Speaker Cameron Sexton appointed downtown entertainment venue owner Bill Miller and Reed, the longtime CEO of Ryman Hospitality. The Nashville Business Journal first reported the appointments by Lee and Sexton.
• Music City Center CEO Charles Starks and Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. president and CEO Deana Ivey were automatically named to the board, according to the state legislation.

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⬆ Tennessee boosted the contract for the company overseeing its private school voucher program by $356 million. (Tennessee Lookout)

🩺 The Hospital Authority board appointed interim CEO Veronica Elders to the full-time position last week. (Nashville Banner)

⚖️ A student who survived the Antioch High shooting is suing the company behind the school's gun detection technology. (WPLN)

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We're days away from 2026's halfway point, so we decided it was a good time to recap some of the year's best music so far in our Axios Nashville playlist.

🪑 Nate's favorite album from the first half of 2026 is "Singin' To an Empty Chair" by the rock band Ratboys. His favorite songs so far are "The Hunt in Edson" by the Rural Alberta Advantage, "Comeback Loading" by Brown Horse and "Nothing Comes Easy" by Joy Oladakun.

• Also, Angine de Poitrine burrowed into his very soul.

🐍 Adam is a big fan of Ashley McBryde and her new album stands a head above a lot of country's latest offerings. "Rattlesnake Preacher" has been a staple of her live shows for years, and it finally made it onto a record.

• Nate and Adam share an appreciation for the tight, Beach Boy-esque harmonies from the group Midland. Their new track "Shooting Memories With Tequila" is right in their wheelhouse.

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Country legend Alan Jackson played his last live show on Saturday. The sold-out crowd at Nissan Stadium gave him a warm send-off, and several famous friends stopped by to sing along.

If you missed it: NBC filmed the concert. It will air as a primetime special later this year. The air date has not been announced.

• After it airs on TV, it will be available to stream on Peacock.