Crescent Communities Breaks Ground on NOVEL Richland Creek Multifamily Development in West Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Crescent Communities has broken ground on NOVEL Richland Creek, a 277-unit multifamily and mixed-use community in West Nashville, the company announced May 7, 2026. The project, developed in partnership with Stockbridge and financed by JPMorgan, marks the latest addition to Crescent Communities' expanding footprint across the Nashville metropolitan area.

Located within Lion's Head Village near the intersection of White Bridge Pike and Harding Pike, the development will deliver studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment homes alongside approximately 4,800 square feet of activated ground-floor retail space. The site sits along the Richland Creek Greenway, providing residents with direct access to outdoor recreation while remaining proximate to major employment centers including Vanderbilt University, Ascension Saint Thomas West, and Nashville State Community College.

Project Design and Amenities

NOVEL Richland Creek's amenity program includes a lobby with café and wine bar, trailhead access to the Richland Creek Greenway, maker and wellness spaces, coworking and book club room areas, a rooftop pool, and indoor and outdoor gathering spaces. The community is designed by KTGY as architecture partner, with ESG handling interior design.

"NOVEL Richland Creek is designed to connect directly to one of West Nashville's most compelling natural assets," said Simcha Ward, Director of Development at Crescent Communities. "By extending the Richland Creek Greenway experience into the community, anchored by ground-floor retail at the new trailhead, we're creating a place for creators and doers to gather, create, and recharge in a way that's both social and restorative."

Brian Fraser, associate principal at KTGY, noted the significance of the greenway connection to the project's design. "It's a pleasure to break ground on another development with the Crescent Communities team," Fraser said. "I'm excited to help bring this site to life, especially with the greenway extension that enhances our connection to this beautiful neighborhood. NOVEL Richland Creek is going to feel like a very special place to live when everything is said and done."

Lion's Head Village Redevelopment

NOVEL Richland Creek is part of Stockbridge Capital Group's broader vision to redevelop Lion's Head Village into a more walkable, mixed-use destination. As part of that effort, the shopping center will receive infrastructure improvements including a new parking deck near Trader Joe's, a traffic signal, enhanced pedestrian infrastructure, landscaping, and upgraded signage. Financing for the project was provided by J.P. Morgan.

Additional project partners include EM Structural as structural engineer, Lighthouse Engineering as MEP engineer, Barge Civil Associates as civil engineer, and Hawkins Partners as landscape architect.

Crescent Communities' Nashville Multifamily Portfolio and Development Pipeline

NOVEL Richland Creek expands Crescent Communities' presence in Middle Tennessee, where the firm operates several existing multifamily communities under its NOVEL brand, including NOVEL Edgehill, NOVEL Harpeth Heights, NOVEL West Nashville, NOVEL Music Row, NOVEL Bellevue Place, NOVEL Lockwood Glen, and Crescent Cool Springs. Two additional communities are currently under construction in the region: RENDER Manchester Farms in Murfreesboro and HARMON West Meade.

Nationally, Crescent Communities reports a pipeline of $7.2 billion in residential and commercial investments and developments across various stages of construction, operations, and planning. That pipeline includes 15,300 multi- and single-family build-to-rent units, 58,000 square feet of complementary retail space, and 7.5 million square feet of office, industrial, and life sciences facilities. The firm operates multifamily brands NOVEL (urban), RENDER (suburban), and HARMON (build-to-rent), as well as commercial brands AXIAL (industrial), THE YIELD (life science), and BOWER (office).

Crescent Communities holds LEED, NGBS (National Green Building Standard), Fitwel, and WELL certifications across its portfolio, reflecting a focus on environmental sustainability and wellness in its real estate development projects.

The firm was founded in 1963 and maintains offices in Charlotte, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Orlando, Nashville, Dallas, Austin, Denver, and Phoenix. Its development portfolio includes more than 95 multifamily communities, 26 million square feet of commercial space, and over 60 master-planned communities.