Neuhoff District, located in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood, has become a lively urban micro-district where residents and visitors can dine, shop, work and live. The area also offers opportunities to explore striking new architecture and varied terrain.
© Peio Erroteta
Once a historic industrial zone, Neuhoff now covers roughly 1.3 million square feet of redeveloped and new construction. The mixed-use district blends offices, residences, retail and cultural spaces. New public access to the Cumberland Riverfront is an ongoing priority, and a reimagined meat-packing facility—long abandoned—sits prominently on the river bluff as the centerpiece of the 14-acre site.
New York–based S9 Architecture led the master planning and design of Neuhoff, shaping the new and restored buildings and developing the interiors of public spaces through design development. Their goal was to create a network of interconnected places that integrate with the existing neighborhood while encouraging discovery by residents, visitors, photographers, artists and design enthusiasts.
© Seth Parker
The restored meat-packing factory forms the focal point of the district, overlooking the river bluff. Surrounding buildings create a contemporary industrial village focused on a pedestrian-friendly environment—shared streets, terraced courtyards and public spaces—while structured parking is placed at the site’s edges to keep the core walkable.
Design for Neuhoff draws from the site’s industrial past and its distinct position in Germantown. Many original concrete and brick buildings remain, and their layered history guided the approach of stabilizing and reinterpreting older structures as “urban ruins,” preserving authentic character while making room for modern architecture.
© Courtesy of S9
S9 retained weathered masonry, exposed structure and layered industrial textures as intentional design elements. New buildings use materials, forms and colors inspired by the surrounding industrial fabric, creating a cohesive place that feels contemporary yet firmly rooted in its history. The site’s steep river bluff and Germantown’s historic fabric influenced the plan, resulting in a sequence of terraced courtyards, elevated catwalks and intimate public realms that blend industrial character with village-scale warmth.
Neuhoff’s relationship to its surroundings—the active Germantown community and the nearby Cumberland River—was a major design driver. Historically, the district had been separated from the riverfront; the project reestablishes pedestrian connections and reorients the development toward the water, knitting neighborhood and riverfront back together.
Former slaughterhouse © Seth Parker
Since opening, Neuhoff has drawn both local residents and visitors. A variety of dining options have established the district as a neighborhood destination. Offerings include Babychan, a café known for espresso and baked goods; Close Company, a cocktail bar with inventive snacks; and Fishmonger, serving seafood-focused sandwiches and rolls. Other food and beverage options on site include E+Rose café, the Mas Tacos Tambien food truck and Monday Night Preservation Co., an indoor/outdoor taproom.
The first five new buildings opened in 2024 and 2025. Future phases will add a second tower and convert an industrial building into a boutique hotel, followed by low-rise office and residential buildings. Individual developers continue work on adapting smaller historic structures across the site.
Neuhoff District is an example of thoughtful adaptive reuse and contemporary infill that honors industrial memory while creating new urban life along Nashville’s riverfront and within the fabric of Germantown.