Hospitality House expansion set for summer finish

Hospitality House expansion set for summer finish

Midtown facility near Vanderbilt lands three-story building

AUTHORS William Williams

Midtown-based Hospital Hospitality House of Nashville is eyeing a summer completion date for the expansion underway on its small campus.

The entity, which provides lodging for patients and for families of patients receiving treatment at Nashville-area hospitals, has a three-story, 25,000-square-feet addition to its existing facility under construction. The address is 214 Reidhurst Ave., with the site located near both Vanderbilt University and Centennial Park.

Angie Stiff, HHH of Nashville executive director, said the nonprofit landed a donation (the dollar figure is not being publicly disclosed) from Janet and Jim Ayers in 2014, monies that are being used for the effort. A permit, valued at about $3.84 million, recently was issued, with Nashville-based R.C. Mathews Contractor handling the job. Fellow local firm ESa is the architect.

With the expansion HHH of Nashville will go from 18 rooms to 30 rooms. The 18 rooms are located in facilities that face both Reidhurst and 24th avenues. The nonprofit, which employs six people, provides nearly 11,000 room night stays annually.

“We feel the expansion will be benefit our guests and staff, and we are so excited to share our hospitality and love with families coming to Nashville in medical crisis.” Stiff said.

With the addition to the campus, HHH of Nashville also is in the process of changing its name to the C.W. Pinson Hospital Hospitality House of Nashville.

Stiff said Jim Ayers wanted to name the building to honor his friend Dr. C. Wright Pinson, CEO of Vanderbilt Health System. Pinson has been “very instrumental in the success of HHH over the last 20-plus years,” she added.

Nashville-based Hospital Hospitality House welcomed its first guest in July 1974 in a rental house located on 17th Avenue South, according to the company website. It was one of the first Hospitality House facilities in the country. There are about 500 independently run similar nonprofits for those facing medical crises. The model, and services provided, is similar to those of Ronald McDonald House and Hope Lodge (both or which have local presences).

In September 1977, Hospital Hospitality House Corp. bought the 0.63-acre property for $150,000, according to Metro records.

In 2004, a major renovation yielded the present facility at Reidhurst.