505 building developer spends $12 million on building repairs, calls for collaboration with Nashville Fire Department
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Some remember tense moments from September 2023 as crews with the Nashville Fire Department (NFD) worked to evacuate the 600-resident 505 Building.
What started as a basket of laundry set on a stove quickly turned to other problems, according to 505 developer Tony Giarratana, president of Giarratana, LLC . The building's sprinkler system put out the initial fire in less than 15 seconds, according to Giarratana.
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However, the amount of water started another fire in an electrical closet several floors down. Giarratana stressed that water, not fire, led to the building's extensive damage. Roughly 60 units were displaced.
"The cost was in excess of $12 million, and it's staggering, really, to think about," Giarratana explained. "I would say no less than three dozen people were dedicated to this process for about three-and-a-half, four months to restore the building."
Staff worked around the clock to restore power 13 days later, and all residents were able to move back in on January 8. He compared the efforts to restore 505 to a space launch.
Despite residents being offered specials at nearby sister properties, and even the cost to cover moving expenses, Giarratana said the majority were eager to return to the 505 building.
"Residents said, 'No, we'll wait, we don't want to move, we love 505, we want to stay here,' and that was flattering, but it increased the intensity of our anxiety about restoring power," Giarratana told News 2.
In light of the incident, Giarratana would like to deepen 505's relationship with NFD. In 2023, Giarratana mentioned issues with his staff being instructed by NFD to turn off the building's emergency generator.
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Giarratana said the state-of-the-art system ran independently from the damaged electrical unit, and that by turning off the generator, emergency stairwell lights could not run, nor could the building's elevators.
He added that he has been in touch with Nashville's fire chief and he hopes to collaborate on a building training for firefighters. He suggested training sessions once a quarter, or twice per year, so crews would be familiar with 505's systems.
Giarratana is also the developer of the 34-story Alcove property, the 38-story Prime apartment building, and is in the process of completing a 60-story residence downtown.
With downtown Nashville's evolving skyline, Giarratana said that he felt it was important for fire crews to be trained on responding to emergencies in highrises, and for personnel to familiarize themselves with a building's layout and systems whenever possible.
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A spokesperson for NFD provided the following statement:
"The Nashville Fire Department is an all-hazards department. So, our personnel are always training to meet the growth and change in Nashville. That includes, whether it's new technology, high-rise developments, or whatever comes next.
Also, September is Preparedness Month. Both NFD and the Office of Emergency Management wants to remind people that preparing for various hazards whether a fire, severe weather, illness or otherwise the time to prepare is before the emergency. You can find more information at Ready.Gov ( )."
