Radio Ga Ga: Living in Nashville's 12 South

Radio Ga Ga: Living in Nashville's 12 South

1101 Montrose Ave sits in 12 South, five minutes from Bartaco and Frothy Monkey, and about twenty minutes on foot from Belmont University's Fisher Center for the Performing Arts.

I saw Marc Martel front a Queen tribute at the Fisher Center this month. Brian May and Roger Taylor hand-picked him in 2012 to lead their official Queen tribute act, and he sang lead vocals on the Oscar-winning film Bohemian Rhapsody. At Fisher, It was all about the music. But you couldn't stay a passive spectator watching the fist pumping, strutting energy of Freddie Mercury, the kind that makes you feel like you're at the 1985 Live Aid concert at London's Wembley Stadium.

What also stuck with me was what this Nashville community and its proximity make possible. Dinner in 12 South, a twenty-minute walk to Belmont University, home again without touching a highway. That is the allure of this pocket of Nashville, and it is what the new listing at 1101 Montrose Ave sells.

What's in Walking Distance?

Can you walk from 12 South to Belmont's Fisher Center?

Yes, in about 20 minutes. 12 South carries a Walk Score of 82, rated Very Walkable, and 1101 Montrose Ave sits right in it. From the door:

• 5 minutes: Bartaco, Frothy Monkey
• 7 minutes: Five Daughters Bakery, Butter Milk Ranch, Ladybird Taco
• 10 minutes: La La Land, Sushi San
• 20 minutes: Belmont's Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, the 1,727-seat venue behind shows like Marc Martel's Queen tribute and this fall's Dolly Parton special

As of September 2026, the Fisher Center's published fall schedule includes ABBA tribute Arrival From Sweden on October 3, a live two-hour Dolly Parton tribute taped by CMA on October 21, and the Nutcracker in December. A week here has a rhythm most addresses can't offer without a car.

The House Itself: Character, New Value

1101 Montrose Ave Nashville TN, 37204

Listed by Patrick Higgins and Adam Spivey of Compass Tennessee. Built in 1922, renovated and expanded in 2024 by The Magness Group. The main house is 3,132 square feet, 4 bedrooms, each with an ensuite bath, plus a main-level primary suite. Hardwood floors, a fireplace, a wet bar, a large island kitchen open to the living space.

Outside: a fenced, flat, turfed yard, and a detached two-car garage with alley access.

Above the garage sits a 783 square foot guest house. Full kitchen, living area, bedroom, bath, separate laundry. It can house guests, run as a home office, or generate rental income. That is a second dwelling most 1922 homes were never built to include, and the renovation adds real value here, not just new finishes.

Total living space across both structures: 3,915 square feet, on a 50x159 corner lot.

Questions About Living Here

Is the guest house at 1101 Montrose Ave legal to rent? It can function as a rental, but Nashville's short-term and long-term rental rules vary by property and permit type. Confirm current Metro Nashville regulations before treating it as guaranteed income.

What is 12 South Nashville known for? 12 South is one of Nashville's most walkable retail corridors, known for its boutiques, restaurants, and renovated early 1900s bungalows within a few blocks of each other. See our full 12 South neighborhood guide for demographics and available listings.

What makes a home near 12 South and Belmont University worth a premium? Walkability. A resident can reach dining, shopping, and a 1,727-seat performing arts venue without a car, a combination few Nashville addresses offer at this price point.

The Point

A century-old shell became two functioning homes on one walkable block. That combination, historic character, a rentable second unit, five minutes to a taco or a coffee, twenty to a concert hall, is what makes 12 South worth the premium.

Bill Diebenow is a Compass REALTOR® and LeadingRE Relocation Specialist (LRS) serving Greater Nashville and Williamson County. 

Call or text 615-337-3660.

Bill Diebenow | Compass | 615-337-3660