Residents have started moving into Icon, the new high-rise mix-use

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"We lived for five years in a two-bedroom place," Knabe, 28, says."I love music, but if everyone went to bed at 3 a.m. and got up toplay honky tonk at 7 a.m., it could be a little rough."
Knabe, an artist management professional, is spot-on thedemographic Icon's developers identified when they pushed to builda soaring, 22-story, 416-unit condo smack in the middle of thehistorically industrial Gulch. What Knabe bought, and what theBristol Development Group and MarketStreet Enterprises sought todeliver, is a modern (steel, glass and concrete) yet alluringdwelling where young urban professionals can embrace the heart oftheir beloved city.
"I signed up for the lifestyle as much as anything," Knabe says."It's got the sophisticated spirit that drew me to Nashville in thefirst place." Amenities abound
Six condo developments and more than 1,000 condo units are openingin 2008 and early '09. Icon starts at a lower price point thanEncore and Adelicia, which welcomed residents earlier this year.
Knabe is one of the first of 20 residents to move into Icon.Getting there, he recalls, required a leap of faith.
"In 2006, I had heard about what they wanted to do, and it seemedliked the perfect opportunity to become a first-time home buyer,"he says. "So I wrote a check for earnest money before there wasanything to see."
Knabe purchased a one-bedroom open-floor plan with a biggerbalcony, sacrificing a bit of interior space in return for anopen-air view of Division Street. He opted for stainless-steelappliances but not a mobile granite kitchen island. As with allunits, his living space includes exposed concrete ceilings andfloors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and Alno European cabinets.Bathroom fixtures and features are sleek, including the square,Zen-like sink and glass-shower enclosure. While none of Icon'sunits are exactly spacious  they range in size from 600 squarefeet to just under 1,300  Knabe says the awesome amenities morethan compensate for any perceived lack of space.
"There's a pool outside my door," he says. "It's a whole differentworld here, and it's like I'm on vacation every day."
It's not by accident that Knabe feels a resort-life vibe at Icon:Along with a 24-hour concierge service and valet parking, there aretwo state-of-the-art fitness facilities (including a3,000-plus-square-foot space) fully loaded with cardio machines,weight equipment and banks of plasma televisions.
On the fourth floor, earth and sky, fire and water elements mergeto create a serene outdoor courtyard featuring a pool, landscapedgardens, steel fountains and fire pits. It's a perfect place toescape from the hectic pace of the city.
It's the ninth-floor rooftop common area with its unobstructedviews of downtown Nashville, however, that gives Icon its greatestwow factor. Flush with media and game room offerings such as Wi Fi,plasma televisions and a contemporary pool table, it quickly evokesa social groove; plush leather seating, cove lighting andfireplaces add to its inviting atmosphere.
What may make it the focal point of the Icon neighborhood, however,is its two-story glass and steel retractable doors that createflowing access to the rooftop pool, pergolas and grilling areas.The expansive space is well suited to any celebration includingparties, weddings and neighborhood soir