On Tuesday (3/22/2017) evening at 7:00 o'clock, the Murfreesboro Planning Commission heard comments from the public about "The North Highland Avenue" and "Historic Bottoms" projects. After discussion, the commission unanimously adopted both plans. It now goes to the city council for study.
Homeless
Downtown business owner Dave Baughman said, "We need to assist the homeless population who presently live in much of this area. It was successfully accomplished in Nashville, and should be in our plans here as well."
Murfreesboro City Councilman Eddie Smotherman noted, "I was in a meeting today (Wednesday) about having the city place a garbage dumpster near the railroad tracks below the Church Street bridge. The homeless who live there have no place to put garbage, and the land is filled with litter. The city has agreed to locate a dumpster there and see if that makes a difference under the bridge and on the ground surrounding the railroad tracks and old cemetery."
Public Art
In addition to conversation about the "Historic Bottoms" including an art district, there was also discussion about including public art in all of the downtown revitalization.
WGNS' Bart Walker commented, "Public art is found in all growing cities, and must be an integral part of these plans. We could learn from Asheville, a city that is considerably smaller than Murfreesboro, and how that North Carolina community uses public art to tell their local history to residents and tourists. In addition, studies prove that public art attracts investors to a community." (Population Note: Asheville, NC 87,882; Murfreesboro, TN 120,954)
It was pointed out that proposed projects are important drivers for the future of downtown Murfreesboro. The areas include a mix of residential and commercial development, transportation, parks and recreation, along with arts and entertainment.
North Highland Planning Study
The "North Highland Avenue Planning Study" includes downtown Murfreesboro as well as the intersection of East Clark and North Highland Avenue, south to Lytle Street, east along Lytle to Middle Tennessee Boulevard, and west along Lytle Street to Northwest Broad Street.
Historic Bottoms
The "Historic Bottoms" was a low terrain area that frequently flooded before the city corrected the problem in the early 1950's. This development includes the downtown area, from the new Juvenile Justice Center that is under construction, in a line to the Discovery Center, the east--across the wetlands to the area around the old Murfreesboro train depot and the Memorial Boulevard-Old Fort Parkway bridge project.
It includes Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village, that will be connected with the Murfree Spring Wetland with the now underground Town Creek. Earlier the city purchased and razed the vacated Kentucky Fried Chicken location on South Church Street. It is preparing that site and the land that borders Broad Street as where Town Creek will be re-opened. That "sun-lighting" of Town Creek is expected to be early this summer. It will flow in an area near Hickerson Drive and beside Cannonsburgh.
City Council
Now that the Murfreesboro Planning Commission has formerly adopted both plans, the resolution is being sent to the Murfreesboro City Council for study and action.
For more information about the "North Highland Avenue" study, contact Matthew Blomeley. To learn about "Historic Bottoms", phone Donald Anthony. Both are with the City of Murfreesboro and have the same phone number: 615-893-6441.
NewsRadio WGNS will keep you informed.
