MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS News) - After years of delays, shifting blueprints, and a near-cancellation of the project, downtown Murfreesboro is finally seeing physical progress on the One East College redevelopment.
During an update on WGNS this past Wednesday, Sept. 9, Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland announced that developers have officially broken the long standstill, initiating active renovations on the historic First United Methodist Church building at East College and North Church streets.
Moving Past the Standstill - For years, the multi-acre site remained a frustrating symbol of stalled growth. Following partial demolitions at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the property sat mostly untouched. The lack of visible progress led the City of Murfreesboro to issue a notice of default in January 2024, revoke the project's tax-increment financing (TIF), and consider condemnation to reacquire the land.
However, developers returned late last year with a revised proposal. Before green-lighting the new overarching plans, Mayor McFarland and city officials required a tangible show of good faith from the developers. McFarland stated...
Key Updates on Construction and Planning - The development team agreed to the Mayor's terms, prioritizing the historic structures. Here is where the project stands today based on the most recent update:
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Active Renovations: Renovation work on the church building itself officially commenced roughly a month ago.
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Completion Timeline: The primary goal is to finish the church portion of the redevelopment by the beginning of next year (early 2027), allowing it to come online quickly.
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Future Use: While specific tenants have not been announced, plans continue to focus on preserving the historic sanctuary and bell tower, potentially re-purposing the space into a restaurant, entertainment, or live-music venue.
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Broader Site Changes: Developers are still finalizing the larger development. The 110-room hotel from the original 2019 concept has been scrapped, shifting the focus to 40 condominiums, 167 multifamily residential units, commercial space, and a redesigned structured parking garage (which will likely require renewed TIF support).
Looking Ahead - While active vertical construction on the new residential and commercial buildings is still navigating a complex planning and financing phase, the preservation of the historic sanctuary is officially in motion. The successful renovation of the church section that remains, the old bell tower and sanctuary, may serve as the vital catalyst needed to bring the rest of this ambitious mixed-use vision to life. The mayor commented... Scroll down for a photo of the original plans for the property.
Summery - The long-stalled One East College development in downtown Murfreesboro is showing new signs of life after years of uncertainty. The project covers a roughly 2.5-acre city block bordered by College, Lytle, Spring and Church streets, just a short walk from the Public Square and Rutherford County Judicial Complex. The City of Murfreesboro sold the former First United Methodist Church property to developers in 2019, with plans for a major mixed-use development. Demolition began before the COVID-19 pandemic, but progress eventually came to a halt. After several years with little movement, the City began default proceedings in 2024 and considered condemnation as a possible way to regain control of the property.
More recently, developers and City leaders have returned to the table with a revised proposal intended to make the development more feasible. Current plans call for a mixture of condominiums, apartments and commercial space, along with an attached parking structure. A hotel included in earlier versions of the project has been eliminated. One of the most recognizable pieces of the property - the historic former First United Methodist Church sanctuary and bell tower - is expected to remain and could eventually be transformed into an event space, restaurant or live-music venue. While the redevelopment has not yet reached the full-scale construction stage, the revised plans have revived a project that once appeared headed toward a possible City takeover. Scroll down to see the original release of plans and how it was supposed to cover the entire block of property.
What kind of business, restaurant, or venue would you most like to see occupy the newly renovated historic church space?
