(MURFREESBORO) Has the upscale $26-million Broad Street development caught the imagination of another investment group? Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland said that he has been contacted by a group who are interested in locating a AA Minor League Baseball team in downtown Murfreesboro. The mayor also indicated that the bottoms area was discussed.
Obviously, that section of town is in the process of major changes with the daylighting of Town Creek and development of a walkway between the Murfree Spring Wetlands and Cannonsburgh. In addition, a pedestrian walkway is planned to cross Broad Street at the Church Street intersection. That will allow people to safely go from the Historic Bottoms Area to the proposed condominium-retail-office-hotel development on property where the old police department, current water department and old city hall have structures.
Again, the mayor stressed that this is all in the talking stages and that the City Council will discuss this project at next Thursday night's (9/14/2023) Council Meeting.
In addition, Mayor McFarland will be "live" on WGNS this coming Wednesday morning (9/13/2023) from 8:10-9:00AM.
The investment group's interest in locating a minor league baseball team here, quickly started rumors about Cannonsburgh being torn-down.
The mayor underlined, "I would NOT be supportive of demolishing Cannonsburgh, but I do think it would be productive to talk about the current use and if it could be relocated (just like it was relocated in 1976) to an area that makes more sense for people to use the facilities inside existing parks and recreation property for years to come. Reality is that over the years, the Cannonsburgh area has become a haven for homelessness and illegal activity. The City and MPD have put much effort and resources to curb those types of activities."
The baseball stadium would bring even more business to the proposed downtown hotels, local merchants and restaurants.
McFarland continued, "I believe this type of development would provide a catalyst to kick off the bottoms area along with the NEW Town Creek project. The Cannonsburgh Greenway trailhead has become one of our least used facilities because of those concerns. Those are the FACTS."
In a news release, the mayor commented, "It's no secret....I am a baseball guy....I think the Murfreesboro community and surrounding communities would support a family friendly environment where you could come enjoy a reasonable priced entertainment facility and support downtown businesses all at the same time."
Mayor McFarland concluded, "If we didn’t entertain different proposals, the community wouldn’t have the majority of the things we enjoy in Murfreesboro now. Some of those proposals happen and some don’t. There is much discussion to be had, but if you don't have the discussions and dream big.....you don't ever get the chance to see what could happen."
Again, Mayor Shane McFarland will be on the WGNS' Action Line broadcast from 8:10-9:00AM this coming Wednesday morning (9/13/2023).
