Murfreesboro, TN - Seven years after selling a prime downtown block, Murfreesboro officials are initiating condemnation proceedings to regain control of the 2.5-acre site once slated for the One East College, LLC development. The property—home to the former First Methodist Church, a small office building, and a city-owned parking lot—was sold in 2018 for $1.8 million with plans for a mixed-use complex. However, after initial demolition, construction ceased and no public parking or major development followed.

The City Council revoked the project's TIF incentives in 2024 and began a default process against developer One East College, LLC. Negotiations for reacquisition have now escalated toward eminent domain action. 

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland has not hidden his feelings that the One East College Development is a sore point. In fact, while on WGNS this week, Mayor Shane McFarland publicly floated the idea of a city-county partnership to use the site for government offices and parking...

Time will tell if the "fishing" had any "bites". 

Meanwhile, other major proposals continue to reshape downtown. MAC 3 Properties, LLC aims to redevelop the former Bank of America site at 120 East Main into a seven-story hotel, retail and office space, condominiums, and public parking.

The long-anticipated Keystone Project, planned along Broad Street, South Church, and Vine, was expected to break ground this spring. That date has now shifted to the third quarter, according to the mayor.

City leaders say downtown development is driven by rising demand for urban living, especially among young professionals seeking walkable neighborhoods with modern amenities. With Murfreesboro approaching a population of 200,000, officials also see revitalizing the city core as key to projecting a vibrant, forward-thinking identity that reflects its rapid growth and regional significance.

As changes in the proposals are made and new projects are added, NewsRadio WGNS will keep you informed.