MTSU announced the purchase of the former Middle Tennessee Medical Center site near downtown Murfreesboro. The university will pay 11-point-one-million for the 17-point-four acre site. MTSU President Sidney McPhee says while it took tremendous effort to secure finances to purchase the property, it will offer much needed room for the university to grow...

McPhee says the university will use the property for academic purposes, though final decisions on what units and operations will occupy the space have not yet been determined. The site includes the 115-thousand square foot Bell Street Building, a 143-thousand square foot parking garage with over four-hunderd spaces, nearly 200 additional parking spaces and the green space where the hospital once stood.

MTMC President and CEO Gordon Ferguson says it was always his hope that the Bell Street property would be sold to MTSU and patience paid off...

The hospital has been looking for a buyer for its old hospital site since moving to Medical Center Parkway in 2010. Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg with MTSU taking control of the property, the Bell Street site will continue to be a vital part of the downtown area...

A ceremony marking the transfer of the property from MTMC to MTSU was held Friday in the Bell Street Building. For pictures and audio from the entire press conference, go to wgnsradio.com, keyword Bell Street.

ENTIRE PRESS CONFERENCE