The Town of Smyrna and Ragan-Smith Associates have launched a study of Smyrna's Lowry Street between Sam Ridley Parkway and Lee Victory Parkway a distance that spans approximately three miles. The purpose of the study is to identify the possibility of a new mixture of uses for Lowry Street and improve visual conditions along the corridor. The study will consider two primary development uses---retail and residential---and will focus on character areas, key "nodes" and intersections, throughout the corridor to identify opportunities and connectivity with other key areas of Smyrna.

Multiple opportunities for the public and key stakeholders to provide input and feedback throughout the process will be available, including in-person interviews, a steering committee with multiple meetings and a four-day visioning charette that includes two public open houses, for a total of three public open houses throughout the study. The study will also be presented to the Planning Commission and Town Council.

"We want to take a very close look at the potential opportunities for this key corridor of Smyrna," said Kevin Rigsby, AICP, Smyrna's Town Planner. "We know that much of the development in Smyrna has clustered on Sam Ridley Parkway for a number of years, and that thoroughfare continues to grow. Lowry Street, which intersects Sam Ridley and includes our historic downtown and many longtime businesses, is another key corridor that has begun to experience more planned growth through the good work of many in the Depot District. We want to better understand the best uses for Lowy Street and make sure we are continuing to make good decisions that will identify new opportunities for infrastructure, create economic vitality along this corridor, and add value for property owners and the public."

"Smyrna is a highly desirable growth area for business, industry and for families to live" said Randy Caldwell, Ragan-Smith executive vice president and a registered landscape architect (RLA). "We believe Lowry Street offers some unique opportunities for mixed use development. We've been charged with specifically identifying the area's potential and how to leverage that potential for future development and how to formulate design guidelines that will shape its future appearance. Our team is very excited to be working on this project, and we look forward to hearing what the public wants for this key thoroughfare and then providing recommendations for both the public and private sectors to further tap into the opportunities here."

Market research will be a central focus of the study, including land use, transportation, infrastructure, natural resource and character analysis. The nine-month planning study will result in a future land use plan, a corridor overlay and design guidelines, possible infrastructure improvements, and market recommendations focused on retail and residential uses.

Ragan-Smith developed the Master Plan for Murfreesboro's Gateway project and has worked on multiple development and planning projects and studies in the mid-state region.

Working on the Ragan-Smith team are: Kevin Guenther, RLA, LEED AP, ASLA; Keith Covington, Third Coast Design Studio; Randy Gross, Randall Gross Development Economics; and Terri Sterling Donovan, Sterling Communications.