Upscale subdivision coming to Eagleville
The Daily News Journal • July 13, 2008
EAGLEVILLE — Upscale housing and country living are becoming one in Rutherford County's smallest town.
Sam and Mary Tune are turning 114 acres of their 366-acre Eagleville farm at 2133 Allisona Road into Magnolia Valley Estates.
Described as an upscale, equine development, the Tunes are selling 38 lots ranging from 1.1 acres to 6.5 acres for $99,500 to $199,000.
Sam Tune estimates the average home will cost $350,000 to $1 million. The Tunes have a preferred builder, Blake & Wells Custom Homes, but buyers can hire their own custom builder.
"We have a top-notch horse training facility," Mary Tune said. "That's going to be a key factor in our development."
Typically, residents of such a community pay a fee for the facility whether they use it or not, but the Tunes said the residents will have an option.
Four lots are under contract.
"I think it's a very nice development," said Nolan Barham, Eagleville's mayor. "It has potential for success."
The Tunes have been working on plans for the development for the past year and a half. In April, the Rutherford County Planning Commission approved their plans. The property is outside of Eagleville's city limits.
The Tunes expect all of the property will be sold within 24 months, and construction of the first home will begin this fall.
"That's when the roads and utilities will be completed," Mary Tune said.
The Tunes, who are also the project's developers, are having about a mile-long road built that will circle the development.
Mary Tune said they had the engineers reroute the layout of the road several times to maintain the land's natural flow.
The farm land is not typical Rutherford County land but it's comparable to Williamson County, the Tunes said.
"The rolling hills, quality of the soil, character of the entire farm, deep-well drained soil" are some of the property's attributes, Sam Tune said.
Some lots are clear while others have wooded areas.
"No two lots are alike," Mary Tune said. "We request that they (buyers) would not destroy trees if possible. (That's) usually not a problem because most people want trees."
They say some of the houses won't even be seen because they will be nestled by trees.
"It's almost like a hidden development," Mary Tune said.
Sam Tune said they could have built 200 homes on the property, but "we wanted to do something different."
The couple hopes their development complements and promotes Eagleville.
"We wanted quality rather than quantity," he added. "That's bottom line."
Tune said the farm was established right after the Revolutionary War.
The owner received a war grant to establish what was then a plantation.
The Tunes don't know exactly how large it was originally. They've been told it had anywhere from 1,000 acres to 5,000 acres.
In the 1940s and 1950s, the farm was the site of horse shows and galas. They said it was considered a prestigious farm.
The Tunes, who bought the property two years ago, hope Eagleville's proximity to Franklin, Nashville and Murfreesboro will attract buyers to their development.
They hope Magnolia Valley Estates becomes a "Southern status symbol."
Sam Tune along with other Eagleville business leaders started organizing an Eagleville Business and Community After Hours in January. Similar to the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours, the Eagleville event brings local business and community members together.
Their latest event was Thursday. Many of those in attendance are excited about what's going on in the community.
The town of about 500 residents will soon have a few new restaurants and businesses.
The Billy Goat Cafe, which is owned by Chris Wood, deputy chief of the town's fire department, and his father, Doyle, is under construction at the intersection of highways 99 and 41-A.
On the corner adjacent to the intersection, Keith Crowson, 38, of Murfreesboro, is planning to open three business — a dry cleaners and two furniture stores.
He has started setting up a showroom for the hotel furniture portion of his business, Main Street Hotel Liquidators. Crowson sells sets of used furniture for home stages, lounges and smaller hotels. He hopes to open that business in the coming weeks.
His second business, Main Street Interiors, will feature antiques. Crowson hopes to open his third shop, Main Street Cleaners, in early October.
"The focus is quality over quantity and superior service," he said.
Crowson said he loves Eagleville and its "small town, family culture."
"Eagleville is steeped in its history," he said. "Its got its eye looking forward progressive to the future."
For example, the portion of Highway 99 that runs into Eagleville is being widened. It will run behind Eagleville High School, branch off the existing road near Swamp Road, and join U.S. 41 Alternate south of Eagleville. The existing section of Highway 99 will also be improved between Eagleville and Rockvale.
The community will celebrate the start of the last phase of the highway's construction on July 23.
Sun Country, a tanning salon located at 163-A N. Main St., recently opened. The Eagle Roost Smokehouse & Grill, which is also owned by the Woods, will be downstairs of the salon. It is expected to open this summer.
Rhonda James, owner of The Lamp Shop & Supply, said she's seen a lot of businesses come and go along Main Street. In the three years she's been there, she said two businesses were at the intersection of highways 99 and 41-A before the building was torn down. Now the Billy Goat Cafe is being built there.
She said she opened a business in Eagleville because her family could afford to buy property there. James, of Smryna, believes the town has great potential, but it's lacking something.
"If the sewer system would come, business would come," she said.
The town currently operates on septic tank systems.
"Eagleville has refused growth," James said.
Mayor Barham said the city's planning commission heard a presentation last year of a STEP system for implementing a sewer system through Consolidated Utility District.
"I'm more concerned about the health issue as opposed to growth," he said. "The eastern side of Eagleville is just an area where there aren't perk sites (to install a sewer system). I think when you have a sewer system, it obviously invites growth and also invites business and that's positive to the area. (Having) a sewer system has always been a concern and hasn't been neglected."
Meanwhile, James is glad to see the tanning salon and other businesses open.
"Folks like that are willing to make it happen," James said.
Carol Jack, owner of the Kandle Kitchen in Eagleville and Franklin, said she's seen growth in new business in Eagleville.
"It's quite promising," Jack said. "Eagleville is growing and the surrounding areas are growing."
She said lower property taxes, cheaper homes and less traffic are draws of the community.
"I don't see how it can't grow," Jack said.
The Daily News Journal • July 13, 2008
EAGLEVILLE — Upscale housing and country living are becoming one in Rutherford County's smallest town.
Sam and Mary Tune are turning 114 acres of their 366-acre Eagleville farm at 2133 Allisona Road into Magnolia Valley Estates.
Described as an upscale, equine development, the Tunes are selling 38 lots ranging from 1.1 acres to 6.5 acres for $99,500 to $199,000.
Sam Tune estimates the average home will cost $350,000 to $1 million. The Tunes have a preferred builder, Blake & Wells Custom Homes, but buyers can hire their own custom builder.
"We have a top-notch horse training facility," Mary Tune said. "That's going to be a key factor in our development."
Typically, residents of such a community pay a fee for the facility whether they use it or not, but the Tunes said the residents will have an option.
Four lots are under contract.
"I think it's a very nice development," said Nolan Barham, Eagleville's mayor. "It has potential for success."
The Tunes have been working on plans for the development for the past year and a half. In April, the Rutherford County Planning Commission approved their plans. The property is outside of Eagleville's city limits.
The Tunes expect all of the property will be sold within 24 months, and construction of the first home will begin this fall.
"That's when the roads and utilities will be completed," Mary Tune said.
The Tunes, who are also the project's developers, are having about a mile-long road built that will circle the development.
Mary Tune said they had the engineers reroute the layout of the road several times to maintain the land's natural flow.
The farm land is not typical Rutherford County land but it's comparable to Williamson County, the Tunes said.
"The rolling hills, quality of the soil, character of the entire farm, deep-well drained soil" are some of the property's attributes, Sam Tune said.
Some lots are clear while others have wooded areas.
"No two lots are alike," Mary Tune said. "We request that they (buyers) would not destroy trees if possible. (That's) usually not a problem because most people want trees."
They say some of the houses won't even be seen because they will be nestled by trees.
"It's almost like a hidden development," Mary Tune said.
Sam Tune said they could have built 200 homes on the property, but "we wanted to do something different."
The couple hopes their development complements and promotes Eagleville.
"We wanted quality rather than quantity," he added. "That's bottom line."
Tune said the farm was established right after the Revolutionary War.
The owner received a war grant to establish what was then a plantation.
The Tunes don't know exactly how large it was originally. They've been told it had anywhere from 1,000 acres to 5,000 acres.
In the 1940s and 1950s, the farm was the site of horse shows and galas. They said it was considered a prestigious farm.
The Tunes, who bought the property two years ago, hope Eagleville's proximity to Franklin, Nashville and Murfreesboro will attract buyers to their development.
They hope Magnolia Valley Estates becomes a "Southern status symbol."
Sam Tune along with other Eagleville business leaders started organizing an Eagleville Business and Community After Hours in January. Similar to the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours, the Eagleville event brings local business and community members together.
Their latest event was Thursday. Many of those in attendance are excited about what's going on in the community.
The town of about 500 residents will soon have a few new restaurants and businesses.
The Billy Goat Cafe, which is owned by Chris Wood, deputy chief of the town's fire department, and his father, Doyle, is under construction at the intersection of highways 99 and 41-A.
On the corner adjacent to the intersection, Keith Crowson, 38, of Murfreesboro, is planning to open three business — a dry cleaners and two furniture stores.
He has started setting up a showroom for the hotel furniture portion of his business, Main Street Hotel Liquidators. Crowson sells sets of used furniture for home stages, lounges and smaller hotels. He hopes to open that business in the coming weeks.
His second business, Main Street Interiors, will feature antiques. Crowson hopes to open his third shop, Main Street Cleaners, in early October.
"The focus is quality over quantity and superior service," he said.
Crowson said he loves Eagleville and its "small town, family culture."
"Eagleville is steeped in its history," he said. "Its got its eye looking forward progressive to the future."
For example, the portion of Highway 99 that runs into Eagleville is being widened. It will run behind Eagleville High School, branch off the existing road near Swamp Road, and join U.S. 41 Alternate south of Eagleville. The existing section of Highway 99 will also be improved between Eagleville and Rockvale.
The community will celebrate the start of the last phase of the highway's construction on July 23.
Sun Country, a tanning salon located at 163-A N. Main St., recently opened. The Eagle Roost Smokehouse & Grill, which is also owned by the Woods, will be downstairs of the salon. It is expected to open this summer.
Rhonda James, owner of The Lamp Shop & Supply, said she's seen a lot of businesses come and go along Main Street. In the three years she's been there, she said two businesses were at the intersection of highways 99 and 41-A before the building was torn down. Now the Billy Goat Cafe is being built there.
She said she opened a business in Eagleville because her family could afford to buy property there. James, of Smryna, believes the town has great potential, but it's lacking something.
"If the sewer system would come, business would come," she said.
The town currently operates on septic tank systems.
"Eagleville has refused growth," James said.
Mayor Barham said the city's planning commission heard a presentation last year of a STEP system for implementing a sewer system through Consolidated Utility District.
"I'm more concerned about the health issue as opposed to growth," he said. "The eastern side of Eagleville is just an area where there aren't perk sites (to install a sewer system). I think when you have a sewer system, it obviously invites growth and also invites business and that's positive to the area. (Having) a sewer system has always been a concern and hasn't been neglected."
Meanwhile, James is glad to see the tanning salon and other businesses open.
"Folks like that are willing to make it happen," James said.
Carol Jack, owner of the Kandle Kitchen in Eagleville and Franklin, said she's seen growth in new business in Eagleville.
"It's quite promising," Jack said. "Eagleville is growing and the surrounding areas are growing."
She said lower property taxes, cheaper homes and less traffic are draws of the community.
"I don't see how it can't grow," Jack said.
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