Lights, Cameras, Nashville
Nashville Journal
A music video promoting Nashville is getting airtime on Great American Country in front of the cable station’s 55 million viewers.
The Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau produced the $100,000 music video to pump up its marketing of Music City. The video starts airing in GAC’s regular line-up this week — effectively giving the city a free pass to entice visitors here.
While other cities are cutting back marketing, Nashville isn’t letting up even though the visitors bureau’s $12 million budget is down about 6 percent because of drops in hotel occupancy. The bureau increased its sales staff in the spring and has brought in more convention clients this fall.
“The normal response, and maybe the more sane response, is dramatic cutbacks” in marketing during tough economic times, says Butch Spyridon, president of the visitors bureau. “We view it as a time to be even more aggressive.”
It’s been eight years since the bureau has produced a promotional video. Local songwriters Gabe Dixon and Jeremy Lister wrote and performed the song for the video, “Music Calls Us Home.” It was taped with places and images of Nashville as the backdrop.
Visitor bureaus in other cities have seen cutbacks. Milwaukee had county funding cuts, and Reno had layoffs. Spyridon says his counterparts in Atlanta had to take six days off unpaid.
GAC president Ed Hardy says the network chose the Nashville video for its production quality and music, just like any other video.
“It was well produced. It has great scenery of the city. It’s a well-done video,” Hardy says.
Spyridon says a commercial on GAC probably would have cost the bureau thousands of dollars, but it’s hard to place a value on the free video airplay.
The video will have several incarnations — depending on the venue. The bureau plans to shorten the five-minute video to run as a 30-second commercial in cities within 200 miles of Nashville, hoping to attract visitors within driving distance. Spyridon says he isn’t sure which markets the commercial will run, so he doesn’t know how much they’ll spend yet.
The first commercial will run during the Music City Bowl on ESPN for free with the city’s sponsorship. They haven’t had a new commercial for this spot in six years. The video will also be used to pitch Nashville to convention organizers, hoping to boost interest in the not-yet-built convention center.
With 40,000 people working in the tourism industry in Nashville, Spyridon said getting people to Music City is vital.
“We have to spin straw into gold,” he says.
Walt Baker, CEO of the Greater Nashville Hotel and Lodging Center, says the visitors bureau is doing the right thing by turning up the heat on marketing while others are dialing down.
“Smart marketers utilize this time to get in front of customers, whether they’re buying right now or they are going to be buying 12 months from now,” Baker says. “Just because we’re in a recession doesn’t mean people aren’t making decisions.”
Hoteliers are moving into 2009 with fairly low expectations, Baker says.
Average daily rates were $100.87 in the 28 days that ended Nov. 8, compared to $99.13 during the same period last year, according to Smith Travel Research. But hotel occupancy fell to 61.1 percent, down from 71.6 percent last year.
Revenue per available room, a key tourism industry measure, also dropped to $61.63, down from $70.94.
Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLC is forecasing a substantial reducation in hotel sales nationally. It predicts revenue per available room will drop 5.8 percent in 2009, compared to a 0.8 percent drop in 2008. This would represent the first consecutive two-year decrease since 2001 and 2002.
News, interests, info and tips about the Real Estate Market in Middle Tennessee. Our Focus is the Nashville area, both Williamson and Davidson County and the surrounding areas of Franklin, Brentwood, Spring Hill, Thompson's Station, Hendersonville, Leipers Fork, Belle Meade, Nolensville, the Cool Springs area and the Vanderbilt area
December 15, 2008
A perfect article for last Thursday's snow to the upcoming Monday icestorm
The Plant Man: Try these tips to keep plants safe from frost
The Tennessean
"How come weeds can survive the coldest winter and come back even stronger in the spring," a frustrated gardener said to me, "Yet half of my shrubs get frost-bitten and die!"
In fact, weeds can die back in freezing weather, too. It's often the seeds they dropped the previous summer that come on strong in the spring. Another good reason for careful weeding, but my frustrated friend wasn't in the mood to hear that.
Some plants can survive all but the coldest winter, but a little careful stewardship of your landscape can make all the difference.
In a recent Plant Man column, I responded to a reader who had recently moved from Texas to upstate New York and needed some quick first-time advice on caring for plants in a cold climate. If you missed that column, titled "Bed sheets keep plants cozy on freezing cold nights," you can find it at my Web site www.landsteward.org
That column spurred a lot of interest from other readers, some of whom were seeking more anti-frost advice, and others who were offering their own suggestions. Several readers pointed out that it isn't just northerly climes that are susceptible to frost-damaged plants. A cold snap can be a major problem even in the south, as any citrus farmer can tell you.
Here are a few helpful suggestions offered by readers:
>> If your plants need to be covered, do so just before sundown, then be sure to take the covers off when sun has risen and the temperature has risen above freezing.
>> Try to keep the underside of the cover from actually touching the plant. Elevating the cover slightly prevents the plant from getting contact freezer "burns".
>> To keep the cover from touching the plant, create a simple frame around it. This could consist of three or four sticks pushed into the soil around the plant, over which the cover can be draped.
>> To that, I would add that bamboo sticks would be my choice. They are sturdy, inexpensive and readily available at garden centers and elsewhere. They also have multiple uses around the garden when not serving as plant cover supports.
>> For larger plants, you can use lengths of PVC tubing, available from hardware stores. Whether you're using wooden sticks, bamboo or PVC tubing, the top, when in place, should be just slightly taller than the height of the plant. The idea is to create a close "tent" that keeps the warmer air around the plant.
>> For a row of low-growing plants, a reader suggested creating a "tunnel" of lightweight wire fencing, curved over the row of plants and secured at intervals along the sides with sticks, bamboo rods or short pieces of timber. At dusk, when expecting a frost, cover the wire frame with your preferred sheeting and secure the sides and each end with clothespins.
>> Weight the covering with bricks or stones to prevent cold air gusting in to your tent and to prevent your cover from blowing away.
>> Plastic milk bottles were mentioned by two readers. A plastic milk jug filled with water can act as a heater for small areas. Apparently, as the water changes from liquid to frozen, it gives off just enough "heat" to keep the immediately surrounding area above the freezing mark.
>> "Paint it black," was a suggestion from one reader. She paints empty, plastic gallon water jugs black, fills them with water, leaves them in the sun during the day to absorb a little heat and then places them under her plant cover as a mini space heater.
>> "The Planket" is a product I saw featured on HGTV, although I haven't tried it. It comes in various sizes and is shaped to go over shrubs or small trees. It has a handy drawstring around the rim, allowing it to be pulled closed. It's made of lightweight, breathable "green" fabric and could be a quick and easy way to keep plants warm and safe.
The Tennessean
"How come weeds can survive the coldest winter and come back even stronger in the spring," a frustrated gardener said to me, "Yet half of my shrubs get frost-bitten and die!"
In fact, weeds can die back in freezing weather, too. It's often the seeds they dropped the previous summer that come on strong in the spring. Another good reason for careful weeding, but my frustrated friend wasn't in the mood to hear that.
Some plants can survive all but the coldest winter, but a little careful stewardship of your landscape can make all the difference.
In a recent Plant Man column, I responded to a reader who had recently moved from Texas to upstate New York and needed some quick first-time advice on caring for plants in a cold climate. If you missed that column, titled "Bed sheets keep plants cozy on freezing cold nights," you can find it at my Web site www.landsteward.org
That column spurred a lot of interest from other readers, some of whom were seeking more anti-frost advice, and others who were offering their own suggestions. Several readers pointed out that it isn't just northerly climes that are susceptible to frost-damaged plants. A cold snap can be a major problem even in the south, as any citrus farmer can tell you.
Here are a few helpful suggestions offered by readers:
>> If your plants need to be covered, do so just before sundown, then be sure to take the covers off when sun has risen and the temperature has risen above freezing.
>> Try to keep the underside of the cover from actually touching the plant. Elevating the cover slightly prevents the plant from getting contact freezer "burns".
>> To keep the cover from touching the plant, create a simple frame around it. This could consist of three or four sticks pushed into the soil around the plant, over which the cover can be draped.
>> To that, I would add that bamboo sticks would be my choice. They are sturdy, inexpensive and readily available at garden centers and elsewhere. They also have multiple uses around the garden when not serving as plant cover supports.
>> For larger plants, you can use lengths of PVC tubing, available from hardware stores. Whether you're using wooden sticks, bamboo or PVC tubing, the top, when in place, should be just slightly taller than the height of the plant. The idea is to create a close "tent" that keeps the warmer air around the plant.
>> For a row of low-growing plants, a reader suggested creating a "tunnel" of lightweight wire fencing, curved over the row of plants and secured at intervals along the sides with sticks, bamboo rods or short pieces of timber. At dusk, when expecting a frost, cover the wire frame with your preferred sheeting and secure the sides and each end with clothespins.
>> Weight the covering with bricks or stones to prevent cold air gusting in to your tent and to prevent your cover from blowing away.
>> Plastic milk bottles were mentioned by two readers. A plastic milk jug filled with water can act as a heater for small areas. Apparently, as the water changes from liquid to frozen, it gives off just enough "heat" to keep the immediately surrounding area above the freezing mark.
>> "Paint it black," was a suggestion from one reader. She paints empty, plastic gallon water jugs black, fills them with water, leaves them in the sun during the day to absorb a little heat and then places them under her plant cover as a mini space heater.
>> "The Planket" is a product I saw featured on HGTV, although I haven't tried it. It comes in various sizes and is shaped to go over shrubs or small trees. It has a handy drawstring around the rim, allowing it to be pulled closed. It's made of lightweight, breathable "green" fabric and could be a quick and easy way to keep plants warm and safe.
Mortgage rates are down, but can they fall further?
By The Tennessean • December 15, 2008
Mortgage rates have been on the decline, but speculation is rife that rates are headed still lower. I spoke Friday with Scott Ractliffe, president of the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association, about whether now is the right time to refinance or consider a home loan.
Where are rates now?
The 30-year fixed rate is in the low 5s, probably in the 5.25 range. … Two weeks ago, it was 6 to 61/8.
What's bringing them down?
The primary cause was when (the federal government) decided to buy mortgage-backed securities directly. The more buyers there are for mortgage-backed securities, that drives prices up and inversely drives the yield down.
Anytime a lot of people are buying mortgage-backed securities and bonds, mortgage rates go down. … If they're not buying stocks and they're going to invest in something, and if investment dollars are flowing towards bonds, then they're also flowing towards mortgages.
We've been hearing a lot about rates perhaps dropping to 4.5 percent. Why?
One reason would be partly political. In order for the overall economy to start to rebound, home prices have got to stabilize, foreclosures have to get under control in terms of numbers, and a very low mortgage rate would help with both of those things.
There's a lot of talk on Capitol Hill of what can they do. There's really no target level … but they all realize — we all realize — that rates in the mid-4s would create a lot of activity.
There are no specifics of what that might look like. It could be only for purchase money. It could be only certain income brackets. Which is why I warn people, if they're thinking about refinancing, not necessarily to wait.
Another reason is if you're looking at mortgages historically, rates average a 1½ percent spread over Treasury yields. … Today it's about 2½, so you should have a rate of 4½. Mortgage rates are still artificially high on that basis.
That would be a reason to wait, wouldn't it?
That's true, but that spread has been 2 to 2½ percent for months. I guess the question is when will those spreads come back to normal, and when they come back to normal, whether yields will go up or rates will come down. It's kind of a gamble either way.
What's your prediction?
It looks like we do have a little farther to fall, but I guess how far is anybody's guess. So much of it depends on the economy overall. As long as the economy, like retail sales, corporate profits and so forth, are staying really, really low, we're looking at the possibility of mortgage rates continuing to drop.
Once we see some signs of strengthening, money will start to be pulled out of the safe havens they're in now. … They (rates) could rise quickly when they come back up.
By The Tennessean • December 15, 2008
Mortgage rates have been on the decline, but speculation is rife that rates are headed still lower. I spoke Friday with Scott Ractliffe, president of the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association, about whether now is the right time to refinance or consider a home loan.
Where are rates now?
The 30-year fixed rate is in the low 5s, probably in the 5.25 range. … Two weeks ago, it was 6 to 61/8.
What's bringing them down?
The primary cause was when (the federal government) decided to buy mortgage-backed securities directly. The more buyers there are for mortgage-backed securities, that drives prices up and inversely drives the yield down.
Anytime a lot of people are buying mortgage-backed securities and bonds, mortgage rates go down. … If they're not buying stocks and they're going to invest in something, and if investment dollars are flowing towards bonds, then they're also flowing towards mortgages.
We've been hearing a lot about rates perhaps dropping to 4.5 percent. Why?
One reason would be partly political. In order for the overall economy to start to rebound, home prices have got to stabilize, foreclosures have to get under control in terms of numbers, and a very low mortgage rate would help with both of those things.
There's a lot of talk on Capitol Hill of what can they do. There's really no target level … but they all realize — we all realize — that rates in the mid-4s would create a lot of activity.
There are no specifics of what that might look like. It could be only for purchase money. It could be only certain income brackets. Which is why I warn people, if they're thinking about refinancing, not necessarily to wait.
Another reason is if you're looking at mortgages historically, rates average a 1½ percent spread over Treasury yields. … Today it's about 2½, so you should have a rate of 4½. Mortgage rates are still artificially high on that basis.
That would be a reason to wait, wouldn't it?
That's true, but that spread has been 2 to 2½ percent for months. I guess the question is when will those spreads come back to normal, and when they come back to normal, whether yields will go up or rates will come down. It's kind of a gamble either way.
What's your prediction?
It looks like we do have a little farther to fall, but I guess how far is anybody's guess. So much of it depends on the economy overall. As long as the economy, like retail sales, corporate profits and so forth, are staying really, really low, we're looking at the possibility of mortgage rates continuing to drop.
Once we see some signs of strengthening, money will start to be pulled out of the safe havens they're in now. … They (rates) could rise quickly when they come back up.
A small community hosts big parade this weekend!
Leiper's Fork: Fork's parade is truly a sight to see
The Tennessean
It is Christmas time in the Fork, and that means lots of holiday activities.
Front and center is the one and only Leiper's Fork Christmas Parade, where onlookers have learned to expect the unexpected. I was looking at slides from last year's parade that Kit O'Connor was kind enough to send me, and I thought to myself, where else would you see llamas, Arnold the Pig, a "Viking ship" loaded with cheerleaders from Hillsboro School along with Scottish bagpipers.
This not-to-be-missed event will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday and will run through the heart of Leiper's Fork on Old Hillsboro Road. Be sure to come early for a good viewing spot.
And what Christmas celebration would be complete without a visit from Santa Claus. The man in red will make two appearances on Saturday in Lawn Chair Theatre. He'll be on hand from noon to 2 p.m. and again from 4 to 6 p.m. Be sure to bring your cameras.
Youngsters who visit Leiper's Fork Library will enjoy a Christmas party at 10:30 a.m. today. This will be the final program until Jan. 7. The preschool story time bunch will meet again on Jan. 6.
Big birthday wishes go out to Bradwell Caldwell, who is celebrating today. Also eating ice cream and cake in the upcoming days are Fay Martin and Mallory Scott on Thursday, Brian Noe on Friday, David Lee White on Saturday, Jewell Anderson on Sunday and Christie Davis on Tuesday. I hope you all have a great day.
Please remember Ricky Kennedy in your prayers as he recovers from heart surgery that he underwent Nov. 25 at Baptist Hospital.
In the word-to-the-wise department: During these hard times, con artists come of out the woodwork hoping to part you from your hard-earned money. One of the latest scams will come to you via your telephone as someone asks you to contact a named financial institution as soon as possible regarding your bank or credit card account.
The really scary part is these con artists use the names of legitimate businesses. Do not respond to them via your computer or telephone and, above all, do not give out any account numbers or PIN over the phone or computer.
A friend in the banking business recently assured me that a financial institution would never request that information from you in this manner. If you are contacted, the best thing to do is to call your local bank or the 1-800 number on your credit card and tell them what is going on.
We want to make sure everyone has a merry Christmas except the con men.
The Tennessean
It is Christmas time in the Fork, and that means lots of holiday activities.
Front and center is the one and only Leiper's Fork Christmas Parade, where onlookers have learned to expect the unexpected. I was looking at slides from last year's parade that Kit O'Connor was kind enough to send me, and I thought to myself, where else would you see llamas, Arnold the Pig, a "Viking ship" loaded with cheerleaders from Hillsboro School along with Scottish bagpipers.
This not-to-be-missed event will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday and will run through the heart of Leiper's Fork on Old Hillsboro Road. Be sure to come early for a good viewing spot.
And what Christmas celebration would be complete without a visit from Santa Claus. The man in red will make two appearances on Saturday in Lawn Chair Theatre. He'll be on hand from noon to 2 p.m. and again from 4 to 6 p.m. Be sure to bring your cameras.
Youngsters who visit Leiper's Fork Library will enjoy a Christmas party at 10:30 a.m. today. This will be the final program until Jan. 7. The preschool story time bunch will meet again on Jan. 6.
Big birthday wishes go out to Bradwell Caldwell, who is celebrating today. Also eating ice cream and cake in the upcoming days are Fay Martin and Mallory Scott on Thursday, Brian Noe on Friday, David Lee White on Saturday, Jewell Anderson on Sunday and Christie Davis on Tuesday. I hope you all have a great day.
Please remember Ricky Kennedy in your prayers as he recovers from heart surgery that he underwent Nov. 25 at Baptist Hospital.
In the word-to-the-wise department: During these hard times, con artists come of out the woodwork hoping to part you from your hard-earned money. One of the latest scams will come to you via your telephone as someone asks you to contact a named financial institution as soon as possible regarding your bank or credit card account.
The really scary part is these con artists use the names of legitimate businesses. Do not respond to them via your computer or telephone and, above all, do not give out any account numbers or PIN over the phone or computer.
A friend in the banking business recently assured me that a financial institution would never request that information from you in this manner. If you are contacted, the best thing to do is to call your local bank or the 1-800 number on your credit card and tell them what is going on.
We want to make sure everyone has a merry Christmas except the con men.
December 8, 2008
November 2008 Williamson County home sales
| November 2008 Home Sales |
| December 8, 2008 (Franklin, TN)-The Williamson County Association of REALTORS® today announces the sale of homes statistics for Williamson County, Tn. for the month of November 2008. There were 145 residential and condominium closings reported for the month of November, according to figures provided by RealTracs Solutions, the multiple listing service used by REALTORS® in the Middle-Tennessee area. Compared to November of 2007, the single family residential closings decreased 47 percent and the median price remained the same. Condominiums closings have increased by 52 percent and the median price decreased by 16 percent. The average days on the market (DOM) for residential homes have increased by 20 days and condominiums have increased by 11 days. Days on the market have been consistent since the onset of 2008, with the days ranging from 74-89 days. Median prices have remained consistent since January 2008, ranging from $345,000 to $395,000. The median is a typical market price where half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less. November 2008
November 2007
November 2006
November 2005
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December 1, 2008
Economic Recovery Act’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program will not only help neighborhoods, but will rebuild lives
Nashville gets $4M to rehab neighborhoods
Nashville Business Journal
The Tennessee Housing Development Agency is administering $49.3 million of the state’s $72.5 million from the Housing and Economic Recovery Act’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which Congress passed in July.
Direct community allocations from THDA include $11.5 million for Memphis, $4 million for Nashville/Davidson County, $2.7 million for Shelby County, $2.73 million for Knoxville and $2.1 million for Chattanooga.
Nationally, the program made $3.92 billion available for community and state administrators to develop programs to purchase, rehabilitate and sell abandoned and foreclosed homes to rebuild neighborhoods. The legislation also requires 25 percent of the state’s allocation be used for households at or below 50 percent of area median income.
Ted Fellman, executive director of the Tennessee housing agency, says the funds provide an opportunity to rebuild neighborhoods hit by the subprime mortgage and foreclosure crises. THDA will allocate the state’s funding to the areas with the greatest need, with HUD providing data revealing which Census tracts have the highest percentages of homes financed with subprime mortgages and high foreclosure rates.
Nashville Business Journal
The Tennessee Housing Development Agency is administering $49.3 million of the state’s $72.5 million from the Housing and Economic Recovery Act’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which Congress passed in July.
Direct community allocations from THDA include $11.5 million for Memphis, $4 million for Nashville/Davidson County, $2.7 million for Shelby County, $2.73 million for Knoxville and $2.1 million for Chattanooga.
Nationally, the program made $3.92 billion available for community and state administrators to develop programs to purchase, rehabilitate and sell abandoned and foreclosed homes to rebuild neighborhoods. The legislation also requires 25 percent of the state’s allocation be used for households at or below 50 percent of area median income.
Ted Fellman, executive director of the Tennessee housing agency, says the funds provide an opportunity to rebuild neighborhoods hit by the subprime mortgage and foreclosure crises. THDA will allocate the state’s funding to the areas with the greatest need, with HUD providing data revealing which Census tracts have the highest percentages of homes financed with subprime mortgages and high foreclosure rates.
Eco-friendly gifts are becoming more popular this holiday season
Holiday shoppers plan to spend more on green gifts
Nashville Business Journal
When it comes to being environmentally friendly, Americans have no plans of cutting back this holiday season, according to a new study commissioned by retailer Plow Hearth.
About two-thirds of those going green this year say they are willing to spend between 10 percent and 25 percent more to by ecofriendly holiday green gifts.
About 55 percent of women are likely to purchase green products compared to 45 percent of men. Middle-aged and younger Americans are more likely than their older people to purchase eco-friendly gifts.
And people who live in the West are more likely than Americans in the South, Northeast and the Midwest to buy green gifts.
Thirty-four percent of Americans reported that money is the biggest factor in deciding whether to make an environmentally friendly purchase.
“It’s heartening to know that even during a period of financial uncertainty, Americans will still go the extra mile to protect the environment,” Plow Hearth president Tim Hopkins says. “Now more than ever, it is critical that we maintain our commitment to the planet.”
Nashville Business Journal
When it comes to being environmentally friendly, Americans have no plans of cutting back this holiday season, according to a new study commissioned by retailer Plow Hearth.
About two-thirds of those going green this year say they are willing to spend between 10 percent and 25 percent more to by ecofriendly holiday green gifts.
About 55 percent of women are likely to purchase green products compared to 45 percent of men. Middle-aged and younger Americans are more likely than their older people to purchase eco-friendly gifts.
And people who live in the West are more likely than Americans in the South, Northeast and the Midwest to buy green gifts.
Thirty-four percent of Americans reported that money is the biggest factor in deciding whether to make an environmentally friendly purchase.
“It’s heartening to know that even during a period of financial uncertainty, Americans will still go the extra mile to protect the environment,” Plow Hearth president Tim Hopkins says. “Now more than ever, it is critical that we maintain our commitment to the planet.”
Do you have weekend plans? The Christmas Tours would be a treat to attend!
One weekend offers five tours, 40 stops
The Tennessean
If you love holiday decorations, historic homes and peeking into others' lives, the weekend of Dec. 6-7 in Williamson County is tailor-made for you. There are no less than four holiday home tours scheduled next weekend.
And for those who want even more, a big home tour is set in Maury County on Dec. 6.
Anyone with the stamina to take in all five of these tours will see 40 homes, churches and other historic sites, all done up for Christmas.
Tour-goers also will be contributing to charities and causes with their purchase of tickets. So plan to get out your county map, fill up the Thermos and enjoy all the work others have done to get ready for the holidays.
CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES
DEC. 7 IN FAIRVIEW
After an absence of several years, the Friends of Fairview Library are again sponsoring a Christmas Tour of Homes on Dec. 7.
There are five homes on the tour, each one decorated to the hilt for Christmas.
Slipped Disk Farm on CCC Road is owned by Anne Knauff. The 1½-story bungalow built in 2002 replaced a home that was destroyed by fire. It features spacious rooms with large windows that offer views of the farm and forest of the Lakewood Club. Other spots on the property that will be open to tour-goers are the pavilion, the guest cabin and the potting shed, where visitors will enjoy warm drinks and treats. The living room of the main house will feature a mini-forest of Christmas trees.
June Churchman's Grammar Road home will feature her collection of Nativity scenes placed in different rooms, as well as an extensive collection of traditional red and green Christmas decorations.
Tim and Molly Abner's split-level house on King Road will be filled with Christmas trees of different themes, including a "redbird tree" in the kitchen and a tree decorated with dog ornaments in honor of the 60 (or more) pets the Abners have rescued and either found or given homes.
Kevin and Cydney Osborn's three-story Cape Cod, also on King Road, will feature country Christmas decorations and natural items such as pinecones and grapevines. "Every room will be decorated for Christmas," including the bathrooms, Cydney Osborn said.
A true Christmas aficionado, Osborn plays Christmas carols every morning of the year. "It gets me going," she said. Visitors will count seven Christmas trees in her house; "even the bedrooms have trees," she said. The master bedroom also features an entire Christmas Village scene.
Eddie and Bettye Hyche's home on Deer Ridge Road reflects Bettye's love for antiques, with every room featuring several fine pieces and accessories. The house, recently enlarged with a new sunroom, will be decorated in red and white for the tour. On display will be a collection of Santas and snowmen.
IF YOU GO
Tickets can be purchased at the Fairview Library, 2240 Fairview Blvd., for $10 per person or $15 per family. The hours of the tour are 1-4 p.m. Call 615-799-0235 or 615-799-0267.
CARTER HOUSE CANDLELIGHT TOUR
DEC. 6-7 IN FRANKLIN
The 36th annual Carter House Christmas Candlelight Tour is Dec. 6-7 and will feature 10 stops.
In addition to the historic Carter House, the tour will feature the magnificent Jasmine Grove antebellum mansion on Myles Manor Court, the Lotz House at 1111 Columbia Ave. and Scarlett Scales at 212 S. Margin St., which is the only shotgun-style house left in Franklin.
Also on the tour is the totally renovated Tudor cottage at 121 Myles Manor Court, which is for sale. Ed and Camille Underwood, who also own and live at Jasmine Grove, own the cottage.
Ed Underwood said the renovation basically doubled the square footage of the cottage, which was built in 1930.
"We tore off the roof and replaced it," Underwood added. "The front and the side facades are about the only things left of the old house. Everything else is pretty much new."
The home has 4,467 square feet, four bedrooms, four bathrooms and is listed for $975,000. The houses on Myles Manor Court constitute Franklin's first subdivision, according to Underwood.
The neighborhood formed in the early 1930s after the owner of Jasmine Grove sold off a portion of the plantation's property with the hope that a neighborhood of houses would block the view between the mansion and The Factory, Underwood said.
Nonresidential properties on the tour include the Franklin Flower and Gift Gallery at 1152 Columbia Ave., St. Paul's Episcopal Church at 510 W. Main St. (Saturday evening only), the Hiram No. 7 Masonic Lodge at 115 Second Ave. S., the Franklin Antique Mall at Second Avenue and South Margin, and J.J. Ashley's Interiors at 125 S. Margin.
IF YOU GO
Advance tickets are $18 and can be purchased at Carter House, Green Bank, Magic Memories, The Factory and The Heritage Foundation. Tickets are $20 on the tour days and can be purchased at the Carter House, 1140 Columbia Ave. The tour's hours are 5-9 p.m. and is dedicated to those serving in the U.S. military and Thomas Y. Cartwright.
HISTORIC HOLIDAY HOME TOUR
DEC. 7 IN COLLEGE GROVE
The College Grove Historic Holiday Home Tour, set for Dec. 7, is sponsored by the College Grove Lions Club and the Friends of the Library.
Seven properties of historic distinction will be open this year.
The McPeak Home at 6672 Arno-College Grove Road was one of the earliest houses built in College Grove, according to owner Frankie McPeak. "It was built in either 1798 or 1799," she said, noting that the property was part of a Revolutionary War land grant.
The house was originally constructed as a log cabin, but today its exterior is white clapboard. McPeak has been renovating the interior lately, with a kitchen makeover and the creation of a new sewing room.
The Ogilvie Place, 8889 Horton Highway, also was originally a log cabin, built circa 1796 by William and Mary Ogilvie. The farm has been cited as one of Tennessee's oldest properties in continuous family ownership. Bob and Libby Ogilvie Battle now call it home; Bob writes a weekly column for Williamson A.M.
Bella Allisona, 8991 Horton Highway, is also known historically as the James Wilhoite House or the Reed Corlette House. An Italianate residence owned by Mark and Jill Howard, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Allisona Heights Farm at 8931 Horton Highway was built by James Allison in the early 1800s. It served as a meeting place for Confederate political gatherings during the Civil War years.
The house is now owned by Jay and Jackie Morell, who have been painstakingly restoring it for years.
Howard and Marjorie Claire Pitts' home at 8954 Horton Highway was built in the 1850s by Sam Wilhoite and was later purchased by W.C. Lanier. Marjorie's family acquired the house in a neglected state in 1969, restored it and has cared for it ever since.
Two nonresidences are on the College Grove tour as well: The Artsitorium on Horton Highway and College Grove United Methodist Church. Built in the late 1800s, the church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
IF YOU GO
Tickets to the College Grove tour are $10 and can be purchased at the College Grove Community Library and local businesses.
WESTHAVEN HOLIDAY HOME TOUR
DEC. 7 IN FRANKLIN
The third annual Westhaven Holiday Home Tour begins at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 and runs through Dec. 7.
Visitors will see six Westhaven residences, each professionally decorated for the holiday season by a different interior designer.
Franklin Marketplace is decorating the home at 1576 Championship Blvd. with a "going green" theme, while ReCreations is doing 1580 Championship Blvd. as a "traditional Tudor with a twist."
"They are using a good chunk of my stuff and embellishing on that," said Julie Robideau, homeowner of the Tudor house. Her Christmas decorations include a collection of nutcrackers. Pianist Claire Cope will perform at the Robideau house Sunday afternoon.
Rooms Revived is decorating 700 Abbott Place as a "chocolate and berry lover's dream," while Bella Vita Designs will be decorating 109 Morning Mist Lane with "Hollywood glamour with Southern charm."
Harmony Home is decorating 101 Morning Mist Lane to illustrate "the reason for the season," and Lauralee Interiors will showcase 303 Morning Mist Lane with a "looking for Santa" theme.
Carolers from New Hope Academy will perform Friday night and luminarias will decorate the neighborhood Saturday night. Drinks and food will be available from The Frisky Berry.
IF YOU GO
Advance tickets are $12 available at http://www.westhavenfoundation.org/ and $15 on the days of the tour at the Westhaven Residents Club. Tour hours are 6-9 p.m. Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Dec. 6 and 1-5 p.m. Dec. 7. The Westhaven subdivision is on Highway 96 in Franklin.
Proceeds from the event benefit Second Harvest Food Bank's Backpack program for children and the Montessori School of Franklin.
MAJESTIC MAURY COUNTY HOME TOUR
DEC. 6 IN SPRING HILL
The Majestic Maury County Home Tour is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 6. It features 12 stops, including historic sites as well as newly built homes. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 on the day of the event, with reduced rates for seniors and groups of 10 or more people.
IF YOU GO
Tickets may be purchased at Rippavilla Plantation in Spring Hill; phone orders are being filled by Sullivan's Flowers and Gifts in Columbia at 931-388-3035.
The Tennessean
If you love holiday decorations, historic homes and peeking into others' lives, the weekend of Dec. 6-7 in Williamson County is tailor-made for you. There are no less than four holiday home tours scheduled next weekend.
And for those who want even more, a big home tour is set in Maury County on Dec. 6.
Anyone with the stamina to take in all five of these tours will see 40 homes, churches and other historic sites, all done up for Christmas.
Tour-goers also will be contributing to charities and causes with their purchase of tickets. So plan to get out your county map, fill up the Thermos and enjoy all the work others have done to get ready for the holidays.
CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES
DEC. 7 IN FAIRVIEW
After an absence of several years, the Friends of Fairview Library are again sponsoring a Christmas Tour of Homes on Dec. 7.
There are five homes on the tour, each one decorated to the hilt for Christmas.
Slipped Disk Farm on CCC Road is owned by Anne Knauff. The 1½-story bungalow built in 2002 replaced a home that was destroyed by fire. It features spacious rooms with large windows that offer views of the farm and forest of the Lakewood Club. Other spots on the property that will be open to tour-goers are the pavilion, the guest cabin and the potting shed, where visitors will enjoy warm drinks and treats. The living room of the main house will feature a mini-forest of Christmas trees.
June Churchman's Grammar Road home will feature her collection of Nativity scenes placed in different rooms, as well as an extensive collection of traditional red and green Christmas decorations.
Tim and Molly Abner's split-level house on King Road will be filled with Christmas trees of different themes, including a "redbird tree" in the kitchen and a tree decorated with dog ornaments in honor of the 60 (or more) pets the Abners have rescued and either found or given homes.
Kevin and Cydney Osborn's three-story Cape Cod, also on King Road, will feature country Christmas decorations and natural items such as pinecones and grapevines. "Every room will be decorated for Christmas," including the bathrooms, Cydney Osborn said.
A true Christmas aficionado, Osborn plays Christmas carols every morning of the year. "It gets me going," she said. Visitors will count seven Christmas trees in her house; "even the bedrooms have trees," she said. The master bedroom also features an entire Christmas Village scene.
Eddie and Bettye Hyche's home on Deer Ridge Road reflects Bettye's love for antiques, with every room featuring several fine pieces and accessories. The house, recently enlarged with a new sunroom, will be decorated in red and white for the tour. On display will be a collection of Santas and snowmen.
IF YOU GO
Tickets can be purchased at the Fairview Library, 2240 Fairview Blvd., for $10 per person or $15 per family. The hours of the tour are 1-4 p.m. Call 615-799-0235 or 615-799-0267.
CARTER HOUSE CANDLELIGHT TOUR
DEC. 6-7 IN FRANKLIN
The 36th annual Carter House Christmas Candlelight Tour is Dec. 6-7 and will feature 10 stops.
In addition to the historic Carter House, the tour will feature the magnificent Jasmine Grove antebellum mansion on Myles Manor Court, the Lotz House at 1111 Columbia Ave. and Scarlett Scales at 212 S. Margin St., which is the only shotgun-style house left in Franklin.
Also on the tour is the totally renovated Tudor cottage at 121 Myles Manor Court, which is for sale. Ed and Camille Underwood, who also own and live at Jasmine Grove, own the cottage.
Ed Underwood said the renovation basically doubled the square footage of the cottage, which was built in 1930.
"We tore off the roof and replaced it," Underwood added. "The front and the side facades are about the only things left of the old house. Everything else is pretty much new."
The home has 4,467 square feet, four bedrooms, four bathrooms and is listed for $975,000. The houses on Myles Manor Court constitute Franklin's first subdivision, according to Underwood.
The neighborhood formed in the early 1930s after the owner of Jasmine Grove sold off a portion of the plantation's property with the hope that a neighborhood of houses would block the view between the mansion and The Factory, Underwood said.
Nonresidential properties on the tour include the Franklin Flower and Gift Gallery at 1152 Columbia Ave., St. Paul's Episcopal Church at 510 W. Main St. (Saturday evening only), the Hiram No. 7 Masonic Lodge at 115 Second Ave. S., the Franklin Antique Mall at Second Avenue and South Margin, and J.J. Ashley's Interiors at 125 S. Margin.
IF YOU GO
Advance tickets are $18 and can be purchased at Carter House, Green Bank, Magic Memories, The Factory and The Heritage Foundation. Tickets are $20 on the tour days and can be purchased at the Carter House, 1140 Columbia Ave. The tour's hours are 5-9 p.m. and is dedicated to those serving in the U.S. military and Thomas Y. Cartwright.
HISTORIC HOLIDAY HOME TOUR
DEC. 7 IN COLLEGE GROVE
The College Grove Historic Holiday Home Tour, set for Dec. 7, is sponsored by the College Grove Lions Club and the Friends of the Library.
Seven properties of historic distinction will be open this year.
The McPeak Home at 6672 Arno-College Grove Road was one of the earliest houses built in College Grove, according to owner Frankie McPeak. "It was built in either 1798 or 1799," she said, noting that the property was part of a Revolutionary War land grant.
The house was originally constructed as a log cabin, but today its exterior is white clapboard. McPeak has been renovating the interior lately, with a kitchen makeover and the creation of a new sewing room.
The Ogilvie Place, 8889 Horton Highway, also was originally a log cabin, built circa 1796 by William and Mary Ogilvie. The farm has been cited as one of Tennessee's oldest properties in continuous family ownership. Bob and Libby Ogilvie Battle now call it home; Bob writes a weekly column for Williamson A.M.
Bella Allisona, 8991 Horton Highway, is also known historically as the James Wilhoite House or the Reed Corlette House. An Italianate residence owned by Mark and Jill Howard, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Allisona Heights Farm at 8931 Horton Highway was built by James Allison in the early 1800s. It served as a meeting place for Confederate political gatherings during the Civil War years.
The house is now owned by Jay and Jackie Morell, who have been painstakingly restoring it for years.
Howard and Marjorie Claire Pitts' home at 8954 Horton Highway was built in the 1850s by Sam Wilhoite and was later purchased by W.C. Lanier. Marjorie's family acquired the house in a neglected state in 1969, restored it and has cared for it ever since.
Two nonresidences are on the College Grove tour as well: The Artsitorium on Horton Highway and College Grove United Methodist Church. Built in the late 1800s, the church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
IF YOU GO
Tickets to the College Grove tour are $10 and can be purchased at the College Grove Community Library and local businesses.
WESTHAVEN HOLIDAY HOME TOUR
DEC. 7 IN FRANKLIN
The third annual Westhaven Holiday Home Tour begins at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 and runs through Dec. 7.
Visitors will see six Westhaven residences, each professionally decorated for the holiday season by a different interior designer.
Franklin Marketplace is decorating the home at 1576 Championship Blvd. with a "going green" theme, while ReCreations is doing 1580 Championship Blvd. as a "traditional Tudor with a twist."
"They are using a good chunk of my stuff and embellishing on that," said Julie Robideau, homeowner of the Tudor house. Her Christmas decorations include a collection of nutcrackers. Pianist Claire Cope will perform at the Robideau house Sunday afternoon.
Rooms Revived is decorating 700 Abbott Place as a "chocolate and berry lover's dream," while Bella Vita Designs will be decorating 109 Morning Mist Lane with "Hollywood glamour with Southern charm."
Harmony Home is decorating 101 Morning Mist Lane to illustrate "the reason for the season," and Lauralee Interiors will showcase 303 Morning Mist Lane with a "looking for Santa" theme.
Carolers from New Hope Academy will perform Friday night and luminarias will decorate the neighborhood Saturday night. Drinks and food will be available from The Frisky Berry.
IF YOU GO
Advance tickets are $12 available at http://www.westhavenfoundation.org/ and $15 on the days of the tour at the Westhaven Residents Club. Tour hours are 6-9 p.m. Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Dec. 6 and 1-5 p.m. Dec. 7. The Westhaven subdivision is on Highway 96 in Franklin.
Proceeds from the event benefit Second Harvest Food Bank's Backpack program for children and the Montessori School of Franklin.
MAJESTIC MAURY COUNTY HOME TOUR
DEC. 6 IN SPRING HILL
The Majestic Maury County Home Tour is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 6. It features 12 stops, including historic sites as well as newly built homes. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 on the day of the event, with reduced rates for seniors and groups of 10 or more people.
IF YOU GO
Tickets may be purchased at Rippavilla Plantation in Spring Hill; phone orders are being filled by Sullivan's Flowers and Gifts in Columbia at 931-388-3035.
November 25, 2008
Hickory Hollow went from farmland to crowded shopping to uncertain future
Mall ghost of Christmases past
The Tennessean
Ross' husband, Houston, who died in 1986, was instrumental in the land acquisition that resulted in the mall's development in 1979.
The property was farmland owned by J.E. Moss, a former Davidson County school superintendent, and other local landowners.
"My husband looked after all of Mr. Moss' business," said Ross, a resident of Hickory Hollow Towers, a nearby senior living facility built the same year as the mall.
She recalled how one day Moss contacted her husband about a land deal. Moss introduced Ross to some developers out of Memphis who were also the developers of Rivergate Mall.
At first, she said, they didn't want to include her husband in the deal becaues they had their own people and didn't want to pay a commission.
But, she added, Moss wouldn't go for that. He felt that local country folk would never negotiate with outsiders. He told them, "You people coming from out of town won't get anywhere. This boy can get it listed," she said.
"My husband worked with them and got them all listed," she said. "That's how he got in on the deal."
Mall brought 'a lot of people'
"It brought a lot of people into the area," said Wilber Hays, who married Ross' daughter Faye and whose family roots also go way back in Davidson County history.
Hays said car dealerships and apartment complexes began to spring up after the mall was built. "It brought lots of traffic," he added, pointing out how Bell Road was then only two lanes.
"Around the holidays, you couldn't even get a parking place," he said. "Castner-Knott, Cain-Sloan, Sears and J.C. Penney were the big stores. It was a good family mall; the kids were safe."
Hays said his son, Ross, worked there as a teenager. "It was really an asset to the community."
Mall starts to look a lot like Christmas
The mall has been met with challenges in recent years with the departures of some of its tenants, such as J.C. Penney, Hallmark, Dillard's and Linens 'n Things, as well as departures of big box stores outside its walls.
Pier I Imports, Michael's, Toys R Us, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft, Garden Ridge and Media Play have also left the area.
Meanwhile, shopping centers and malls such as Opry Mills, The Avenue and Stones River Mall in Murfreesboro, Providence in Mt. Juliet and CoolSprings in Franklin continue to pose strong competition.
And then there's the recent economic crisis to add to the mix.
"A lot of consumers are cautious this year with the economy," said Mike Johnson, regional manager for CBL & Associates Properties, Inc., which owns Hickory Hollow, Rivergate Mall and CoolSprings Galleria.
"It's affecting the retail business across the country," he said. "Consumer confidence is at a historical low."
This, said Johnson, "does put a cloud on the spending climate. How much of one remains to be seen."
Johnson hopes that the Christmas season will be a shot in the arm, though.
"We haven't seen the November numbers yet," he said. But, he said, "Several of the stores are offering discounts. We've seen traffic pick up due to some of the discounts the retailers are offering."
Also, said Johnson, "as the mall starts marketing and decorating for Christmas, we usually see an increase in traffic. I think everybody's waiting to see what kind of Christmas we have."
Redeveloping adjacency
As a result of the challenges Hickory Hollow Mall has faced recently, CBL plans to redevelop an adjacent property to try to revitalize the area.
Hickory Hollow Courtyard would be redeveloped with a fresh mix of restaurant and retail space. The movie theater and TGI Fridays would remain.
Also, CBL has explored the possibility of an office partnership that would resemble that of 100 Oaks Mall and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Hays said restaurants generally tend to do well in the area. Also, he said, anything that would encourage more people to shop in the area would be a plus.
Ross said she would like to the see the mall succeed, especially for the younger generations. She's hoping CBL plans turn it around. She remains optimistic.
"You can't stop progress," she said.
The Tennessean
Ross' husband, Houston, who died in 1986, was instrumental in the land acquisition that resulted in the mall's development in 1979.
The property was farmland owned by J.E. Moss, a former Davidson County school superintendent, and other local landowners.
"My husband looked after all of Mr. Moss' business," said Ross, a resident of Hickory Hollow Towers, a nearby senior living facility built the same year as the mall.
She recalled how one day Moss contacted her husband about a land deal. Moss introduced Ross to some developers out of Memphis who were also the developers of Rivergate Mall.
At first, she said, they didn't want to include her husband in the deal becaues they had their own people and didn't want to pay a commission.
But, she added, Moss wouldn't go for that. He felt that local country folk would never negotiate with outsiders. He told them, "You people coming from out of town won't get anywhere. This boy can get it listed," she said.
"My husband worked with them and got them all listed," she said. "That's how he got in on the deal."
Mall brought 'a lot of people'
"It brought a lot of people into the area," said Wilber Hays, who married Ross' daughter Faye and whose family roots also go way back in Davidson County history.
Hays said car dealerships and apartment complexes began to spring up after the mall was built. "It brought lots of traffic," he added, pointing out how Bell Road was then only two lanes.
"Around the holidays, you couldn't even get a parking place," he said. "Castner-Knott, Cain-Sloan, Sears and J.C. Penney were the big stores. It was a good family mall; the kids were safe."
Hays said his son, Ross, worked there as a teenager. "It was really an asset to the community."
Mall starts to look a lot like Christmas
The mall has been met with challenges in recent years with the departures of some of its tenants, such as J.C. Penney, Hallmark, Dillard's and Linens 'n Things, as well as departures of big box stores outside its walls.
Pier I Imports, Michael's, Toys R Us, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft, Garden Ridge and Media Play have also left the area.
Meanwhile, shopping centers and malls such as Opry Mills, The Avenue and Stones River Mall in Murfreesboro, Providence in Mt. Juliet and CoolSprings in Franklin continue to pose strong competition.
And then there's the recent economic crisis to add to the mix.
"A lot of consumers are cautious this year with the economy," said Mike Johnson, regional manager for CBL & Associates Properties, Inc., which owns Hickory Hollow, Rivergate Mall and CoolSprings Galleria.
"It's affecting the retail business across the country," he said. "Consumer confidence is at a historical low."
This, said Johnson, "does put a cloud on the spending climate. How much of one remains to be seen."
Johnson hopes that the Christmas season will be a shot in the arm, though.
"We haven't seen the November numbers yet," he said. But, he said, "Several of the stores are offering discounts. We've seen traffic pick up due to some of the discounts the retailers are offering."
Also, said Johnson, "as the mall starts marketing and decorating for Christmas, we usually see an increase in traffic. I think everybody's waiting to see what kind of Christmas we have."
Redeveloping adjacency
As a result of the challenges Hickory Hollow Mall has faced recently, CBL plans to redevelop an adjacent property to try to revitalize the area.
Hickory Hollow Courtyard would be redeveloped with a fresh mix of restaurant and retail space. The movie theater and TGI Fridays would remain.
Also, CBL has explored the possibility of an office partnership that would resemble that of 100 Oaks Mall and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Hays said restaurants generally tend to do well in the area. Also, he said, anything that would encourage more people to shop in the area would be a plus.
Ross said she would like to the see the mall succeed, especially for the younger generations. She's hoping CBL plans turn it around. She remains optimistic.
"You can't stop progress," she said.
Theater's fate relies on city
Franklin also could choose to cut funds to nonprofits
The Tennessan
FRANKLIN — Tough financial choices may come tonight for aldermen as they discuss whether to spend as much as $500,000 to help restore the Franklin Theatre — and whether to cut $490,170 from the city's budget, including money for local nonprofits.
Theater owners at the nonprofit Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County need $1.5 million by the first week of January in order to get a matching grant of $1.5 million from the Martin Foundation.
Private funds for the theater have dried up with the spiraling national economy, leaving city officials pondering whether to invest in the restoration of the 400-seat theater, which could be used for larger public gatherings in the future.
"It's a sticky wicket," said Mayor John Schroer, who said he had not yet made up his mind about whether he would support putting city money into the theater project. If the city does support the project, he said he wants the foundation to pay back any money Franklin contributes.
Schroer said he's still talking to two possible donors about contributing money to the project, though the parties have not committed yet.
"This project has had community buy-in, but it needs a little bit more," Schroer said. "I've got some hope."
Alderman Dan Klatt — who represents Ward 4, where the theater is located — says he's had an "overwhelmingly positive response" to his proposal that the city support the theater.
He hopes the project will garner $500,000 in public funds, but if not, Klatt said he's open for discussion.
Meanwhile, aldermen are looking at cuts throughout the budget for the next fiscal year, including contributions to the nonprofit organizations the city regularly supports each year.
Of the $490,170 in the budget for appropriations, the city contributes $365,653 to nonprofit agencies — including The Boys & Girls Club of Franklin/Williamson County, which received $18,000 this year; the Community Housing Partnership, which received $10,000; and J.L. Clay Senior Citizens Center, which received $49,237, according to city records.
Klatt said he doesn't believe those contributions should be pared in 2009.
"They are providing services we don't provide as a city, and they're valuable to the quality of life of our city," he said.
The Tennessan
FRANKLIN — Tough financial choices may come tonight for aldermen as they discuss whether to spend as much as $500,000 to help restore the Franklin Theatre — and whether to cut $490,170 from the city's budget, including money for local nonprofits.
Theater owners at the nonprofit Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County need $1.5 million by the first week of January in order to get a matching grant of $1.5 million from the Martin Foundation.
Private funds for the theater have dried up with the spiraling national economy, leaving city officials pondering whether to invest in the restoration of the 400-seat theater, which could be used for larger public gatherings in the future.
"It's a sticky wicket," said Mayor John Schroer, who said he had not yet made up his mind about whether he would support putting city money into the theater project. If the city does support the project, he said he wants the foundation to pay back any money Franklin contributes.
Schroer said he's still talking to two possible donors about contributing money to the project, though the parties have not committed yet.
"This project has had community buy-in, but it needs a little bit more," Schroer said. "I've got some hope."
Alderman Dan Klatt — who represents Ward 4, where the theater is located — says he's had an "overwhelmingly positive response" to his proposal that the city support the theater.
He hopes the project will garner $500,000 in public funds, but if not, Klatt said he's open for discussion.
Meanwhile, aldermen are looking at cuts throughout the budget for the next fiscal year, including contributions to the nonprofit organizations the city regularly supports each year.
Of the $490,170 in the budget for appropriations, the city contributes $365,653 to nonprofit agencies — including The Boys & Girls Club of Franklin/Williamson County, which received $18,000 this year; the Community Housing Partnership, which received $10,000; and J.L. Clay Senior Citizens Center, which received $49,237, according to city records.
Klatt said he doesn't believe those contributions should be pared in 2009.
"They are providing services we don't provide as a city, and they're valuable to the quality of life of our city," he said.
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