Could a housing development be built on the Creekside property?
Developers want to build a new neighborhood on the Creekside property, a move that would alter the "rural character" of a city gateway. The Creekside property, located at the intersection of Mack Hatcher Parkway and Franklin Road, was recently declared an at-risk historical site by the Heritage Foundation. The property is the former home of Sarah Florence McEwen Adkerson, the daughter of Franklin Mayor John B. McEwen, who led the city during the Civil War. The site was heavily used in 1863 during the Federal occupation. Developers want to construct 34 single-family homes and 33 multiplex buildings that would house up to four units each, for a total of more than 160 dwellings on the property. The Historic Zoning Commission recommended that the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the Planning Commission disapprove the project. During the Historic Zoning Commission meeting, developer Gary Vogrin appeared before commissioners for at least the second time with a revised plan that included more green and yard space on the land and fewer proposed homes. The historic manor is at the heart of the property, he said, and would be featured prominently. In need of some TLC, Vogrin said he was in touch with the Heritage Foundation about preserving the property and planned to transform it into a neighborhood community or event center. The proposal is scheduled to be discussed during the July 22 Planning Commission meeting. Reach Brinley Hineman at bhineman@tennessean.com and on Twitter @brinleyhineman. To stay updated on Williamson County news, sign up for our newsletter.