Major Developments Are Transforming Williamson County
Projects are creating opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs thinking of moving to Williamson County, Tennessee.
A number of new construction projects are reshaping communities in Williamson County, adding millions of square feet of office and commercial space as well as single-family and multifamily residences.
Here’s a few developments that are transforming business in Williamson County.
Berry Farms in Franklin, TN
One area experiencing significant growth is the Berry Farms property south of Cool Springs, near the Interstate 65/Peytonsville Road (Goose Creek Bypass) interchange. Ramsey Solutions, the company owned by financial guru Dave Ramsey, opened a six-story office building in 2019 at Berry Farms and added another six-story office structure in 2021. Next door to the Ramsey Solutions campus is a building that houses health insurer Aetna.
June Lake in Spring Hill, TN
In Spring Hill, the massive June Lake mixed-use development will ultimately include 3.9 million square feet of office space, 1.3 million square feet of retail and restaurant space, 2,900 homes, hotel rooms, a greenway walking system and public access to an 11-acre lake.
“June Lake will be a distinct district in Spring Hill with its own identity, while also being an important gateway into the city.”
Don Alexander | Southeast Venture
Phase 1 infrastructure work on June Lake began in May 2021 with the widening and realigning of Buckner Lane to eventually connect with Lewisburg Pike, and a new I-65 interchange at exit 56 will break ground in late 2021 and open by September 2023.
Alexander says Phase 1 construction for 400 initial homes and a community center will start in April 2022, and the entire June Lake project is expected to be in development for the next 20 years.
Southwalk and East Works
The Williamson County development boom that has long been taking place in Brentwood, Franklin, Thompson’s Station and Spring Hill is spreading to other parts of the county, including Nolensville. The town is preparing to welcome the Southwalk commercial project that will span 27 acres and include retail, restaurants, offices and a potential residential component. The Southwalk development broke ground in May 2021.
Back in Cool Springs, the complete transformation of the longstanding 50-acre Carothers Building campus will create a new development called East Works District. The project will be developed on 50 acres between Carothers Parkway and I-65, just north of Cool Springs Boulevard.
The East Works District
When fully built out, East Works District will be a pedestrian-focused, mixed-use community featuring residential, retail and Class A office space as well as restaurants, hotels and green spaces.
“This property is perfectly situated in terms of access, walkability and proximity to all the nearby amenities on the west side of Carothers Parkway, fostering what we call a ‘park once’ environment,” says Dirk Melton, director with Nashville-based MarketStreet Enterprises, the development company for East Works District.
Melton says East Works will complete a connection of all properties from Bakers Bridge Road down to Cool Springs Boulevard, which already includes dozens of restaurants, shops, services and amenities that will all be within walking distance of East Works District. The buildout is expected to feature six phases, stretching over 10-20 years.
The development will also include infrastructure installations and improvements, including upgrades to the intersections of Carothers Parkway and Bakers Bridge Road as well as Carothers Parkway and Cool Springs Boulevard. There are also plans to improve the ramps leading to I-65.
East Works District takes its name from the directional marker identifying the location east of I-65, and “Works” is a nod to the history of the former Carothers Building property at 9009 Carothers Parkway, which first established Cool Springs as a major employment hub back in 1995 when the building opened as the home to Ford Motor Credit.
“The word District refers to the character of the development as a vital, walkable place for productive people where they can circulate, connect and recharge within a close-knit community,” Melton says. “We were excited to receive our rezoning approvals in August of 2020, and we are currently working on a subdivision plat with the City of Franklin for our Phase 1 development parcel.”
