WGNS Radio (www.wgnsradio.com), August 11, 2016
Murfreesboro city council approved purchasing three lots of property at the corner of Southeast Broad and South Church Street for the purpose of making improvements on Town Creek Culverts.
The city’s plan calls for a conceptual design of stream restoration segments to develop a daylighting and rerouting plan for improving the area.
Assistant City Engineer Sam Huddleston stressed many benefits of the purchase including a portion of land refunded to storm water preserves, improvements to water and sewer facilities, water quality improvement, and more. Vice Mayor Doug Young called it, “The beginning of the resurrection of the bottoms.”
American Development Partners proposed a contract with the city at $700,000 for the lots. The city will leave the former KFC parcel with ADP as they have an intention of building a fast food establishment at the location in the future. Reconstruction on Town Creek will begin in the next 18 to 24 months.
Town Creek Culverts dates back to the 1950’s Bottoms urban renewal project and Broad SE construction. Kentucky Fried Chicken and twin CMP culverts extended in 1970. In 2007, twin CMP’s failed in the KFC parking lot causing thousands of dollars in repairs.
Further inspections revealed significant deterioration in culvert sections near KFC. In December 2012, ADP closed KFC.
In 2015, conceptual design discussion talks began with the City Staff. ADP recently agreed to purchase three parcels to the city at their cost.