The Tennessee Baptist Convention has begun drawing up plans to market its six-acre home office site at Franklin Road and Maryland Way. The move by the group, which was one of the first large commercial tenants in Maryland Farms, comes a few weeks after H.G. Hill Realty and GBT Realty said they would start tearing down the adjacent Murray Ohio building.

Randy Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, confirmed recent discussions with the two firms but said there is nothing pending. He anticipates taking the summer months to plot a marketing strategy to sell the property. Davis acknowledged that the redevelopment prospects at the neighboring site are exciting but said it was not a factor in deciding to sell.

“It’s reason to be optimistic,” Davis said. “That was just pure coincidence, the timing of it. If that were still the Murray Ohio property we would still be making this decision.”

In an address to our Board of Directors, City Manager Mike Walker stated that this could be the most important legislation that the city has considered in 40 years. Michael Hindman of H. Michael Hindman Architects agrees, "If this does go through, I believe that redevelopment in the (Town Center) area has a much higher chance of occurring successfully." The proposed amendments to the C4 Town Center Zoning will be presented for a first reading by the Brentwood City Commission tonight, October 11th. The amendments will then be reviewed by the Brentwood Planning Commission on November 1st. There will be a public hearing at the City Commission meeting on November 8th. It is at this meeting that the public will have the opportunity to make comments. It is important that residents and corporate citizens also attend this meeting to speak in favor of the amendments. It is important to show support for the amendments and support for the Commissioners.