FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — A long-awaited development project could be one step closer to becoming a reality.

On Thursday night, the city's planning commission will consider moving forward with the project.

"A lot of my constituents have said, ‘When is Ovation going to get built?’ Well, now is the time,” Franklin Alderman Beverly Burger told News 2.

The project is a 100+ acre development planned for the east side of Franklin, which could bring offices, several hundred residential units, retail shops, hotels, trails and meeting places to the city.

Alex Chambers, Senior Vice President, Nashville Market Leader for Highwoods Properties is a developer on the project.

"Downtown Franklin, The Factory, McEwen, North side are all great projects and great gathering spots for the community, but they're all on the west side of I-65,” Chambers explained. “Ovation will be the East side's big chance to have that type of community at scale, to bring people together, high-end amenities, high-end restaurants, retail — to give the east side their first shot at something of this scale.”

The project is planned for Burger’s ward. She said the development has been in the works for years, and the city has prepared surrounding infrastructure including road systems to handle a project of this size.

"This is what we do really truly call planned growth, and I'm excited that we can bring this online for my ward. We have beautiful area here," Burger said. "It's been empty for years, and it's nice to look at, but people want something that they can walk to, they can come to, here in our area and of course, as I said, it's right off the interstate, so it's in a great location."

Alderman Greg Caeser also said the area's infrastructure is ready for this level of development, adding the project will bring something unique to Franklin.

"I think this project does an interesting job of bringing together places to live, places to work, and places to shop or eat in a way that not other projects in the community really do, and it's special,” Caeser added.

Caeser has encouraged public input on the project and said he'll continue to advocate for the space to be walkable and bikeable in order to not only ease potential road impacts, but also create a healthy community.

"Can you go take your dog for a walk? Can you go enjoy some quiet time in a pocket park?" Caesar said. "Those are going to be elements of this development."

If the project moves through the planning commission, which meets at 6 p.m., it'll head to the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The project's developer hopes to break ground on construction by next year.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/long-awaited-ovation-development-may-soon-move-forward-in-franklin/