Plans Unveiled For Retirement Complex For Music Makers

Posted:

Martina McBride

Grand Ole Opry star Jim Ed Brown

Franklin mayor John Schroer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Music industry leaders Tuesday announced plans for a senior living facility for music artists.

The $95 million complex will be called the Crescendo at Westhaven. The compound will sit on 15 acres in Franklin's Westhaven community. Although it is geared for music industry retirees, it will be open to anyone who is 62 years old and older.

"It's going to be an awful lot of musicians and singers and writers and people that's in the music industry whether it be country or whatever," said Grand Ole Opry star Jim Ed Brown.

Groundbreaking is projected to take place in 2011 and occupancy in 2013.

"I think it'll be a lot of spillover. We're trying to renovate a downtown theater. There may be an opportunity for some of the residents to be involved in that downtown theater. So I think there's a lot of synergism that will go on and these people will want to be involved in the community," said John Schroer, mayor of Franklin, which is about 30 minutes south of downtown Nashville.

The Crescendo will be owned and supervised by the Crescendo Music Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization. In addition to the living quarters, residents will also have access to recording studio and performance spaces.

Those amenities are important, said singer Martina McBride.

"They'll have people that they can share experiences with and will also have lots of opportunities for them to perform if they want to," McBride said, adding that there will also be songwriting workshops and mentoring possibilities.

"We're just going through right now the process of where we're asking questions, what they're looking for and what their needs are," said Tonya Zuckerman, Crescendo lifestyle specialist.

The Country Music Association has been working toward this retirement home for 18 years. The CMA consists of more than 5,500 music industry professionals and companies.