by Mark Bellinger
LEBANON, Tenn. - A proposed major retail and entertainment center in Lebanon could be in trouble. Tax relief for part of the Cumberland Center has failed to get enough votes in the Lebanon City Council.
Sources close to the project said supporters are regrouping.
The development is spearheaded by Lebanon Mayor Phillip Craighead and he's not giving up. It looks like Tuesday night's vote wounded the project, but it didn't kill it.
Despite the vote in the Lebanon Council work on phase one of the Cumberland Center continues. The developer is creating the infrastructure to support retail and office space Developer Larry Frankenbach said its full speed ahead. He says a Western Wear store and a major restaurant chain have committed to build there
Lebanon Mayor Phillip Craighead says Tuesday's council vote will probably delay things.
"We're going to be slowed down probably a year to basically set up a partnership with the county and start a savings account to achieve something this community has talked about for 25 years ," he said.
The Cumberland Center includes two phases. The second phase which includes a hockey arena requires an entertainment district.
The district allows tax dollars generated by the site be put into a fund to pay for more development.
The state legislature must give its approval. But before it gets there the county commission and the city council need to sign off on it and that didn't quite happen.
Lebanon's vote in the council did pass, but it was one vote shy of the two thirds majority. Lebanon councilmembers Alex Buhler, Haywood Berry and Kathy Warmath voted against the proposal.
One councilman told the local newspaper more workshops were needed to explain how the 35 million dollar project would be financed.
Councilman Rob Cesternino voted yes.
"I am not sold on the project. I don't think we're far enough down the road to have a yes or no on the project in the totality of it, but I felt we were far enough to give the mayor the authority to try to get the tax relief from Nashville," he said.
The Wilson County Commission is also supposed to vote on the entertainment district and the tax relief at its meeting this Monday. Without the support of the Lebanon City Council that vote may not happen.
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