MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — The former First United Methodist Church in Downtown Murfreesboro has been approved to become a mixed-used redevelopment.
The project will include 55 residential condo units and a 110-room hotel with access to a five-story office and retail space that includes a restaurant or event venue. A 500-space parking garage will also be constructed.
It will take over a 2.48-acre city block between Church, Lytle, College and Spring Streets.
Murfreesboro City Council voted to approve the economic development plan and TIF incentive for the project on Thursday.
The former church is scheduled for demolition in January 2020. The bell tower and sanctuary will be preserved.
“The redevelopment is a vital step in revitalization of downtown Murfreesboro and will preserve and incorporate the sanctuary and bell tower of the historic church,” said Mayor Shane McFarland. “The project planned by One East College will add significant commercial, retail and residential properties to the downtown area with an important hotel amenity for the downtown area and Middle Tennessee State University. The publicly accessible parking garage will increase the availability of downtown parking.”
The city said the plan will generate about $1.223 million in additional annual tax revenues for Murfreesboro and Rutherford County during the TIF incentive. The redevelopment will also create about 1,680 construction jobs and add about 520 long-term full-time jobs.
The former First United Methodist Church served the community until 2003.
