Marketing Package

SELLING MIDDLE TENNESSEE SINCE 1980!

AVAILABLE FOR SALE +3.22 ACRE COMMERCIAL SITE North Side of Bear Creek Pike Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee

Contact: Tom McArthur (615) 804-2661 (M) [email protected] www.mcarthursanders.com

McArthur Sanders Real Estate

Disclaimer

This Marketing Package has been prepared by McArthur Sanders Real Estate (the “Listing Broker”) for informational purposes only and should not be perceived to contain all information necessary to reach a purchase decision. The information contained herein has been carefully compiled from sources considered reliable and, while not guaranteed as to completeness or accuracy, is believed to be correct. No warranty representation is made as to the accuracy thereof.

This Marketing Package is subject to prior placement, errors, omissions, changes, withdrawal or cancellation without notice and does not constitute a recommendation, endorsement or advice as to the value of the Property by the Broker or the Seller. Each prospective purchaser is to rely upon its own investigation, evaluation and judgment as to the advisability of purchasing the Property described herein.

McArthur Sanders Real Estate will not be held responsible for errors or discrepancies and reserves the right to change, update, and amend such information at any time without notice.

Any information regarding property for lease, sale, etc., and the estimates of demographics and of expenses is from sources deemed reliable. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy thereof. McArthur Sanders Real Estate will not be held responsible for errors or discrepancies and reserves the right to change, update and amend such information at any time without notice.

203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee 37067 – 615-370-4663(O) 615-370-0107(F) McArthur Sanders Real Estate

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. 1BExecutive Summary Location Map Aerial Property Map Recorded Plat Zoning Map Existing Water Line Map Existing Sewer Map

II. Maury County/Columbia Overview

III. Recent Economic Development Articles

203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee 37067 – 615-370-4663(O) 615-370-0107(F) McArthur Sanders Real Estate

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee 37067 – 615-370-4663(O) 615-370-0107(F) McArthur Sanders Real Estate

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Property Location: North Side of Bear Creek Pike, Just East of Tom J. Hitch Parkway Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee

Tax Identification: Map 90, Parcels 10.01 and 10.14 (Maury County)

Property Interest: Fee Simple Interest

Site Description: The subject property consists of two contiguous parcels containing a combined area of +3.22 acres. Frontage parallels the north side of Bear Creek Pike some 237 feet and the combined sites extend an average depth of 450 feet. The eastern two thirds of the site gently slopes up from southwest to northeast and some preliminary grading work has been completed. The balance of the site (western one third of site) slopes down to the west into a natural drainage basin and a majority of this area is wooded. Access is available off the north side of Bear Creek Pike. Property is located just east of Tennessee Farm Bureau Campus containing +144,000 square feet and employing approximately 750 persons. TDOT 2016 AADT: +13,258 vpd – Bear Creek Pike in close proximity to subject property.

Current Zoning: GCS, General Commercial Service District.

List Price: $515,000.00

Contact: Tom E. McArthur, Jr. Broker (615) 804-2661 (M) (615) 370-4663 (O)

[email protected]

203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee 37067 – 615-370-4663(O) 615-370-0107(F) McArthur Sanders Real Estate

Location Map

203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee 37067 – 615-370-4663(O) 615-370-0107(F) McArthur Sanders Real Estate

Aerial Property Map

203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee 37067 – 615-370-4663(O) 615-370-0107(F) SUBJECT PROPERTY TRACTS 13 & 14 +/-3.22 ACRES COMBINED Columbia TN Development Services Map

200 1100 202 413 411 204 217 400 206 402 208 415 301 210 404 212 406 214 216 401 408 1112 218 403 405 500 300 407 409 1110 400 501 402 404 406 1108 385 500

147 241

217 211 127 191 268

236

142 180 178 156 170 196

182

1112

134 162

9/30/2018, 5:41:08 PM 1:4,514 0 0.04 0.09 0.17mi Columbia_City_Limits ParcelsColumbiaTNPubLD 0 0.05 0.1 0.2km

ZONING MAP

Columbia TN DS Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA | MB | USDA FSA |

McArthur Sanders Real Estate

II. MAURY COUNTY/COLUMBIA DEMOGRAPHICS

203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee 37067 – 615-370-4663(O) 615-370-0107(F) COLUMBIA MAURY COUNTY 2018 COMMUNITY DATA PROFILE

ck Pickett co Sullivan Macon Clay Claiborne Han Hawkins Stewart Montgomery Robertson Sumner Fentress Scott Campbell Johnson e Trousdale Jackson Overton Carter Obion Henry Union Lak Weakley ainger ashington Houston Gr W i Smith Hamblen Greene co Morgan Anderson Uni Dickson Nashville Putnam

Cheatham Jefferson Dyer Davidson Wilson Knoxville Gibson Carroll Humphreys DeKalb Knox Cocke

Benton White Cumberland Williamson Rutherford Roane Sevier Crockett Hickman anno n Van Loudon Blount Lauderdale C Warren Buren

Haywood Madison Henderson atur Perry Maury Rhea

Sequatchie Bledsoe Tipton Dec Lewis Bedford Coffee MeigsMcMinn Monroe Chester Grundy Marshall Moore Shelby Fayette Hardeman McNairy Hardin Wayne Lawrence Giles Lincoln Franklin Marion Hamilton Bradley Polk Memphis Chattanooga

QUICK FACTS TAX STRUCTURE

County Seat Columbia LOCAL City County Year Incorporated 1817 Property Taxes (2017) Land Area in Square Miles (County) 613 • Rate per $100 value $1.44 $2.8150 Water Area in Square Miles (County) 2 Latitude N35° 36.90’ Ratio of Assessment Longitude W87° 02.12’ • Residential and Farm 25% 25% Elevation 650’ • Commercial/Industrial 40% 40% Market Region Nashville • Personal (Equipment) 30% 30% Distance From Nashville 45 miles Time Zone Central Bonded Debt (2017) $57,422,254 $106,115,000 City Website www.columbiatn.com Total Local Assessment (2017) $777,040,550 $1,749,259,220 County Website www.maurycounty-tn.gov Hotel-Motel Tax 5% 5% Additional Incorporated Cities Motor Vehicle Tax Rate $25.00 within the County Mt. Pleasant and Spring Hill Unincorporated Cities Culleoka, Hampshire, Santa Source: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of Property Assessments Fe, Williamsport Source: County Technical Assistance Service, UTIPS POPULATION City County STATE 2010 (Census) 34,684 80,956 Sales Tax 2017 Population 38,345 92,123 • 4% tax on food and food ingredients 2017 Median Age 38.3 39.6 • 7% on all other tangible personal property unless 2022 Population Projection 41,152 100,509 specifically exempted Annual Growth Rate 1.42% 1.76% Local Sales Tax Rate (2017-2022 Projected) • 2.25% Source: ESRI Local and State Sales Tax Collected (FY2017) • $118,797,199 CLIMATE Income Tax • Personal: 4 % on Interest & Dividends for the 2017 period, Annual Average Temperature 57.85° F this tax will be reduced and phased out over the next few Average High Temperature 70.1° F years. Average Low Temperature 45.7° F • Corporate Excise Tax: 6.5% of Tennessee taxable income. Annual Average Precipitation 55.43” • Franchise Tax: .25% of the greater of net worth or real and Annual Average Snowfall 2” tangible property in Tennessee. The minimum tax is $100. • New employers is typically 2.7% (based Prevailing Winds Southerly Unemployment Tax: Mean Length of Freeze-Free Period (days) 180-220 on occupation) of first $7,000. Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue

Cherry Glen Industrial Park is among several industrial sites in Middle Tennessee to be certified as a Select TN Certified Site. For complete information about the site and the certified program, please visit T E N N E S S E E www.tnecd.com/sites/certified-sites/ 2018 COMMUNITY DATA PROFILE

EDUCATION TRANSPORTATION

District Name Maury County AIR SERVICE Type of Public School System County Nearest General Aviation Maury County Airport District Grades Served Pre-K-12 Location Identifier MRC Number of Schools 21 Distance from City 9 miles Number of Teachers 1,023 Runway Length 6,003 feet asphalt; 2,000 feet turf Number of Administrators 62 Surface Asphalt/Turf Total Number of Students 12,775 Lighting MIRL/PAPI GRADES Fuel 100LL/Jet A 24/7 Pre-K-K-4 4,654 Repairs Major Pre-K-K-12 1,999 Storage Hangar, Tie Down 5-8 3,216 Transportation Taxi, Rental and Courtesy Car 9-12 2,906 Nearest Commercial Service Nashville International Airport Number of High School Graduates (2016-17) 745 Location Identifier BNA Graduation Rate 90.9% Distance from Columbia 84 miles Educational Attainment with a Degree 30.3% BNA serves 440 flights daily in more than 50 nonstop markets. BNA is (Adults Age 25-64) served by 14 airlines, including international carriers Air Canada, WestJet Source: Tennessee Department of Education and soon British Airways. Starting May 2018, British Airways will fly nonstop between Nashville and London Heathrow. REGIONAL HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS Graduates 2015-2016 HIGHWAYS • TN College of Applied Technology Hohenwald 320 U.S. Highways 31, 43, 412 • TN College of Applied Technology Pulaski 1,447 State Highways 50, 412, 7, 243 • Columbia State Community College Columbia 956 Nearest Interstate Interstate 65 and Interstate 840 Source: Tennessee Higher Education Commission COMMON CARRIERS Air Freight Companies Yes FastTrack Job Training Motor Freight Companies 7 Assistance Program Available Yes Terminal Facilities 7 Source: Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Bus Services Inter-City No GOVERNMENT Local Yes Carrier Service Yes GOVERNING BODY City City Manager and City Council RAILROADS SERVED BY Meets 2nd Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CSX Transportation and TN Southern Railroad City Hall County Mayor and County Commissioners NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS Meets 3rd Monday at 6:30 p.m. River Cumberland Tom Primm Commission Room Channel Depth 9 feet Fire Department Nearest Port Facility Nashville • Full-time fire fighters in city 91 Miles from Port 43 • City volunteers 0 • Full-time fire fighters in county 6 COMMUNICATIONS • County volunteers 200 Newspapers The Daily Herald Daily • Fire stations in city 5 The Tennessean Daily • City fire trucks 8 Telephone Companies AT&T • Fire stations in county 11 Radio Stations 4 local (WKRM, WMCP, WMRB, • County fire trucks 22 WXRQ) Television Networks 4, 2 independent Cable Service Available Yes Law Enforcement Channels 125 • Full-time police officers in city 89 Provider Charter Communications and • Full-time police officers in county & sheriff 140 Columbia Power & Water • City patrol cars 105 Systems • County patrol cars 85 Internet Service Available Yes Provider Charter Communications and City County Columbia Power & Water Insurance Rating 1 5/5X Systems Zoning Regulations Yes Yes Fiber Optics Available Yes Planning Commission Yes Yes Provider Charter Communications and Industrial Development Corp. Yes Yes Columbia Power & Water Systems

COLUMBIA-MAURY COUNTY, TENNESSEE 2018 COMMUNITY DATA PROFILE

COMMUNITY FACILITIES SELECTED ECONOMIC INDICATORS Health Care Recreation 2016 ANNUAL AVERAGES Doctors 257 Libraries 1 Labor Force County Labor Market Area* Dentists 43 Parks 19 Civilian Labor Force 43,750 219,130 Hospitals 1 Golf Courses 2 (Public & Private) Employment 41,950 210,300 Beds 255 Swimming Pools 4 Unemployment 1,800 8,830 Primary Care Clinics 9 (Public & Private) Unemployment Rate 4.1% 4.7% Speciality Care Clinics 37 Country Clubs 1 Nursing Homes 9 Theaters 2 * Labor Market Area is defined as Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Beds Bowling Alleys 1 Marshall, Maury and Williamson Counties in Tennessee. Retirement Homes 0 Beds Hotels & Motels 10 2017 EMPLOYED POPULATION 16+ BY INDUSTRY Intermediate/ Rooms 800 Agriculture/Mining 1.0% Assisted Living 3 Bed & Breakfasts 1 Construction 6.3% Manufacturing 12.6% Beds 159 Largest Meeting Room Wholesale Trade 2.0% Home Health Care 14 Capacity 400 Retail Trade 12.7% Transportation/Utilities 4.5% Religious Organizations Restaurants (City) 70 Information 1.3% Protestant 120 Restaurants (County) 118 Finance/Insurance/Real Estate 6.2% Catholic 1 Services 50.0% Jehovah’s Witness 1 Other Public Administration 3.4% Seventh Day Adventist 2 The Center for the Arts, Source: ESRI skating rink, ball fields, Latter Day Saints 1 soccer fields, tennis courts, Other MANUFACTURING IN AREA (Annual Averages 2016) Wellness and Aquatics Center, Number of Units 85 Natchez Trace Parkway, Arts Ann. Avg. Employment 5,405 Day Care Centers 42 District, Historic Columbia Source: Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Day Care Centers (Co.) 58 Town Square/Retail & Day Care Homes 21 Entertainment District PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME Year 2017 Amount $25,868 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Source: ESRI Commercial Banks 9 Savings Institutions 0 MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME Year 2017 Credit Unions 4 Amount $51,565 Total # of Institutions 13 Source: ESRI Total # of Branches 29 Countywide Combined Deposits $1,512,074,000 AVERAGE HOME SALES (Deposits for June 30, 2017) Year 2016 Number of Homes Sold 2,067 *Credit Unions NOT calculated in Combined Deposits Average Cost $195,879 Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and National Credit Union Administration Source: Tennessee Housing Development Agency

INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT SERVICES RETAIL SALES Service Location Distance (Miles) Year 2016 Amount $1,355,596,925 Tool & Die Mt. Pleasant 15 Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue Heat Treating Local Foundry Mt. Pleasant 15 NATURAL RESOURCES Heavy Hardware Local Minerals: Crushed stone and phosphate Sheet Metal Mt. Pleasant 15 Timber: Lubricants Mt. Pleasant 15 AGRICULTURAL Welding Supplies Local Crops: Hay, soybeans, corn, wheat and tobacco Abrasives Local Livestock: Equine, mules, cattle, goats, poultry

COLUMBIA-MAURY COUNTY, TENNESSEE 2018 COMMUNITY DATA PROFILE UTILITIES GAS Local Distributor Atmos Energy ELECTRICITY Phone 931.388.9136 Source Company Tennessee Valley Authority Website www.atmosenergy.com Source Company Natural & Columbia LOCAL POWER COMPANY (City) Gulf Transmission Columbia Power & Water System Fuel Oil Suppliers 0 Suppliers of LP Gas 3 Interium General Mgr. Kelley McCall Address Post Office Box 379 WATER Columbia, Tennessee 38401-0379 Water Supplier Columbia Power & Water Systems Phone 931.388.4833 Phone 931.388.4833 Fax 931.388.5287 Website www.cpws.com Website www.cpws.com Source Duck River Capacity 20,000,000 GPD LOCAL POWER COMPANY (County) Current Consumption 10,000,000 GPD Duck River Electric Membership Corporation Storage Capacity 13,900,000 Gallons President/CEO Michael Watson SEWER District Office 798 New Lewisburg Highway Sewer Provider Columbia Power & Water Systems Columbia, Tennessee 38401 Phone 931.388.4833 Phone 931.388.3131 Website www.cpws.com Emergency 931.388.3482 Type of Treatment Conventional activated sludge Fax 931.381.5331 Capacity 14,000,000 GPD (System is only Website www.dremc.com permitted (NPDES permit) to discharge 10 million GPD) Current Usage 5,500,000 GPD City Sewer Coverage 90% Storm Sewer Coverage 25% Solid Waste Disposal Type County Landfill

MAJOR INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURERS/DISTRIBUTION (50+ employees) Firm Product or Service Total Employees Union Phone Number WireMasters, Inc. Wiring & cables 172 None 615.791.0281 Milliken Nonwoven Textile fabrics 115 None 931.388.4551 American Banknote Corporation Security printing & distribution 74 None 931.388.3003 Columbia Machine Works, Inc. Machine fabricators 67 None 931.388.6202 Swarco America, Inc. Fabricated rubber products, nec, nsk 65 None 931.388.5900 Ez Distributing, Inc. Wood products, nec, nsk 58 None 931.381.7157 Time Logistics Trucking & Logistics 57 None 931.540.2801 Graftech Intl Holdings Inc Carbon and graphite products 56 None 931.388.1410 Martinrea Automotive Systems (USA) LLC Automotive suspension supplier 56 None 931.490.4231 Industrial Door Contractors, Inc. Hangar doors 55 None 931.540.1234 Kirk & Blum Sheet metal, environmental controls 50 SWIA 931.381.0037 PSC Industries, Inc. Packaging 50 None 931.381.1612 Samuel, Son & Company Metals blanking, automotive 50 None 931.901.0931

For information on industrial sites and available industrial buildings contact: Robert T. Bibb, Executive Director Wil Evans, President Middle TN Industrial Development Association Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance 2108 Westwood Avenue Post Office Box 1076 Nashville, Tennessee 37212 106 West 6th Street Phone: 615.269.5233 Columbia, Tennessee 38402-1076 Fax: 615.269.5184 Phone: 931.388.2155 [email protected] Fax: 931.380.3699 www.mtida.org [email protected] www.mauryalliance.com

The information contained herein was obtained from sources we MTIDA represents the Local Electric Power and Natural Gas Distributors consider reliable. We can not be responsible, however, for errors or located in the 40 county region of Middle Tennessee. change in information.

COLUMBIA-MAURY COUNTY, TENNESSEE Updated February 2018 McArthur Sanders Real Estate

III. RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARTICLES

203 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin Tennessee 37067 – 615-370-4663(O) 615-370-0107(F) Commentary: New hotel represents game- changer for city, county By James Bennett [email protected] Posted Aug 11, 2018 at 2:47 PM Updated Aug 11, 2018 at 7:49 PM A 110-room Courtyard by Marriott, including a regional conference center, will be built at the corner of Bear Creek Pike and Nashville Highway if it earns final approval, as expected.

The five-story hotel will be a game-changer for Columbia, City Manager Tony Massey and Mayor Dean Dickey told The Daily Herald on Friday, because it will be used by thousands of guests, whose stays will create millions of dollars in economic impact. The 13-acre site would go on the property occupied by the old Polk Motel, a liquor store, doughnut shop and title-loan shop.

The hotel’s groundbreaking likely would occur in spring 2019, owner and developer David Hunt of Jackson said Friday. Hunt owns hotels and restaurants in Tennessee and Arkansas, including a three-story Hampton Inn in Pulaski.

“I started talking to David in July 2017,” Dickey said. “It’s taken that long to get where we are now.”

Hunt asked the city for tax incentives to make the $18.5 million project happen. He told The Daily Herald that’ll he likely want to develop a restaurant on the site, one of the busiest traffic areas in Columbia.

The Columbia City Council and city’s industrial board voted to approve special tax financing last week. The 22-member Maury County Commission would have to approve the project if the financial idea makes it through the commission’s Budget Committee.

“Columbia is a tremendous market,” Hunt said. “When the call came from Mayor Dickey, suggesting that we look at Columbia, it was a no-brainer.” Four hotels have built locations near the Bear Creek exit of Interstate 65 since 2010. A fifth is under construction behind Stan’s restaurant. The Courtyard by Marriott will be closer to downtown for tourists headed to the Ridley Sports Complex and the city’s refurbished, vibrant downtown.

“I am a small-town guy when it comes to building hotels rather than going for property right off of the freeway,” said Hunt, who operates a Perkins Family Restaurant in Milan, Buffalo Wild Wings in Fayetteville and Huddle House in Jackson.

“I grew up in a small town. I understand the synergy of a small town. I was amazed the way Columbia was growing. I thought it was a good opportunity to build a high-quality hotel in the market.”

After construction of the Ridley Sports Complex soccer fields, more tourists will be flocking to Columbia to play tournaments. They likely will want to stay closer to the fields — 12 miles from the Courtyard by Marriott compared to 20 miles from interstate hotels.

“Our vibrant downtown, the expansion of Ridley Sports Complex and the events happening around the city make the Courtyard by Marriott an excellent addition to our hotel inventory, especially when you consider the convenient location,” City of Columbia Tourism and Marketing Director Kellye Murphy said. “The city recently launched its new tourism brand ‘Visit Columbia TN,’ and we are actively marketing tourism for Columbia.

“We are pleased to have a quality brand like Courtyard, the eighth-largest lodging brand in the world,” Murphy said. “It will attract visitors as well as new business and more hotels to the area while helping elevate the profile of Columbia as a sought-after destination for the leisure and business traveler.”

Courtyard will be the headquarters for tournaments at Ridley Park, including the annual Midstate Classic doubleheader that features the University of Tennessee softball team.

“When it’s finished, that’s where the teams will stay — UT and its opponent,” Massey said. Dickey said the conference center would attract regional business meetings and conferences. Columbia lacks space for meetings with more than 300 people. The Tennessee Farm Bureau routinely goes to Franklin for its bigger meetings and conventions.

“We just don’t have space for a big meeting,” Dickey said. “Our city’s strategic plan, initiated five or six years ago, made a downtown hotel a high-priority item.”

The Columbia Industrial Development Board Chairman Randy Wilmore said projects like the hotel brighten the city’s future.

“It’s very attractive for the city,” Wilmore said. “When construction starts, it will be an exciting moment for Columbia.”

The project and approval process show the city and county can collaborate to get things done, Massey said.

“Mayor Dickey and I made a presentation to county commission’s Administration Committee, and they approved it 6-0 to send it to the Budget Committee,” Massey said. “We think there’s widespread support for the project — from our city industrial board and our city council to the county commission.”

Hunt said he’s less worried about the politics than the vision and leadership he sees from the city.

“I don’t really know how to play the politics,” Hunt said. “I just like to be involved in projects that will be a win-win for myself, my family, the city and the community. This leadership has allowed me to do that. From an investment standpoint, I’m very happy about that.”

◆◆◆

James Bennett is editor of The Daily Herald. His column is based on exclusive reporting, old-school storytelling and original commentary on whatever catches his fancy or yours. He’s been a Tennessee Press Association first-place award winner for editorial writing, news reporting and public service since joining the newspaper in 2014. Contact him at jbennett@c-dh. Council backs Marriott, city awarded for nance By JAY POWELL [email protected] Posted Aug 11, 2018 at 12:01 AM Updated Aug 11, 2018 at 7:50 PM Columbia City Council approved a resolution last week that will create a tax incentive for the construction of a 110-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel on Nashville Highway.

Total development costs for the hotel, which will be located on the corner of the Nashville Highway/Bear Creek Pike intersection, are estimated at approximately $18.5 million.

The Columbia Industrial Development Board (IDB) recommended the item to council, which will create an interlocal agreement with several Tennessee municipality corporations to finance, construct and lease the property. Hunt Properties will be the developer in charge of undertaking the project.

When completed, the hotel will contain 110 rooms with an indoor swimming pool, approximately 2,500 square feet of conference space and a 20,000 square- foot retail space.

David Hunt of Hunt Properties spoke to council Thursday, saying Marriott is excited to come to Columbia, and that with the boom of tourism and population growth, now is the perfect time to build a hotel closer to downtown.

“I’ve been nothing but amazed by the quality of the city, how you’re growing and doing some of the things you’re doing, and my family and my business are very excited to be a small part of it,” Hunt said. “We’re not trying to overly compete with what you already have, but this is more about bringing more opportunity to this wonderful city, making the pie bigger so we can all swim a little better. That’s where I am and where we’re going.”

Councilman Mark King, who represents Ward 5 where the hotel will be located, said bringing a hotel closer to downtown Columbia has been a goal for him since becoming a council member. “I’m just so excited for what’s going to happen there,” King said. “It’s a wonderful part of the city that sees so much traffic.”

Hunt said the process will involve going through the state for the tax increment financing (TIF), as well as acquiring the land. Once the land is secured, the developer can start construction, which will take an estimated 12-15 months.

“It’ll probably take 15 months to two years to complete,” Hunt said. “And I’ll just say that the leadership you have here ... everyone has been absolutely wonderful. I couldn’t ask to have a better partner.”

Columbia receives finance award

Columbia received its 19th consecutive certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

This was also the first year Assistant City Manager and city Finance Director Thad Jablonski took over duties from former Finance Director Patti Amorello, who oversaw the previous 18 years.

“This is the highest financial reporting award the city can receive,” Jablonski said.

Mayor Dean Dickey thanked Jablonski for taking the reins as the city’s finance director and keeping consistent with the previous years’ high standard for its comprehensive annual financial report.

“On behalf of council members and the 37,000-plus citizens, we accept this award,” Dickey said. “We thank [Jablonski] and his staff for all the work that they do.”

Highway 31 paving update

It was originally reported that paving along U.S. Highway 31 would be completed by the end of the month, but there is a chance it could be sooner than originally predicted.

With U.S. 31 classified as a state road, the paving project is being headed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. City Manager Tony Massey said the city was not aware of the project until “about a week” before work began last month. Director of Development Services Paul Keltner said the repaving portion began last week, but said he hopes more will be added in the next couple of weeks.

“It looks a little thin to us, but it could be another two weeks by the time they do that long stretch, and afterwards go back and put a second layer over that,” Keltner said. “The initial milling did take a long time. It’s a long stretch of road with a lot of water mains, sewer mains and sewer manholes. We all heard the complaints, and we’ve all felt the complaints ourselves, as I’m sure we’re all due for a realignment.” More elds will bring in more tourists, city says By MIKE CHRISTEN [email protected] Posted Jul 28, 2018 at 12:01 AM Updated Jul 28, 2018 at 8:16 PM Columbia’s Ridley Sports Complex is well on its way to almost doubling in size.

Last week, contractors laid the turf to its new athletic fields that are planned to host tournaments for competitors across the state and the nation.

The complex, located at 6148 Trotwood Ave., is home to 10 softball fields and two soccer and football fields. It plans to expand with seven new soccer and football fields, and a new tournament headquarters.

Columbia Parks Department says the expansion will allow for more space to attract additional sports like lacrosse.

Contractors placed the seeds down for the new field, which — if all goes as planned — will begin growing fresh grass in the coming weeks.

“This is going to basically double the size of Ridley,” said Merilee Meschefske, assistant parks director for the city of Columbia. “We have been busy working on it, just trying to get it ready for play.”

One of the fields will be designated as a championship field, large enough for full soccer, rugby and football games on the championship level.

She said the fields have been designed to accommodate most athletic activities.

The project also includes a concessions building, restrooms, multi-purpose rooms and additional parking.

The expansion can also be used for recreational events like concerts.

A $7 million investment, hotel/motel tax collections will pay the debt service on $6.5 million on the project, aided by a grant of $200,000 from the state.

Originally announced in 2016, the expansion will also include field lighting and an expanded irrigation system.

Approximately 500 parking spaces with lighting will be added, as well as ADA accessible plazas, pathways and bleacher pads.

Parks and Recreation Director Mack Reagan says the expansion comes from a need for more room to play. Currently the complex offers 35 acres of space to play. Once the expansion for the park is completed, it will have more than 60 acres of fields.

Reagan said the facility, with just the softball fields, is bringing in a revenue of $5.5 to $6 million a year. With the completion of the soccer facility and bringing in lacrosse, football and other events, he expects the park will raise an additional $7 million in economic impact to Columbia on an annual basis.

The push for the expansion came from citizens themselves, who are a part of a growing community of recreational athletes and sports lovers, Reagan said.

“It was the number one thing that was requested,” Reagan said. “This fits into exactly what we wanted to accomplish.”

The changes also include new grass with the complex using a special type of Bermuda grass that will better tolerate colder temperatures.

“Because we’re utilizing it for soccer, lacrosse, sports that tend to play early season, you know as early as January, February, and even into you know November,” Mackel said. “We actually got a grass that will give us an extra 60 days of play a year.”

The park is planned for completion in October.